East Dorset: Barrington centre Route 3

Buses operate from Bournemouth (No’s 13 and X6) half hourly and hourly respectively. No X6 starts at Poole.

Free parking is available in Tesco car park. Enter from traffic lights in Ringwood Road.

[1] Leaving the Barrington Centre turn half left towards the Superdrug store and bear right down the alleyway between shops to the road. Turn right and follow to the mini roundabout at the car park entrance. Turn left to traffic lights and turn right alongside main road passing St Mary's Church to further set of traffic lights. Cross Church Road at traffic lights with care staying on right hand side of main road.

Immediately bear half right between bollards on pathway (signed 'End of Cycle Route') to reach Brabourne Avenue at postbox. 

[2] For road route, turn right and follow road as it turns left into Mountbatten Drive passing grassy verge and wicket gate on left.  Continue with point [3] below.

Or [2] For alternative route via Common.  Turn left and continue for 160m to enter woods on waymarked path on right between two garages at No 22. [Ignore path marked with yellow stripes on right after only 50m.] Path is uneven with tree roots and may be wet underfoot following rain. It is unsuitable for wheeled chairs. Follow path ahead to a gentle rise and a clearing. At the path junction, bear right into the open and in 25m bear right again. At cross paths continue ahead and in 25m bear right at path junction to reach wicket gate alongside metal gate.  Go through gate and down grassy verge.to Mounbatten Drive.  Turn left and continue with point [3] below. 

[3] Continue ahead to T-junction and turn left to reach entrance to Ferndown First School. Immediately before entrance to School, enter cycle/pathway at single bollard on right (use pedestrian lane) and continue with wire fence on left to exit at bollard.  Cross road into 'Memorial and Garden of Memories' and follow tarmac path to roght through grassy woodland to reach Church Road.  Cross busy road with care.  Enter Albert Road.  Keep on left and after 100m reach No 50 Beacon House on left.

[4] Cross road and enter alleyway between bollards to come into St Mary's Road. Continue to end and turn left to traffic lights. Turn left and follow wide path to return to the Barrington Centre. 

 A St Mary's Church was built in 1933, on land given in 1932, with the chancel and sanctuary added in 1939, transept and vestries added in 1966, and tower completed in 1972. A church hall complex was added in 1982.

B Ferndown Common There is a steep escarpment down to the Stour valley.  Consequently this was a well used route in the past and there are several bronze age tumuli holding urns of cremated remains, (1200-650 BC).There is also an extensive network of boundary banks which date back to the enclosure acts of the 18th & 19th centuries with some irregular ones in the centre which are much older (pre 1600). The Common houses Great Barrow which is to the left of the first path junction on entering the common. There is evidence of a surrounding ditch as there is with other tumuli in the area.

It is interesting to think that a part of this area once held Ferndown Zoo, which was the largest tourist day-trip attraction outside of Bournemouth. It closed in the early 60's and that area has now been built upon.

C Memorial and Garden of Memories is dedicated to Lt.John Thornton RM, who died whilst on active service in Afghanistan during 2008. The Memorial is also where local people will be honoured. 

The Alternative Route adds 10 mins to the walk which then becomes 1.3 miles (2.1km). The walk is then classified as Easy (as opposed to Easy Access) as the alternative section is unsuitable for wheeled chairs.

Buses operate from Bournemouth/Poole (No’s 13 and X6) half hourly and hourly respectively.