Seven miles of beach, a Victorian pier, and the world's largest natural harbour
Bournemouth and Poole sit either side of the mouth of Poole Harbour — and the journey between them along the beach is one of the great Dorset days out. You can walk the whole 7 miles along the sand, or take the ferry across the harbour mouth at Sandbanks. Either way, you end up in one of the most beautiful natural harbours in the world.
Start at Bournemouth Pier — the longest pleasure pier in the south of England. The pier has a zip wire, an aquarium, and a theatre. The beach either side is wide, sandy, and well-managed. The Lower Gardens behind the beach are free and beautiful in summer.
The zip wire from the pier is genuinely thrilling and not as expensive as you'd expect. Book online to avoid queues.
Walk west along the beach for 4 miles to Sandbanks. The beach is continuous and the walking is easy on firm sand at the water's edge. Sandbanks is famous for having some of the most expensive real estate in the world — the peninsula is lined with extraordinary houses. The beach at Sandbanks is excellent.
The Haven Hotel at the tip of Sandbanks has a good bar and terrace with views across the harbour mouth. Worth stopping for a drink.
Take the chain ferry across the harbour mouth to Studland. It runs every 20 minutes and takes 5 minutes. The views of the harbour entrance are excellent. From Studland you can walk the beach or drive north to Poole.
The ferry takes cars as well as foot passengers. In summer, car queues can be 45 minutes — walk on as a foot passenger and collect the car later.
Drive or bus the 5 miles to Poole Quay. The old town quayside is one of the best in England — medieval merchants' houses, a working harbour, and excellent restaurants. The Poole Museum on the quay is free and has a good collection on the town's maritime history.
The Guildhall Tavern on Market Street is the best restaurant in Poole — French-influenced seafood, excellent wine list. Book ahead.
Poole Harbour is the second largest natural harbour in the world (after Sydney). It contains five islands, including Brownsea Island — the birthplace of the Scout movement. National Trust ferries run to Brownsea from Poole Quay in summer.
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