Hengistbury Head Beach

What it’s like

A wide nature reserve beach with a land train to Mudeford Spit, harbour views and wildlife webcams to spot along the way.

This one's less about deckchairs and more about the walk out to Mudeford Spit, whether you do it on foot or let the land train take the strain. The trails wind along the headland with views across the harbour, and there are wildlife webcams dotted about showing barn owls, herons and feeding stations, which is a nice way to keep a slow walk interesting for a six-year-old who's already asking when they get an ice cream.

There's stag beetle info along the way too if you've got a child who's into bugs rather than birds, and the whole reserve has that unhurried feel where nobody minds if you stop every five minutes to look at something in the grass. Entry's free, which helps when you're not entirely sure how long you'll last before someone wants the café instead.

The land train is the bit worth saving for the walk back, especially with smaller legs that have had enough of the headland. It's got carriages built with ramps, so it works for wheelchair users too, and the paths generally are smooth and manageable rather than the sandy scramble you sometimes get on coastal walks. Parking's beside the Hiker Café and it's only a flat five-minute walk from there to the visitor centre, with disabled bays on the road opposite.

Dogs are welcome if they're well behaved and kept on the lead, given it's a nature reserve rather than an open beach for ball games. The cafés on site do tea, cake and proper meals. If you fancy avoiding the car altogether, there's a ferry over to Christchurch and buses run close by too.

Facilities

Need to know

Parking

Pay parking beside the Hiker Café, flat 5-minute walk to Visitor Centre

Food

Cafés on site serving tea, cake and substantial meals

Wheelchairs

Smooth pathways and visitor centre accessible

Dogs

Well-behaved dogs welcome, keep on lead wherever possible in this nature reserve

Getting there by bus or train

Buses run close by. Christchurch town centre about 1.5 miles away

• The disabled toilet in the courtyard doesn't use a radar key
• The land train carriages have ramps built in for wheelchair access
• You can reach Christchurch by ferry instead of driving round
• Buses run close by if you'd rather skip parking altogether

Plan your visit

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