The Area

A short drive from the stunning New Forest, Southbourne is between Christchurch in the east with its historic 11th century Priory Church and castles.  Boscombe Pier in the west is the site of Europe’s first artificial surf reef.

Bournemouth’s town centre is just three miles away with a variety of shops, restaurants, pubs, parks and gardens.  Southbourne’s golden beach has Blue Flag status with no sudden shelves or rip currents, a KidZone scheme that reunites lost children with their parents and a popular beach front bistro.  From Beach Lodge you can walk down the ‘zigzag’ path or use the cliff lift.  There are a number of excellent golf courses and water sports enthusiasts can enjoy surfing, kite surfing, windsurfing, diving and sailing.

Slightly further along the coast is Poole with its lovely natural harbour (the second largest in the world) and old quayside.  For walkers, the South West Coast Path ends here after travelling 630 miles from Minehead in Somerset.  Ending in Dorset at Studland Bay is the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site; starting at Exmouth it covers 95 miles of stunning coastline and 185 million years of natural history!  Then there’s Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour - home to the 2012 Olympic sailing events.

Useful Web Links

BOURNEMOUTH AREA HOSPITALITY ASSOCIATION (BAHA) www.bookinbournemouth.co.uk

BOURNEMOUTH TOURIST WEBSITE www.bournemouth.co.uk

DISCOVER DORSET TOURS www.discoverdorset.co.uk

POOLE TOURIST WEBSITE www.pooletourism.com

NEW FOREST TOURIST WEBSITE www.thenewforest.co.uk

FRIENDLY PLACES WEBSITE www.friendly-places.com

LATEROOMS www.laterooms.com