Dorset Coast Life

With beautiful coastlines, plenty of entertainment and activities on offer, or places for peace and quiet, it’s no surprise that the Dorset coastline attracts visitors all year round, and is an equally desirable place to live.

In the summer months, especially, there is plenty to see and do, whatever your age and likes and dislikes.

The Dorset coast is varied in its topography. With seven miles of sandy beaches from Sandbanks to Hengistbury Head, and relatively calm seas, this stretch is ideal for family days out, with paddling and sandcastle building on the agenda. If you like hubbub, the areas around Sandbanks, Bournemouth and Boscombe are the busiest, while a quiet spot can more likely be found at the beaches in between. In summer, dogs are welcome on limited stretches only.

The harbour areas of Poole and Christchurch are havens for wildlife. These sheltered harbour areas are ideally explored along walkways around their coastlines, or by paddleboard or kayak.

Brownsea Island, owned by the National Trust, is home to more than 200 rare red squirrels, and its lagoon is a safe haven for over wintering birds such as black-tailed godwits and avocets, while Sandwich and common terns nest on specially created gravel islands during the summer months. Brownsea can be visited on a boat trip from Poole Quay.

Paddleboarding in Poole Harbour

The sand dunes of Studland give way to the Jurassic Coast, with its dramatic cliff faces, coves and inlets. This more rugged section of the coast, which is one end of the South West Coast Path, offer spectacular views with options for gentle strolls or challenging hikes.

Visitors and locals alike will find plenty to see and do along the coast. The more urban areas of Bournemouth, Poole and, to a lesser extent, Swanage, have plenty to entertain, with traditional seaside activities such as amusement arcades, the piers at Bournemouth and Boscombe, mini golf and pedalos.

Both Bournemouth and Poole have weekly fireworks during the summer – Thursdays in Poole and Fridays in Bournemouth. Swanage has an annual carnival, which runs from 30 July to 6 August and boasts three fireworks displays, games and live music throughout the week.

In the BCP Council area, Festival Coast Live is a summer-long event with pop-up entertainment from dancing sessions to children’s entertainment across the towns of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. The summer ends with the hugely popular Bournemouth Air Show.

Traditional pastimes such as crabbing or fishing are supplemented with more active watersports. You can take lessons in windsurfing, paddleboarding, kayaking or sailing, or join a coasteering adventure. To see the coast from the sea, you can take a cruise or join a fishing excursion.

Bournemouth beach © Louis P Creative

If you prefer a little culture, museums such as the Red House in Christchurch or the Russell Cotes Art Gallery and Museum will undoubtedly fit the bill. And for a sedate stroll, the gardens in Bournemouth are ideal.

At the end of the day, you may want to find a place to eat or be entertained. There are many eating establishments along the coast, so where you choose will depend on the atmosphere you want. Swanage has plenty of small pubs and cafés with beach views, while Poole Quay is buzzing with pubs and restuarants. In Bournemouth, there are restaurants with sea views along the promenade, or you can venture slightly inland where you’ll find chain restaurants and quirky independent cafés. Bournemouth is known for its nightlife, so if you fancy dancing into the night, head to one of its nightspots.

For a quieter experience, head to a clifftop restaurant or pub along the Jurassic Coast where you will find exclusive eating establishments with stunning views.

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Al fresco dining in the centre of Bournemouth

The Norfolk Royale Hotel on Richmond Hill in central Bournemouth is the perfect place to get together for some al fresco dining. The garden is beautifully maintained and completely private and secure, so perfect for all the family. The hotel is also dog friendly, so your four legged family members are welcome too.

Just a short walk up Richmond Hill from the Square in Bournemouth, the hotel’s central location makes it perfect to stop off before, after or even during a visit to Bournemouth this summer. You can eat al fresco all day, every day at the Norfolk Royale with breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner on offer. Or you could enjoy afternoon tea for only £16.50 per person or a Sunday Carvery for £13.95 per person.

The hotel is AA four star-rated, so the quality of the food is excellent and the staff are warm and welcoming. Even if you just fancy a hot drink or a cocktail, the hotel and its beautiful garden is always open for non-residents. To secure your table, just call the friendly team on 01202 551521.

