The Beaches of Dorset – Branksome Chine
This is a narrow beach of sand and shingle with a promenade near Poole. It is a popular ‘Blue Flag’ beach and has a café and a shop. The south facing beach is cleaned daily during the summer and weekly the rest of the year. The water quality is MCS Recommended bathing water.
There is parking at the car park by the promenade, with additional spaces on Beach Road. There is a lifeguard service here between May and September. Popular for swimming (watercraft free zones at certain beaches), sailing, fishing, surfing, canoeing, jet skiing, windsurfing, power boating, pedalo hire, beach hut hire and water-skiing. Areas of the beach have been zoned as No Smoking and Kidzone.
A three kilometre undercliff walk leads from Fisherman’s Walk east to Hengistbury Head. The Bournemouth cliffs provide an ideal habitat for the nationally rare sand lizard and smooth snake, as well as many plant species.