Blandford Forum

Description:

Blandford Forum is on the River Stour and is one of the best preserved Georgian towns in England. The market place is much as it has been for over two hundred years.

This North Dorset town is situated between Cranborne Chase and the Dorset Downs at the southern corner of the Blackmore Vale.
 
Hurn International airport is 16 miles away.

Poole and Bournemouth are only around forty minutes drive, yet Blandford retains its traditional market town character. It provides a good range of shops various, health, leisure and sports facilities.

Look out for Blandford's week long Steam Fair every September, a large gathering of steam tractors and stationary engines.

North Dorset Council employs a large number of people, other employers are Badger Brewery, Tesco and Bryanston Public School.

Two kilometers northwest of the town lies Blandford Camp, which has long been the home of the Royal Corps of Signals the communication wing of the British Army.

There are a number of busy industrial estates providing for instance, builders supplies, on the bypass road, to the north east of Blandford.

There are several state schools the main one being the Blandford school which has a sixth form. There are also a number of renowned independent schools, such as Knighton house, Hanford, Bryanston, Clayesmore, Milton Abbey and Canford.

Blandford has a blend of individual shops as well the well known ones, and the town has a number of banks. Very few shops open on a Sunday.

For a town of Blandford's size, there are a surprising number of barbers, owing to the nearby military base. There are also a large number of cafés, pubs, and bars within walking distance of the town centre.

There are two hotels and several bed and breakfast establishments. The Crown is the largest hotel in the town centre on the banks of the River Stour. A short distance away is the Hall & Woodhouse Visitor Centre where one can experience brewing through the ages and sample their delightful Ale such as the Blandford Fly, and the Firsty Ferret in the in-house shop.

If cycling is for you there is the North Dorset Trailway at Blandford. Fun need not be expensive, why not experience the exhilaration of kite flying with breathtaking views and a picnic at Badbury Rings, on the Blandford to Wimborne Road, or Bulbarrow, Hambledon or Hod Hills, Wingreen or Fontwell Down.

The Blandford Museum is quaint and quirky with it's new model railway display. Cavalcade of Costume exhibits fashions from the past in a beautiful setting with tearooms. Learn about spies and codes at the Royal Signals Museum.

There is an annual Georgian Fayre but it will not be held in 2009.

Turnworth in Spring is a small rural show with country crafts (hand knitted old-fashioned tea cosy's and lace making in progress). Also tractor rides, and heavy horses. Turnworth is around six miles out of Blandford and is a wonderful opportunity to see the blue-bells in full bloom from the comfort of a tractor ride through the woods. This event tends to take place in early May.

Not far from the Steam Fair at Tollard Royal is the Larmer Tree Festival, a 4-5 day event of music, workshops, arts and crafts, holistic therapies and a whole lot more. If you are into music, this event is not to be missed, but tickets are limited. It is suitable for the whole family and tickets can be purchaced to camp out for the whole event. Famous people such as Jools Holland, Van Morrison, Lulu, to name a few. Definitely one not to be missed.

See our Guide2Dorset events section for information on The Great Dorset Steam Fair, and much more.