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Fun-filled activities for all ages at RockReef

A huge range of amazing activities to suit all ages from four onwards awaits at RockReef on Bournemouth Pier – it is the perfect fun day out to keep the whole family entertained. The indoor adventure centre includes 28 climbing walls, an aerial obstacle course, Pier Cave, a vertical slide and leap of faith jump. Great for rainy days or when you just need a break from the sun. Outside is the awesome PierZip, the only pier to shore zip wire in the world.

There are not many places you can take all the family and find something they all enjoy, no matter what their age. It’s great for building confidence, challenging yourself or just having fun together with friends and family. For groups of four or more, there’s a great value Friends & Family ticket available, saving you money off the individual ticket price.

Book online to save

Get the best price by booking online. Your booking confirmation will also give you free pier toll entry saving even more. Sessions do sell out in advance during the holidays so book early to guarantee your fun day out. www.rockreef.co.uk

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The Watersports Academy

The Watersports Academy in Sandbanks offers one of the widest selections of water sports you will find under one roof, with a choice of paddle-boarding, kayaking, kitesurfing, windsurfing, sailing, winging, power boating, water skiing and wake boarding, yacht charter and even bike hire.

Customers can either hire equipment or book a lesson or course with one of the Academy's, qualified instructors. They also offer a kids’ windsurfing club on Saturday mornings and, during the school holidays, multi-activity days and RYA youth courses.

Their unique location allows direct access to Poole Harbour’s sheltered and waist-deep waters – it’s an ideal place to learn, progress and have fun on the water. With onsite changing facilities, hot showers, shop and café you can easily spend the whole day at the centre trying out different water sports.

For hire, just visit The Watersports Academy in Sandbanks or, to book a lesson, course or boating activity, please call on 01202 708283.

Cliff erosion

Dorset’s Jurassic Coast is famous for its dramatic coastline, which is constantly eroding and moving. As the rocks crumble and fall they can expose fossils, which gives a fascinating look back in time, and is why the coastline is recognised as a World Heritage Site.

However, while this makes the cliffs fascinating, they can be dangerous, so it is important to be aware of how to stay safe while on the beaches.

In summer, heat causes rocks to expand and, particularly during temperature fluctuations, any pre-existing cracks can widen, and new cracks can also form. In winter, storms and cold temperatures also contribute to the erosion process. This makes cliffs potentially more unstable and rockfalls more likely to happen – devastating if people are sitting underneath them.

To stay safe on the beach, keep well away from the base of cliffs – don’t sit near them, or walk near them – and pay attention to any warning signage. Rockfalls are unpredictable and can happen at any time.

Dorset’s coastline has a number of areas with an increased potential for rockfalls, particularly on the cliffs around Seatown, Eype, Burton Bradstock, West Cliff, East Cliff, Mupe Bay, Lulworth and Swanage.

Catherine Pennington, landslide specialist at the British Geological Survey, said: “Landslides can occur on our dynamic coast at any time and the science research to fully understand the link between rockfalls and temperature fluctuations is still ongoing.

“What we do know is that cracks can form or widen during these changes in temperature. In general, cracks related to instability can be very difficult to see from the cliff top, as can unsupported, overhanging rocks so, as well as staying well away from the cliffs on the beach, it is also important to stay away from cliff edges at the top.”

Dorset fights coastal erosion

By Marilyn Barber | newseditor@dorsetview.co.uk

One of Dorset’s proudest boasts is its wonderful coastline, which – excluding the shoreline of Poole Harbour – is 88 miles long, stretching from Lyme Regis in the west to Highcliffe in the east.

Sadly, like so many parts of the UK it is subjected to coastal erosion.

BCP Council is custodian to a 40-mile stretch of coastline which includes incredibly diverse areas, ranging from rare, natural habitats to popular tourism beaches. It is important that this is managed in a flexible and responsive way that considers the effects of predicted climate change, including sea level rise and increased levels of storms.

During the 20th century, the cliffs of Poole Bay were protected from coastal erosion by the construction of concrete seawalls and groynes. This allowed houses and roads to be built on the cliff tops, but it also stopped the natural supply of sand and gravel to the shore. The whole of Poole Bay from Sandbanks to Hengistbury Head is an eroding coastline, and the many thousands of cubic metres of beach material that is lost to natural coastal processes (wind and waves) each year cannot be replaced by anything other than artificial means.

