Perched on the clifftop between Branksome Chine and Canford Cliffs Library, Pinecliff Gardens is one of Poole's quieter viewpoints, a south-facing, wind-sheltered pocket of planting that catches the sun long after the breeze has picked up elsewhere along the front. It's a spot locals tend to know well and visitors often stumble on by accident, usually while following the coast path between the chines.
History
The gardens began life in the late 1920s, laid out as two rockeries and two sunken garden areas by the old Borough of Poole. That structure, sometimes still referred to locally as the Sunken Garden, survives today, even as the planting and paths have been renewed over the decades. Since then, the upkeep has largely passed to volunteers from the Canford Cliffs residents' association, who run regular gardening sessions to keep the beds tended and the space open to everyone.
What to see & do
The main draw for families is the wildlife-themed play area, where children can clamber over giant carved wooden insects tucked among the planting. Beyond the play trail, the real reward is the view: look east towards Hengistbury Head and the Isle of Wight, and west towards the Purbecks and Old Harry Rocks, with the whole sweep of Poole Bay in between. Benches and a picnic area make it worth lingering, and steps lead down from the gardens to Canford Cliffs beach for those continuing on to the sand.
Visiting
Pinecliff Gardens is open access and free to enter, with toilets on site and dogs welcome throughout. There's a chargeable car park nearby on Western Road, or you can walk in from Pinecliff Road or the beach steps below. It's a peaceful stop on a longer clifftop walk, see more of the coast and countryside in our guide to things to do in Bournemouth.