Canford Cliffs Chine is the wooded ravine that gives its name to one of the most sought-after stretches of coastline in Poole, cutting down through the low sandy cliffs between Branksome Chine and Shore Road. Like Bournemouth's chines further along the bay, it began as a natural cleft in the soft cliffs, later shaped into a sheltered walking route down to the sand.
History
The upper part of the chine was marked as "Pleasure Grounds" on the first-edition Ordnance Survey map of 1889, showing that this stretch of the valley was already being maintained as an ornamental public space in the Victorian era, around the time Canford Cliffs and neighbouring Branksome Park were being laid out as a fashionable seaside suburb. The chine's steep, sandy cliff face is now managed as a conservation area, giving shelter to local wildlife.
Visiting
A path and steps lead down through the chine to Canford Cliffs beach, a Blue Flag stretch of sand with RNLI lifeguard cover in summer. The walk down is straightforward but has some gradient, so it takes a little more effort on the way back up, and access directly from the nearby car park can be awkward, with many visitors finding it easier to approach via Shore Road or Branksome Chine instead. At the top of the chine, Canford Cliffs village has a good choice of independent restaurants, cafés and shops, making it easy to combine a walk down to the beach with lunch or a coffee.
Nearby
At the foot of the chine, the beach itself is one of Poole's quieter, family-friendly spots, with seasonal volleyball nets and lifeguard cover in high summer. A short walk inland brings you to Canford Cliffs Village Pocket Park, a small green space in the heart of the village. It's one of several wooded chines that break up this part of the coast, explore more of them, and the rest of the area, in our guide to things to do in Bournemouth.
