The walk west from Bournemouth to Sandbanks is one of the best half-days on this coast. You can follow the flat promenade at beach level or take the higher clifftop path, both tracing the same long curve of sand past Branksome and Canford Cliffs towards the harbour mouth.
The short version
- The route runs west along the bay from central Bournemouth to Sandbanks.
- Choose the flat promenade or the higher clifftop path, or mix the two.
- Allow roughly two to three hours one way, longer with stops.
- A chain ferry crosses the harbour mouth at Sandbanks in general terms.
- Wear proper shoes for the cliff paths and check the ferry before you go.
Two ways to walk it
The joy of this route is that you can pick your level. Down on the promenade you are at beach level the whole way, on a firm flat path with the sea beside you and the cliffs rising to your right. Up on the clifftop you swap easy going for the views, looking out across Poole Bay with the Purbeck hills ahead and the Isle of Wight behind. Steps and zig-zag paths link the two at intervals, so you can climb up when you fancy the scenery and drop back down when you want the sand.
Through the chines
The early part of the walk passes the chines, the wooded valleys that cut down to the sea. Durley Chine comes first as you head west from the central beaches, an easy break with cafes and a broad stretch of sand. Not far beyond, Alum Chine threads down through its subtropical garden, a good spot to shelter from the wind and let children run off some energy before you press on.
Branksome, Canford Cliffs and Sandbanks
Past the chines the coast grows a little quieter and greener as you cross into Branksome and Canford Cliffs. The beaches here are cleaner and calmer than the central stretch, and the pine-topped clifftop gardens make for pleasant, sheltered walking away from the crowds. This is where the promenade crowds thin out and the pace of the walk slows down, which is part of the appeal. Keep going and the land narrows towards Sandbanks, the sandy spit that closes off Poole Harbour, with its wide beach on one side and the still, boat-dotted water on the other. There are cafes and kiosks along the front the whole way, so you will not go short of a coffee or an ice cream, and plenty of benches if you simply want to sit and watch the boats come and go.
The ferry and reaching Poole
At the tip of Sandbanks a small chain ferry crosses the harbour mouth towards Studland and the Purbeck side, a short and characterful hop that many walkers make just for the ride. To carry on into Poole town itself, the simplest option is to head inland by bus or train, as the town sits around the far side of the harbour rather than along the open coast. Ferry sailings can pause for weather or maintenance, so check the latest before you build your day around a crossing.
Preparation and safety
None of this walk is difficult, but a few things are worth remembering. The clifftop edges are unfenced in places and the ground can crumble, so keep well back, especially with children and dogs. The paths down through the chines are steep and get slippery after rain, so proper shoes make a real difference. Take water and a windproof layer, as the exposed clifftop can feel much cooler than the sheltered promenade below.
Where to start planning
Decide which beaches you want to link before you set out, and let the walk follow the sand. Our beaches hub runs through each stretch in turn, from the busy central sands to the calmer western coves, so you can plan the perfect line west and know exactly where to stop along the way.