Walk 110
Christchurch to Bournemouth (Dorset)
Difficulty: quite easy
Terrain: paths/ pavement/beach
Access: Parking at both ends
Public transport: Rail links with Bournemouth and Christchurch. Good bus links
The soft sands and wooden frame buildings provide an attractive foreground to the coast further east. Hengistbury Head is part of a massive nature reserve. Birds with different bill lengths take full advantage of the different crustaceans and worms. The head has been occupied many times since the Stone Age. In the Bronze Age it was used as a cemetery - evidenced by many archaeological finds. It is reckoned that 2000 years ago this was Britain’s most important port. Between 1840 and 1880 the area was mined for iron ore which was taken to Wales for smelting.
Along this stretch is Boscombe Pier and Boscombe Chine. Boscombe developed as a seaside resort when the first pier opened in 1889. Many of the Victorians came to the area believing that the sweet scented air from the many pine trees would cure their TB. I understand that John Lennon bought his mother a house near here, she thought it was the most beautiful view she had ever seen.
The land train which goes along the promenade to Bournemouth. Some jolly pictures from local primary school children mark the finishing point.
On the walk back the International Centre, often used by our main political parties for conferences, is prominent.
Snaps show: Warren Hill; Hengistbury Head; Bournemouth Pier; The terminus of the Bournemouth land train; a view across the Stour to Christchurch.
(Second leg of
English coastal walk – Broadstairs to Lands End)
Map: L/R 195
Distance: 10 miles or 16km approx.Difficulty: quite easy
Terrain: paths/ pavement/beach
Access: Parking at both ends
Public transport: Rail links with Bournemouth and Christchurch. Good bus links
Start by crossing the River Stour at Christchurch and join
the Stour Valley Way to Hengistbury Head. The crossing by the River Stour is
near to Wick Ferry which is an alternative method of getting to Hengistbury
Head. Looking back over the Stour there is an attractive view to Christchurch.
In Saxon times the town was known as Twynham which means the town between the
waters. Look out for Place Mill, this was mentioned in the Domesday Survey of
1086. The building has medieval stonework and Tudor and 18th century
brickwork. It was used both for fulling (cleaning and thickening cloth) and
corn grinding until 1908.
The soft sands and wooden frame buildings provide an attractive foreground to the coast further east. Hengistbury Head is part of a massive nature reserve. Birds with different bill lengths take full advantage of the different crustaceans and worms. The head has been occupied many times since the Stone Age. In the Bronze Age it was used as a cemetery - evidenced by many archaeological finds. It is reckoned that 2000 years ago this was Britain’s most important port. Between 1840 and 1880 the area was mined for iron ore which was taken to Wales for smelting.
Follow the path or continue along the sands to Warren Hill.
Hunter gatherers of the Stone Age camped here 12,500 years ago; many flint tools
have been excavated. The sea was many miles distant then.
Continue the walk along the marked paths or along the beach
– the latter is harder work because of the sand and the groynes. Join the
marked cycle path to continue to the outskirts of Bournemouth. This is the
start of the 7 miles of sandy beaches that make up Bournemouth sea front. The
town has been the fastest growing British resort in recent times.
Along this stretch is Boscombe Pier and Boscombe Chine. Boscombe developed as a seaside resort when the first pier opened in 1889. Many of the Victorians came to the area believing that the sweet scented air from the many pine trees would cure their TB. I understand that John Lennon bought his mother a house near here, she thought it was the most beautiful view she had ever seen.
Boscombe pier closed
in World War 2 and remained derelict until it was modernised in ‘fifties’ style
and reopened in 1962. It was deemed unsafe in 2005 and was refurbished and
reopened in 2008 with the old theatre building at the end being replaced with a
platform for fishermen. Much of the cliff side walk is fronted by modern
apartment developments.
Look out for Boscombe Chine (a chine is a valley). Earlier in
the 19th century the area was wild and desolate and a haven for
smuggling. Later in the century this part was developed into a pleasure ground
for the public. Near here was Boscombe Spa which allegedly had foul tasting water
purporting to have health improving properties.
The land train which goes along the promenade to Bournemouth. Some jolly pictures from local primary school children mark the finishing point.
Continue along to Bournemouth Pier. This was built in 1880
and includes a theatre. It was designed by the same man who designed the now
defunct West Pier in Brighton. You can either walk back into the town or use
the nearby electrically operated cliff lift (one of 3 in the Bournemouth area)
which was built in 1908 and has been in continuous use ever since.
On the walk back the International Centre, often used by our main political parties for conferences, is prominent.
Snaps show: Warren Hill; Hengistbury Head; Bournemouth Pier; The terminus of the Bournemouth land train; a view across the Stour to Christchurch.
