Above Boscombe's seafront, a run of clifftop gardens and grassland opens out into the Boscombe and Southbourne Overcliff Local Nature Reserve, a quieter, wilder counterpoint to the beach and pier below. It's a place for a breezy walk with big views rather than a formal ornamental garden, and it rewards anyone who wanders up from the sand for a look back over the bay.
History
The Cliff Gardens at the heart of the reserve originally opened in 1900, part of the Victorian and Edwardian trend for landscaping Bournemouth's clifftops as promenading grounds for visitors. The outward-facing cliff gardens lead through to more sheltered, Italianate planting further inland. In 2007 the wider area was formally designated a Local Nature Reserve, tying the historic gardens into a broader stretch of clifftop and grassland recognised today as a Site of Nature Conservation Interest.
Wildlife & what to see
Covering almost 23 acres, the reserve is a genuine haven for wildlife squeezed between the town and the sea. Birdlife includes Dartford warblers, stonechats, kestrels and greenfinches, while warm days bring out wall lizards and green lizards, often spotted basking on the walls of the zig-zag path at Portman Ravine. Perhaps the most unusual residents are the small herd of British feral goats that graze the steep cliffs around Honeycomb Chine, kept there to help manage the vegetation. Throughout, the clifftop delivers some of the best views in the bay, stretching east across Poole Bay to Old Harry Rocks and the Purbeck Hills.
Visiting
The reserve is free and open access, with no set hours, a good option any time of day or year. Hard-surfaced paths run across the clifftop and grassland sections, making it more wheelchair- and pushchair-friendly than most of Bournemouth's wooded chines. Dog walking is by far the most popular use of the site, and occasional guided walks run through the year for anyone who wants to learn more about the reserve's ecology.
Nearby
The gardens sit directly above Boscombe Pier and Boscombe Beach, reached via the zig-zag paths dropping down through the cliffs, while the landscaped valley of Boscombe Chine Gardens lies a short walk along the front. It's one of the best free clifftop walks around the bay, explore more in our guide to things to do in Bournemouth.
