Branksome Chine is a popular sandy beach that is quieter than the more hectic Bournemouth pier area. It is a Blue Flag awarded beach with lifeguards patrolling from May through September.
The beach can be accessed by ramp and a beach accessible wheelchair is available on a first come, first served basis at the seasonal beach office (refundable deposit required). There are also access toilets with RADAR key access in the car park and on the promenade.
1. The Beach
The wide golden sandy beach at Branksome Chine slopes gently into the sea making it ideal for families with young children. The Chine is also home to a cafe restaurant, a beach shop and a number of beach huts. It is a Blue Flag beach and has a staffed RNLI lifeguard station with daily beach patrols from May to September.
Its location means it gets crowded with locals and visitors but you can still find quieter spots if you look for them. The main car park for Branksome Chine beach is located right on the end of the Chine next to the shops, cafe and Beach office. It has 104 spaces (3 disabled) but it can fill up quickly in summer.
Branksome Hall is hosting a new Mini Eco-Explorers Camp this year! Kids will explore nature through hands-on exploration and eco-art activities.
2. The Park
Branksome Park sits inland from the beachfront offering a more suburban, countrified feel. Here you’ll find houses nestled within private grounds while the surrounding woodland walks and streams provide endless fascination.
On the other hand, Branksome Chine is one of Poole’s most renowned beaches. It’s a Blue Flag-awarded beach popular among locals thanks to its wide expanse of golden sands which gently slope into the sea. It’s also home to an on-beach car park, a cafe and a beach office with a lifeguard station during the summer season.
Unlike most beaches around Dorset, this one is dog friendly all year round. So bring the whole family and let your dog run off some energy!
3. The Shops
Branksome Chine is one of Poole’s best-known sandy beaches. It’s the perfect place to build sandcastles, swim in the warm sea or relax in a beach hut for the day. The area has a wide range of facilities including a cafe, shop and popular restaurant and terrace bar. It’s a Blue Flag beach and is patrolled by lifeguards in summer. You can hire a beach wheelchair at the beach office on a first come, first served basis and there are accessible toilets (RADAR key access) in the car park and on the promenade.
The area is also home to Poole Retail Park which features a dozen major UK retailers. There’s even a John Lewis at Home store which offers a full range of home and garden products. Explore more things to do in Branksome using the Walkfo local tourist guide app. Our historic audio walks, National Trust interactive experiences and English Heritage digital tour guides will bring your surroundings to life – just touch the plaques in our app to play the audio.
4. The Restaurants
The beaches at Branksome and Branksome Chine are some of Poole’s most popular with the latter a particular favourite for families with its large fine sandy beach, well-appointed cafe/bar/restaurant and terrace bar. There are also a number of lovely beach huts available for hire on a daily basis.
There is an on-beach car park, a beach shop and the area is monitored and maintained from the nearby Branksome Chine Beach Office during the summer season when lifeguards operate. The area also offers a number of beach guidelines that visitors are requested to follow in order to help keep the beach clean and safe.
See, hear and explore historic Branksome places with Walkfo, the free outdoor audio tour app. Our AI tour guide will give you interesting facts and historical background to the place whilst you’re exploring its surroundings with no digital distraction. Create your own Branksome tour using our simple walk builder for free. It’s quick and easy to use.
