Are Ashley Heath/Ringwood/Ferndown/Wimborne nice places to live?

[Bettina777]

My hubby and I are planning to retire to Dorset and are focusing our attention on the AshleyHeath/Ringwood/Ferndown/Wimborne areas but we don’t know what it would be like to live there. We are moving 250 miles. We are young at heart and keep pretty active so need plenty to keep us occupied - walking/cycling/nice places to eat etc.

We don’t want a place that’s too sleepy nor anything too big or busy either, but we do want it to be pretty and dare I say a bit upmarket.

Ashley Heath looks like it might be right (is Horton Road a busy main road?) and Ringwood (though not officially Dorset!) though the A31 looks a nightmare, but also Wimborne. Ferndown is a maybe but a bit big perhaps?

Can anyone who lives in these places give any insight into what it’s like and any info would be gratefully received. It’s so difficult moving somewhere new when you don’t really know if you’re going to get it right.

Thank you so much.

Wimborne is full of new builds and new developments being built but some are a bit of a trek from the town centre or in flood areas. There are shops, Waitrose, a river walk, community hospital, many places to eat and loads of pubs plus the tivoli theatre for shows and films. There is always something going on, festivals, markets. There is petty unsocial crime there. The traffic is terrible around the whole wimborne, ferndown area atm due to building developments, road improvements. It does get busy, most of the banks have closed ro make way for eateries.
Ferndown is very very quiet, a Tesco, health centre, it caters very well to the elderly and new carehomes are popping up all over town. There are about 5 schools. The actual shopping area is very small but its a big area with very different styles, both have a good bus service to poole and bournemouth.

Whats your budget.
Ringwood is in Hampshire, the town is nice and very near the New Forest.
The only time I go to Ashley Heath is to visit the rspca homing centre.
You could join the wimborne news and views and the similar ferndown sites to see whats going on. If you dont know the areas at all it would be a good idea to come down for a few days visit.
Given the choice I would go for Wimborne.

From the list, Wimbourne.

My auntie lives near ringwood and she is very happy there. Lots of groups for walking etc I can't advise on houses tho as I'm Not local myself.

I’d also choose Wimborne. Another option might be Broadstone which is a small village between Poole and Wimborne and has quite a nice feel but gives really easy access to everywhere else

I lived in Ferndown many decades ago and was going to say it's retirement central. Then realised you are retiring!

It's pleasant, quiet and parts are really nice, especially the parts that back into the golf club.

Wimborne nearby has a more cosmopolitan feel now, lots of little up and coming eateries and a big Waitrose. Wimborne is generally a wealthier area and older.

Colehill is in between and is also a nice area.

Definitely Wimborne of those mentioned. Lots of new builds going up at the moment.
I like Ringwood as a town centre but I’m less keen on the residential areas. Traffic is particularly bad at the moment because of the roadworks on the A31. Not due to be finished until the end of the year.
Agree with the poster above that Blandford is worth a look. You’d get more for your money there.

Thank you Blankets - there’s lots of information there to ponder over. The floods and crime aspects are a little disconcerting however. Wimborne does seem to come out top of the list with most people given our choices.

Thanks Paddington. We did consider Broadstone but thought it looked a little too built up. On the plus side it’s close to Poole. The only way forward will be to visit the area for a few days.

Thank you Wonky. That’s good to know. We also thought Colehill looked a good candidate as it was accessible to Wimborne but not in it and therefore not touristy. Don’t know if I’m right though!
Not convinced now if Ferndown is going to be right for us - we are not convinced it will offer the lifestyle we are looking for as it might be a bit too old.

Thank you Ginisatonic. Blandford has been mentioned more than once in this thread so could be worth looking into further.

Wimborne from the list. But be aware in any of these places that connections to London are good but if you want to get a train to say Cardiff or Exeter it is a massive pain and after 20 years we are moving to someone a bit more accessible. Some aren't an easy drive either. Probably not an issue for most but it's become a huge issue for us.

Colehill isn't very touristy though gets some of the tourist traffic through in the summer who can't negotiate the chicanes and trouble ensues. Has the advantage of Cannon Hill plantation and loads of good walking and cycling.

Has a One Stop and a Coop with Post Office,.Memorial Hall , hairdresser, pharmacy and library.

Ashley Heath isn't quite, it's really rough. There are constant sirens and chases, little shots setting the heath on fire and a lot of country lines and sex sellers.

I grew up there is is a lovely place to live however traffic on the A31 is terrible especially in the summer.

There are flood risks in parts of wimborne so do check or say which roads you are looking at. Particularly the new builds. It has changed over the years, the town is full of places to eat and seink and some are not cheap. There used to be a market but that has been demolished for a retirement village which is causing upheaval. Atm the infrastructure isnt in place for the extra amount of homes being built qnd If you want to live in the town centre or walkable its £475k plus probably now. The Minster is lovely to visit and there are good places to stay if you do come down.
Verwood is also a nice little place but more towards the Forest.

Wareham might also fit your bill. Definitely worth scoping out a few places next time you are down. Blandford is much cheaper and good value for money but is a bit out of the way. My friend grew up in Blandford and always said it was a bit backward there, but that may have changed!

Are you interested in the beach as all of the places mentioned are probably 30mins from the beach? If not important to you then this is irrelevant though

Thanks Volterra. The train isn’t really an issue and we don’t plan on having trips to London.
Colehill could well be an option given it’s proximity to Wimborne and surrounding area.

Thedogshouses - OMG that sounds absolutely horrific.

It really does sound as though hubby and I will need to come down, spend a few days looking around and get a feel for the area. It’s the only way because you know if a place feels right instantly. That’s how we did our last move and we’ve been very happy. Just need a new life adventure now.

We are not beach bunnies though so no need to be right on the coast…………….unless it’s Marbs of course!!!!!

I lived in Blandford until I went to uni .... my parents and a couple of my sisters still live there. It isn't an unpleasant place to live. The negative things I have to say wouldn't affect you as you won't be moving with school children!

Blandford Forum is really nice. When I was there the only downside was unreliable broadband

Great plan. If you are coming to visit I would also suggest taking a look at Wareham, Christchurch, Highcliffe and Lymington as similar towns locally offering the things you are looking for in your move.

Thank you for your tips on Blandford, Wareham etc. They’re definitely on our list to look at when we make the trip. Thanks again to you all.

We spent a couple of hours in Lymington today, haven’t been there for ages. Beautiful!