Poole Bay stretches from Sandbanks in the west to Hengistbury Head in the east. Over the last 100 years, coastal defence works have included the building of seawalls, construction of a groyne field and the creation and maintenance of an artificially widened beach along this length of coast. In 2011, the Poole and Christchurch Bays Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) set policies to manage the risk of coastal erosion along Poole Bay, through a mostly ‘Hold the Line’ approach over the next 100 years, meaning coastal defences should be maintained and upgraded or replaced in their current position where funding permits.

As part of the coast protection measures in Poole Bay, groynes are strategically placed to retain the beach material moved by longshore drift. Beaches at Poole and Bournemouth include a variety of groyne types including rock, timber and hybrid structures (constructed from timber with rock on the outer ends) – the former of which have a longer life-span. The combination of groynes with periodic beach replenishment allows the sea walls and cliffs to be better protected.

The current Beach Management Scheme is replacing the life-expired timber groynes along the Bournemouth section of Poole Bay which have a life-span of approximately 25 years.

Most recently, BCP Council ran a Coastal Strategy consultation in partnership with New Forest Council, inviting residents and businesses to share their views on how the risks of coastal flooding and erosion may be sustainably managed for the next 100 years. This is in the Christchurch Bay area, from Hengistbury Head Long Groyne to Hurst Spit, encompassing Christchurch Harbour.

Towards the end of this year, BCP council will invite further feedback on all the potential options which can be delivered realistically. The draft preferred short-listed options will then be consulted on next year. It is anticipated the final strategy will be adopted in early 2024.

BCP Council says its coastal protection must be constantly maintained. It is necessary to repair, replace or add to existing beach control structures, such as groynes, that help keep beach material in place, in order to safeguard beachfront and cliff-top property and infrastructure.

And across the Dorset Council area – which includes part of the Jurassic Coast – the authority has secured over £100 million to implement its coastal protection plan.

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Hardy’s Wessex: The landscapes that inspired a writer

Saturday 28 May - Sunday 30 October 2022

A major exhibition across four venues – Dorset Museum, The Salisbury Museum, Wiltshire Museum and Poole Museum – will see the largest ever collection of Thomas Hardy objects displayed at one time.

Take a fresh look at the Victorian novelist and poet, Thomas Hardy, in the stunning Wessex landscapes that shaped his view of the world. His story will be retold in exciting new ways by the museum collections, from period costumes to personal letters, art to archaeology.

At Poole Museum, experience the romance and excitement of the coastline which inspired Thomas Hardy’s writing. This exhibition explores the coastal themes in Hardy’s life – from first meeting his wife Emma on the wild cliffs of Cornwall, to his fascination with the Napoleonic wars.

See the difference between Hardy’s romanticised views of love and war in his early life, to his portrayal of the realities of both in his later writings. Please visit www.poolemuseum.org.uk for further details. Exhibition entry charge applies. Pick up a discount voucher when you visit, and use it to get a generous 25% off the entrance price to one of the other Hardy exhibitions.

Poole Museum entry – FREE. Open daily, 10am - 5pm.

Oly Rush with rubbish found on Bournemouth Beach

Leave only footprints

Sadly, every time the weather warms up, it is the same story – people flock to the beach, and it is left strewn with rubbish.

While awareness is growing, with plenty of people using the available bins along the beach, or taking their rubbish home with them, there is a persistent problem with rubbish being left for someone else to deal with. Or worse, to be washed into the sea.

Environmentalist Oly Rush, who has raised awareness about pollution through epic swims around the Isle of Wight and Grand Cayman, and leads a group of beach cleaners called Project Planet was appalled at the amount of litter left on the beach during the recent hot days.

Oly said: “The council cleans all the mess up in the morning so often people don’t get to see what it’s like after a hot day. But if more people see the mess they might think twice about leaving their rubbish behind. There are bins all the way along the promenade but still people just leave their waste on the sand.

“But if you ask them to take their waste home and give them a bag, most people will do it. I’d urge everyone to dispose of their litter or take it home. Don’t be selfish.”