← Back🌲 Conifer forest

Pistle Down - Conifer woodland

71 ha

📷 Mike Faherty · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

WalksDogsBirds

Public accessFree entryDogs welcome71 ha

Getting here

50.88555, -1.86414

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

☀️June — canopy now fully closed, creating cool dappled shade even on warm days
🥾Walking is best here in early morning in summer — quiet trails and good light before the heat
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

🌤️ Visiting this summer

☀️June — canopy now fully closed, creating cool dappled shade even on warm days
🥾Walking is best here in early morning in summer — quiet trails and good light before the heat
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

Good to know

£Free to visit — no entry charge
🐕Dogs welcome

Best for

7 activities

Forest walks

Very strong match

1 marked walking trail(s)

Free

Dog walks

Very strong match

Dogs allowed — woodland with marked walking trails

Free

Bird watching

Strong match

Lowland heathland — Dartford warblers, nightjars and stonechats

Free

Insect spotting

Strong match

Lowland heathland — silver-studded blue and heath fritillary butterflies

Free

Wildlife

Strong match

Lowland heathland priority habitat

Free

Hiking

Good match

Marked walking trail

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

6 signed routes nearby · 7 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths

Avon Valley PathWalking route55 km

Named routeRef AVPLength 55 kmRegional walking route

Kingston Lacy walk at Holt Heath, Kingston LacyWalking route9.6 km

The bridleways and footpaths can become rutted, with the eastern sector in part on elevated ground crossing the important heathland mire. Grazing of animals is part of the management of this rare habitat, so dogs should be kept under effective control. St

Named routeLength 9.6 kmDuration 03:00Round tripLocal walking route

Castleman TrailwayWalking route26.5 km

Named routeRef CTLength 26.5 kmLocal walking route

Jubilee Trail (Dorset)Walking route

Named routeRegional walking route

Play TrailWalking route

Named routeRef Play TrailLocal walking route

St Stephens Lanepublic footpath · 270 m

Public pathpublic footpathLength 270 mPath type: residential

🚴

Cycling

9 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

National BywayCycling route

Named routeRef NBRegional cycle route

National Route 256Cycling route

Named routeRef 256National Cycle Network

Main RouteCycling route2.5 km

Named routeRef 256Length 2.5 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface unsealedloose

Main RouteCycling route39 m

Named routeRef 256Length 39 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route342 m

Named routeRef 256Length 342 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface rocky

Main RouteCycling route75 m

Named routeRef 256Length 75 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

🚵

Mountain biking

5 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

The Crane LoopMountain bike route

Named routeRef The Crane LoopLocal cycle route

Through the ForestMountain bike route

Named routeRef Through the ForestLocal cycle route

The Watchmoor LoopMountain bike route

Named routeRef The Watchmoor LoopLocal cycle route

The Somerley LoopMountain bike route

Named routeRef The Somerley LoopLocal cycle route

The Corsican CircuitMountain bike route

Named routeRef The Corsican CircuitLocal cycle route

🐴

Horse riding

23 public paths nearby

Public paths

Burrows Lanebyway open to all traffic · 530 m

Public pathbyway open to all trafficLength 530 mPath type: unclassified

Coopers Lanebyway open to all traffic · 262 m

Public pathbyway open to all trafficLength 262 mSurface unpavedPath type: residential

Noon Hill Roadbridleway · 202 m

Public pathbridlewayLength 202 mPath type: residential

Moorlands Roadbridleway · 440 m

Public pathbridlewayLength 440 mPath type: residential

Burrows Lanebyway open to all traffic · 142 m

Public pathbyway open to all trafficLength 142 mPath type: service

Wildlife to spot

16,924 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

16,924 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds41 species

winter

2026

Robin · House Sparrow · Blackbird · Blue Tit · Woodpigeon +36

RobinErithacus rubecula2025
House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
BlackbirdTurdus merula
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
RookCorvus frugilegus2025
DunnockPrunella modularis2025
RedwingTurdus iliacus2025
MagpiePica pica2025
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
NuthatchSitta europaea2025
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2025
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
SiskinSpinus spinus2025
Great TitParus major2025
Stock DoveColumba oenas2025
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
Canada GooseBranta canadensis2025
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2025
Marsh TitPoecile palustris2025
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025
FirecrestRegulus ignicapilla2025
CrossbillLoxia curvirostra2025
Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti2025
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
Mute SwanCygnus olor2025
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2025
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
JayGarrulus glandarius2025
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2025

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

16,924 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds41 species

winter

2026

Robin · House Sparrow · Blackbird · Blue Tit · Woodpigeon +36

RobinErithacus rubecula2025
House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
BlackbirdTurdus merula
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
RookCorvus frugilegus2025
DunnockPrunella modularis2025
RedwingTurdus iliacus2025
MagpiePica pica2025
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
NuthatchSitta europaea2025
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2025
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
SiskinSpinus spinus2025
Great TitParus major2025
Stock DoveColumba oenas2025
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
Canada GooseBranta canadensis2025
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2025
Marsh TitPoecile palustris2025
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025
FirecrestRegulus ignicapilla2025
CrossbillLoxia curvirostra2025
Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti2025
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
Mute SwanCygnus olor2025
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2025
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
JayGarrulus glandarius2025
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2025

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Mike Faherty · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Boveridge Heath, road

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Verwood Recreation GroundUrban park1 km→🌱Ferrett GreenUrban park1.1 km→🌱Verwood GreenUrban park1.1 km→🌱Potterne ParkUrban park2.1 km→⛪Verwood Methodist ChurchReligious grounds1 km→🌱Champtoceaux GreenUrban park1.3 km→

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