Easy hikes and walks around Highcliffe And Walkford

Great fun for all

lovely hard compact gravel with great views

There’s a hidden flight of steps down the cliff side at this location.

An absolute treasure of a beach. You'll not find this as crowded as the more central to bournemouth beaches. It's dog friendly, and at the moment there is only the access from the the start area of the segment. Which means there are not hordes of people dragging all their tents and camping gear across it, or parked up cars blarring music out. I'll be back in the summer for sure. Breathtaking views across the Solent and out to the Isle of Wight.

When you come across this you'll know you've reached as far as safely possible to go. Add a little rock or create a little art. I created a little art.

At the Quay you will find several places to eat and drink as well as areas to enjoy a picnic. It is a great place to take a gentle stroll next to the waters edge and watch all the busy activities taking place. For children and families, crabbing is very popular from the quayside. You can buy nets, buckets and bait from the shop at the end of the Quay if you don't have your own. There is also a children's play area to let the little ones burn off some energy. The Quay is a popular sailing and windsurfing destination throughout the year and holds a number of dinghy championships. Many other events are also held here including seafood festivals, fun days, arts festivals and the annual Lifeboat Week.

The three menus (breakfast, daytime & evening), all offer a simple, uncluttered range of tasty and wholesome dishes, with ingredients sourced as locally as possible. The Cliffhanger’s classic staple dish is beer-battered chunky fish and chips, served with minted mushy peas and homemade tartar sauce. The menus do vary, often to reflect seasonal variations in available ingredients, they occasionally feature unexpected twists on a classic – for example, they once served chilli con carne on a baked sweet potato. Opening Times Sunday - Thursday 09:00 - 17:00 Friday & Saturday 09:00 - 20:00

Highcliffe Castle has been described as arguably the most important surviving house of the Romantic and Picturesque style of architecture, which flourished at the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century. Its significance is recognised nationally by its Grade 1 status on the Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural and Historical Interest. The Castle was built between 1831 and 1836 and is the realisation of one man’s fantasy. That man was Lord Stuart de Rothesay. When he built it he was following in the footsteps of his grandfather the 3rd Earl of Bute, who had built an earlier mansion on the site during the 1770s. A keen botanist, Lord Bute created a scaled-down version of Kew. Perched on the edge of the cliff, on heathland with magnificent views out to sea, this house stood for only 38 years before land springs and sea erosion destabilised it. today the Castle is again a beautiful building – now for all to enjoy. Owned by the Council since 1977 and benefitting from English Heritage funding and two National Lottery grants (in the 1990s and 2010s), the Castle now hosts joyous weddings, stages a variety of productions, and hosts fairs, exhibitions and events throughout the year. It is a valued asset at the heart of the community and a popular tourist attraction. We welcomed BBC’s The Antiques Roadshow in 2012 and made an appearance more recently in Mr Selfridge on ITV.