The pretty hamlet of Mannington can be found in rural East Dorset, close to the borders of Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire, and only 6 miles from both Dorset’s Wimborne Minster and Hampshire’s Ringwood. Mannington is situated on the edge of Holt Heath, a designated National Nature Reserve, managed by the National Trust, and is one of Dorset’s largest areas of heathland offering plenty of marked footpaths and bridleways, making it a lovely place to walk or cycle and also provides habitats for a wide range of plants, birds and animals, including Sand Lizards and Dartford Warblers. Within a short drive you can explore Moors Valley Country Park, where you can stroll through the wooded glades, take a ride on the little railway, take part in the Go Ape hire wire activities, or just simply enjoy a cream tea! Alternatively, take a trip to the Heavy Horse Centre, visit the picturesque ancient town of Wimborne Minster with its colourful three day market, or the New Forest National Park, famous for its wild ponies, deer, pretty villages and quaint inns, as well as the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu. Whilst an easy drive south takes you to the award-winning sandy beaches, great shops, theatres and cinemas at Bournemouth. Mannington makes a super rural base from which to explore this fascinating area.
