Bournemouth Beaches Guide

Swanage Beach

Description: A gently shelving sandy beach, which is south facing, sheltered and generally calm.  Popular with tourists and all amenities are within easy reach.  There are no lifeguards but there is an RNLI lifeboat station. Watersports include; peddle boats, sea-canoes and dingy sailing.  Excellent cliff-top walking areas either side of Swanage town.

Access: Plenty of car-parking spaces available but in peak season travel early or late to avoid traffic through the Purbeck peninsular and the Bournemouth access via the chain ferry to Sandbanks.  Top travel tip: Why not take the steam train to Swanage or the open-air bus from Poole.
Dog free areas are in force between 1st May and 30th September.

Knoll Beach, Studland

Description:  One of the best white sandy beaches in Poole Bay and owned by the Natural Trust.  Sheltered from the west and a favourite day anchoring point for boat owners.  Crystal clear waters but you will have to look hard to find the famous sea horses.  There is a friendly beachside café and there are toilets facilities available nearby.  This beach is very popular in peak season.
Dog free areas are in force between 1st May and 30th September.

Access:  Car parking is owned by the National Trust and is limited in peak season.

Studland to Shell Bay

Description: A continuous stretch of white sand from Knoll beach to the chain ferry at Poole Harbour.  Backed by sand dunes with limited amenities.  In peak months there are portable facilities and a beach café at the western end.  Part of the beach is reserved for naturalists and swimming is not advised at the Poole harbour end. 

Access: Top travel tip is to access on foot via the chain ferry as parking is severely limited.

Sandbanks Poole

Description: The western end of 7 miles of sandy beach.  Expensive hotels and apartments line the outer beach that has good facilities.  The inner harbour area is a favourite place for water sports especially kite surfing and windsurfing.
Dog and glass free areas are in force between 1st May and 30th September.

Access: A large car park is available on the sandbanks peninsular

Rockley Sands Poole

Description: Located at the northern end of Poole Harbour a southwest facing beach with good facilities and home to a number of good water sport activities.
Dogs with responsible owners are welcome all year round.

Access:  There is a small car park nearby.

Banksome Chine

Description: Situated on the 7 mile sandy beach that links Bournemouth and Poole.  The promenade has a café and a beach shop.  Lifeguards are on duty during the summer months.
Dog and glass free areas are in force between 1st May and 30th September.

Access: There is a car park and additional parking on beach road.

Alum Chine & Durley Chine

Description: Situated on the award winning 7 mile sandy beach that links Bournemouth and Poole.  There is a promenade and a variety of amenities nearby with a beachside pub at Durley Chine.  Lifeguards are on duty during the summer months.
Dog and glass free areas are in force between 1st May and 30th September.

Access: Limited car parking in peak season

Bournemouth Central

Description:  In the central area of the award winning 7 mile sandy beach with every amenity on offer and a short walk away from the town centre. Lifeguards are on duty here along with kids areas and beach showers and toilet facilities.  Bournemouth Pier has a number of attractions including the Pier theatre and the adjacent Oceanarium.
Dog and glass free areas are in force between 1st May and 30th September. 

Access: Car park facilities are available but get very busy in summer months.  Early access is recommended via Boscombe Pier to bag a beach side parking space.  Walking access via zig-zag paths from the cliff top or the funicular railway.  A land train operates along the promenade.

Boscombe Beach & Pier

Description:  A gently shelving beach popular with surfers now that the artificial reef has been completed.  The whole beachfront has been regenerated and has a trendy surf theme.  There are excellent facilities with all-year-round lifeguards monitoring the reef.
Dog and glass free areas are in force between 1st May and 30th September. 

Access:  Limited parking is available and this is the vehicle access point to Bournemouth beach.  A land train operates along the promenade.

Fishermans Walk

Description: In peak season this can be a quieter stretch of the 7 mile sandy beach.  There are good amenities and beach huts available for hire.
Dog and glass free areas are in force between 1st May and 30th September.

Access:  Walking access via zig-zag paths from the cliff top or the funicular railway.  Parking is limited on the cliff top.

Southbourne

Description: The eastern part of the popular “surfing zone” on the 7 mile sandy beach with good amenities and a local bistro.
Dog and glass free areas are in force between 1st May and 30th September.

Access:  There is a small car park above the bistro or access is via the cliff top paths.

Hengistbury Head

Description: The pebble and sand beach at the eastern end of Bournemouth beach circumvents the headland.  You can walk along the beach onto Mudeford sandbank. This is a more natural beach, much less crowded at peak times and without any amenities. There are impressive views over to the Isle of Wight.
Dogs with responsible owners are welcome all year round.

Access: Two large car parks nearby.

Mudeford Sandbank

Description:  A fine sandy beach with a dual aspect of the sea and Christchurch harbour on the inner side.  A colony of colourful beach huts line the sandbank and Christchurch harbour is popular with dingy sailors.  Strong currents exist between the sandbank and Mudeford Quay but away from this area the beach is gently shelving and enjoyed by children of all ages.  The beach has several amenities with a good restaurant and a beach shop.  Toilet facilities are available.

Access:  Cars on not allowed onto the sandbank so access is by foot, land train (Hengistbury Head car park) or by passenger ferries from Christchurch or nearby Mudeford Quay.

Avon Beach

Description:  This sandy beach stretches from Mudeford Quay to Friars Cliff.  Bathing is not permitted at Mudeford Quay at the entrance to Christchurch harbour but this is a favourite place for youngsters to try their hand at crabbing.  There is also a good wet fish shop on Mudeford Quay. Avon beach itself is safe for bathing with a lifeguard on duty during summer months.  There is a nice beach café and beach huts line the promenade.  A full range of beach amenities are on offer, with deckchairs, sun loungers and canoes for hire.
Dogs are banned between 1st May and 30th September.

Access: Car parking is available at Mudeford Quay

Friars Cliff

Description:  A sandy family-friendly beach with plenty of amenities for children including a kids play area, water sports zoned area and good bathing.  Beach huts line the promenade and there is a beach café.
Dogs are banned between 1st May and 30th September.

Access: There are two car parks nearby.

Name: Steamer Point

Description:  The sand and shingle beach is part of the cliff top local nature reserve and designated as an area for water sports.  There are no beach amenities on the beach but are available at neighbouring Friars Cliff.  Dogs with responsible owners are welcome all year round.

Access:  Car parking is available.

Highcliffe Castle

Description:  A sand and shingle beach accessed via the castle. All amenities are available at the castle and the beach has been designated as a bathing area.  Dogs with responsible owners are allowed all year round.

Access: car parking and access is via the castle and a zig-zag path onto the beach

Highcliffe

Description: A sand and shingle beach separated into cove like areas.  There are fine views across to the Isle of Wight and the area is popular with visitors for bathing and water sports.  There is a cliff top café with toilet facilities.
There is a dog exclusion zone in place from 1st May to 30th September.

Access:  There is a large car park at the cliff top.

Barton-on-Sea

Description: A sand and shingle beach with stone groynes set beneath a 30-metre cliff.  There are paths through the cliff but beach side the cliff can be unstable.  As such deposits of fossils are found in this area.
Dogs with responsible owners are allowed. 

Access:  There is a cliff top car park and access by foot onto the beach.

Milford-on-Sea

Description:  A long pebble beach good for swimming and separated by stone and wooden groynes.  There are two cafes and other facilities available in the car parks.
Dogs with responsible owners are allowed.

Access:  Two car parks are available