With the bank holiday weekend fast approaching, three days out of the office is a fantastic opportunity to see a new place and get outdoors.
A place with some of the best natural beaches the UK has to offer, a beautiful national park and even opportunity to interact with some diverse natural wildlife that you simply cannot find inside cities.
‘Sunny Bournemouth’ is located on the South Coast of England, best known for its beaches as Bournemouth boasts approximately seven miles of coastline. With sandy beaches, two piers and various opportunities for watersports, UK beaches don’t get more idyllic.
The Famous Beaches
Harry Reed, who has lived in Bournemouth since he was a baby, explains how diverse it is as a holiday destination.
“All the beaches are only 15 minutes away from the town which of course is great, my two favorite beaches are at Hengistbury Head and sandbanks” he explained.
Hengistbury head is a prominent headland located to the east of Bournemouth, it is an Archaeological site that has been inhabited since the Stone Age and so tools throughout history have been discovered there.
A walking trail and land train runs around the main headland with two popular cafes either side of the 40-minute trail.
Many visitors hike to the top of the headland and are rewarded with a 360 view of the English channel, Bournemouth and neighbouring town Christchurch.
Surrounded by secluded beaches, the headland is a unique coastal experience
Harry’s other favourite beach, Sandbanks, is found at the other end of Bournemouth’s coastland.
Sandbanks is a small but renowned peninsula located at the western end of the Bournemouth coastline, within the town of Poole. The well-maintained beaches surround the spit which is the fourth most expensive place to live in the world.
Harry said: “It’s crazy to see the huge houses, even if you don’t like beach days.”
Known as ‘Millionaire’s Row’ and most houses with a dock in Poole Harbour, some famous faces have lived on the peninsula, such as football manager Harry Redknapp, celebrity chef Rick Stein and ex-football player and pundit Graham Souness
Diverse Nature
Harry explained there is more than just beaches though in Bournemouth.
He said: “You’ve got Mudeford Spit, a great place to go crabbing off the fish port.
“When it is sunny, it gets so busy down there, with people of all ages catching crabs and holding them.”
Mudeford is also known as a great location for observing other natural wildlife. Both fishing and bird watching are popular, with opportunities to catch large mackerel or bass from shore.
If that wasn’t enough, fishing boats moor up on the spit and sell fresh fish, coquilles, muscles, crabs and lobsters straight from the English channel
The New Forest
For those who prefer the greenery and dirt instead of sand and sea. Bournemouth has also got you covered with access to The New Forest.
“There is always somewhere new to go in the New Forest, you can just go and get lost in nature and it doesn’t matter because it is always so nice out there,” Harry explained.
The Forest spans Wiltshire and Hampshire and is only a 20 minute drive from Bournemouth, making it a very popular location for those with dogs or in need of a nature fix away from the business of city life.
The New Forest National Park covers an area of approximately 566 square kilometres, so you can quite literally keep walking until you’ve had enough
Harry continued: “It is also filled with nice hidden coffee shops and pubs with beer gardens which are lovely to drink in.”
So, before the weather gets really hot and Bournemouth crowds with tourists. This bank holiday could be an ideal opportunity to escape into nature and explore a new city with a lot of natural attractions to offer.
Bristol – https://ninetoalive.co.uk/2024/05/23/opinion-explore-the-best-of-bristol-this-bank-holiday-weekend/
Cornwall – https://ninetoalive.co.uk/2024/05/23/opinion-escape-to-cornwall-this-bank-holiday/
