Tucked into the cliff at Southbourne, the Fisherman's Walk Cliff Lift is a curiosity as much as a convenience, a miniature funicular railway that shuttles passengers up and down a 91-foot cliff face in a ride lasting barely a minute. Officially recognised by Guinness World Records as the shortest public funicular railway on the planet, its two tiny cars have been quietly doing the job since 1935.
History
The lift was opened on 8 June 1935 by the borough engineer, F. P. Dolamore, making it the last of Bournemouth's cliff railways to be built, and, it's believed, the last cliff lift constructed anywhere in the UK. The original machinery, supplied by the Express Lift Company, cost the corporation just under £7,000; the motor has since been upgraded, and the cabins were refurbished in 2012, but the lift still runs on its original short double track.
Visiting today
The lift links the clifftop, home to a café and a children's play area, with Fisherman's Walk beach and the promenade below, saving a walk down (and, more importantly, back up) the cliff path. It's a seasonal service, generally running from around Easter into the autumn and closed over winter, with fares payable by card or contactless only. It's a small, low-key attraction, but a memorable one if you're exploring Fisherman's Walk beach and want to see one of the town's more unusual pieces of seaside engineering. Find more ideas in our guide to things to do in Bournemouth.