FREE Easter Trail at Castleman Trailway!

Welcome to  our FCS EASTER TRAIL! 

This trail takes you along a stretch of the Castleman Trailway between Ferndown and West Moors, and along the edge of Holt Heath. The Castleman Trailway is a 16.5 mile (26.5 kilometres) trailway that follows much of the old Southampton to Dorchester railway line. The Trailway is named after Charles Castleman, a Wimborne Solicitor, who was responsible for building the original railway line. It was closed by Dr. Beeching in 1964.

Follow the trail and answer the questions to be in with a chance of winning an Easter hamper thanks to Meyers Estates Ferndown.  The trail can be completed at your leisure and the hamper draw closes for entries on Sunday 14^th April.  Allow 45mins-1hr to complete.

Part of the trail could be partially muddy and wet so wellies etc could be a good option.  Please keep any dogs on a lead in this area.

You can download a PDF of the route here:

Start the trail at Ferndown Forest Golf Club, BH22 9PH.  From the car park, walk to the front drive entrance. There is a sign for the Castleman Trailway.  Turn right over the bridleway bridge.

• What is the speed limit on the trail?

Keep walking along the Trail, you’ll see a field on your left-hand side.

• What sport is played on the field on the left-hand side?

Continue walking and you’ll come across a club house on the left-hand side.

• What year is on the badge of the Wayfarers Club?
• What is the plant on the badge of the Wayfarers Club?

Continue walking until you see a telegraph pole named Wayfarers Sports Club

• What numbers and letters are carved on the telegraph pole named Wayfarers Sports Club?

Continue forward on the Trail, just after the telegraph pole the hedgerow contains a lot of spikey plants.

• What is the name of these spikey plants that make up the hedgerow?

Keep walking to the T junction.

• How far is it to West Moors?

Turn right at the T junction towards West Moors.  You’ll come to a gate and a smallholding selling eggs.

• What is your favourite egg you can buy from the Garden Pixy?

Continue on the path towards West Moors.

• What are the yellow flowering bushes on the left-hand side?

DID YOU KNOW? Traditionally, this bush was regularly collected from commonland for a number of purposes: it provided fuel for firing bread ovens; was used as feed for livestock; bound to make floor and chimney brushes; and it was even used as a colourant or dye for painting Easter eggs! 

Pause at the next gate on the left-hand side.

• What number is the gate?
• Why must you keep the gate closed? 

Continue on to the next T junction, have a look at the sign.

• How far is it to Upton Country Park?

Keep straight towards West Moors. 

• There is a fallen tree across the path – what vine is climbing up its trunk?

Continue to the wooden bridge.

• How many upright posts make up the bridge?

Turn around at the bridge and walk back towards the golf club.

• At the T junction is a Castleman Trailway sign.  What is the name of the farm that has vehicular access?

Continue straight.

• On the bark of the trees on your right, you’ll see lots of splodgy blobs of colour. What are these?

DID YOU KNOW these organisms are non-parasitic and don’t harm any plants they grow on. In fact, they’re useful to other wildlife, offering nesting material for birds, and food and shelter to lots of invertebrates – which in turn feed other creatures. Woods rich in these organisms support more wildlife than any other.

Continue on past the gate to Holt Heath

• What is the hedge either side of the gate to the field on the left-hand side?
  • Oak
  • Beech
  • Pine

Continue on the main path.

• At the emergency access gate, what is the name of the silvery trees to your right?

Continue to the T junction.

• Heathland is rarer than rainforests – true or false?
  • True
  • False

DID YOU KNOW heathland is one of our most threatened habitats. Today many heaths are protected as nature reserves. This is important as without heaths a lot of rare and unique wildlife can’t survive! The heath is one of the few places where all six native British reptile species occur, and it also supports many other heathland animals, plants and birds. Rare heathland birds such as Eurasian Hobby, nightjar, Dartford warbler and woodlark have been recorded as breeding on the reserve.

Turn left at the T junction back towards the golf club.

• In the water ditches either side of the path, the water is a brown colour.  This is natural and due to the heathland, but what mineral causes this brown colour?
  • Iron
  • Calcium
  • Diamond

Continue along the path and have a look at the different leaves on the trees and ground.

• Choose your favourite leaf and draw it here:

Continue to the first bridge near the golf course.  At the bridge by the golf course, turn right towards Uddens Plantation. Go to the information board.

• Name 3 of the wildlife pictured on the board that you can look out for when walking?

Turn back towards the bridge and golf club.  Congratulations, you’ve completed the trail!  Why not pop into our friends at Ferndown Forest Golf Club for a snack and drink if you have time, and have a go at this wordsearch over the page!

Remember to return your completed trail questions to the Larder (FCS Larder and Food Bank, Ferndown Day Centre, Library Road, BH22 9JP (the rear of the building next to the Barrington theatre), Mon-Fri 2-5pm, Saturday 10.30-1pm, closed bank holidays), or submit online, for your chance to win an Easter hamper courtesy of Meyers Estates Ferndown.  Entries taken to the Larder will receive a little prize too!  Make sure you put your name, address, email and contact number on the back of the sheet!

HAPPY EASTER HOLIDAYS!

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