Visitor information
Opening hours
How to find us
Parking & prices
Facilities & access
Contact details

Opening hours

Bonsley Common is open 365 days a year.

How to find us

How to find us

Bonsley Common is located approximately five miles north west of Blandford Forum.

Blandford Forum, Dorset
Sat Nav Postcode: DT11 0TA
By Car

Turn off the A357 in Shillingstone towards Okeford Fitzpaine. At the cross roads in Okeford Fitzpaine turn left and then just outside the village turn left again up the hill. There is a car park at the top on the right hand side. You need to park there and cross the road on foot and follow the Wessex Ridgeway for about a quarter of a mile and then a footpath to the right takes you to Bonsley Common.

OS Grid Ref
ST 8267 0870

50.8776, -2.24758556

Parking and prices

There are no parking charges at Bonsley Common.

Additional information

Number of accessible parking spaces: 0

There are no designated accessible parking spaces at this forest, have you seen our Easy Access trails page?

Facilities and access

There are no waymarked walking trails, and no easy access route.

Assistant dogs welcome

Contact details

Explore the winding footpaths and beautiful views of Bonsley Common, Dorset

Hear the calming rustle of leaves, breathe in the fresh air, see the playful flurry of the local birds and venture off the beaten track at Bonsley Common. Found approximately five miles north west of Blandford Forum, come and treat your senses with a scenic walk, the views alone are worth it.

If you want to explore the area further, Ringmoor and Turnworth Down and Hambledon Hill National Nature Reserve are within driving distance. Discover iron age settlements, forts and untouched scenery with an interesting array of flowers and wildlife.

At a glance

  • Walking trails
  • Dog walking

Things to do

Walking on Bonsley Common is the perfect way to get some fresh air and explore some of the area's most beautiful landscapes.

Bonsley Common has a range of paths that run through the area. 

Nearby forests

View across Blackdown Hills from viewpoint

Located near Shillingstone, Shillingstone Hill is a delightful, tranquil place to walk with truly spectacular views.

sunlight through conifers along woodland path

Situated to the east of Puddletown, Affpuddle offers an interesting landscape of both forest and heathland as well as views across the Purbeck Hills.

Popular with local dog walkers, the forest can be explored on its open paths and bridleways. 

 

Woman in woodland

Comprising of mainly coniferous trees, Moreton Forest is located to the west of Poole.

Explore the varied scenery on the interesting public trails that run through Moreton Forest.

We advise visitors, particularly dog walkers, to keep their dogs under close control at all times and keep a safe distance from the livestock that graze here.

Autumnal forest

We are the tenant of Puddletown Forest, located near Dorchester. It's leased to us for the purpose of growing timber and public access to the area is restricted to public rights of way only.

People can walk or cycle along the public rights of way and rediscover the beauty of the conifer tree without having to abandon any love of the broadleaf, as here they exist harmoniously side by side, branches softly creaking in the wind together.

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