Beach Walks In Bournemouth

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With plenty of beaches in Bournemouth, it’s no wonder that there are some lovely beach walks in Bournemouth. They each offer some amazing views across the water. The beauty of walking along or near the beach is that it can be done any time of the year.

Bournemouth coastal walks offer some gentle walking options, with the added flexibility of adding in inclines if you choose to include the zig zag hill trails to the tops of the cliffs and back down again.

The promenade stretching between Sandbanks in Poole and Hengistbury Head in Bournemouth is around 10 miles long. Pick a section and enjoy a scenic walk.

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Walking is good for the mind and body. It’s a great way to get some Vitamin D and get the heart and lungs pumping. Walking doesn’t have to be a strenuous activity, and with that in mind these walking routes along the Bournemouth coast are suitable for all without including the Zigzag hills.

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Bournemouth Pier To Boscombe Pier Walk

Possibly one of the more popular beach walks in Bournemouth is from Bournemouth Pier to Boscombe Pier. Starting at Bournemouth Pier, you can either walk along the sand for the whole way, or if you prefer a more solid ground, the promenade will take you all the way as well.

The walking distance between Bournemouth pier and Boscombe pier is around 1.5 miles each way. It’s completely flat, passing the beach huts, offering a gentle stroll with plenty of toilet facilities and snack kiosks along the way. Whilst dogs are restricted along many sections of this walk, you can take them any time of the year along the promenade.

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Should you wish to extend this walk, then why not add in an incline up the East Cliff ZigZag to East Cliff Overdrive and back down Toft ZigZag a little way along the road.

view from boscombe pier towards boscombe

Boscombe Pier To Southbourne Beach Walk

Starting from Boscombe Pier, this 2.4 mile walk along Boscombe Promenade will take around 45 minutes. The walk is mainly flat, however you could extend the distance and difficulty by walking up Manor Steps Zig Zag and back down via Fisherman’s Walk. 

Along the walk, there are public toilets and refreshment kiosks with plenty of options for resting either end.

Facilities at Boscombe Pier include plenty of choices for eating and drinking from the Harvester pub to cafes and kiosks. Along the pier itself is a mini adventure golf course and plenty of amazing sights out across the ocean.

Southbourne Beach To Hengistbury Head Walk

Walking from Southbourne along Boscombe Promenade towards Hengistbury Head Visitor Centre will take around half an hour. The 1.3 mile walk along the coast is mainly flat with toilet facilities and cafes at either end.

If you’re looking to extend your walk, you could spend some additional time exploring Hengistbury Head before turning back to Southbourne.

Facilities at Southbourne Beach (Bournemouth, BH5 2EL) include an award winning sand and shingle beach. Lifeguard stations, toilets, refreshments kiosks and beach huts to hire.

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hengistbury head

Hengistbury Head To Mudeford Sandbank Walk

From Hengistbury Head carpark, you can follow the beach around the head for just over 2 miles to Mudeford Sandbank. 

Facilities at Hengistbury Head beach (Southbourne, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH6 4EW) include a cafe and toilets nearby close to the headland. The beach is mainly large shingle terrain sheltered by cliffs as you walk around.

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Facilities at Mudeford Sandbank (The Spit, Mudeford, Christchurch, Dorset, BH6 4EW) include toilet blocks and hot showers. The beach is dog friendly all year around and is a popular place for dog walking. The nearest car park is at Hengistbury Head.

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mudeford beach

Avon Beach to Highcliffe Beach Walk

Avon Beach in Mudeford is a great start to a walk. You can enjoy a spot of crabbing along Mudeford Quay before setting off for the 2.4 mile walk to Highcliffe Beach. The walk is mainly flat with cafes along the way. During this walk you can pass through Steamer Point Nature reserve.

Facilities at Avon Beach (Mudeford, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 4AN) include a beach level car park, cafe, restaurant and beach shop. Beach huts are available to hire here as well. 

Dogs are welcome on the promenade but not on the beach between 1st May and 30th September.

Facilities at Highcliffe Beach (Wharncliffe Road, Highcliffe, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 5DE) include a cafe and toilets on the cliff top next to the car park. The beach is mainly shingle and sand.

Alum Chine To Bournemouth Pier Walk

Walking along Bournemouth beaches using the Undercliff Promenade, it’ll take around twenty to thirty minutes to walk from Alum Chine to Bournemouth Pier.

Parking is available at Alum Chine beach (BH4 8AN), however during the Summer months there is also a land train that runs along the promenade so if walking both ways is too much, you could always hop on the train for the return journey.

This coastal walking route is flat as it takes you past the Tropical Gardens, and past both Middle Chine beach and Durley Chine beach. You will pass West Cliff Zig Zag so if you did want to make the walk longer and add some hills in, this is an option.

view from west cliff zig zag

Bournemouth To Sandbanks Walk

If you fancy walking away from Bournemouth towards Poole, you can try out the 3.8 mile walk between Bournemouth Pier and Sandbanks.

Walking along the promenade, the walk is flat. You’ll pass Durley Chine beach, Alum Chine beach, Branksome Dean beach, Branksome Chine beach and Canford Cliffs beach. Why not break the walk up with the variety of pubs and restaurants along the way.

You’ll have to save some energy for the walk back!

Which of these walks near Bournemouth will you try first?

beach walks in Bournemouth

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