At the seaward end of Bournemouth Pier, a steel tower carries riders out over the waves on PierZip, a 250-metre dual zip wire that its operator, RockReef, calls the world's first pier-to-shore zip line. Two parallel wires let pairs race each other from the tower down to a landing point on the beach, making for one of the more distinctive ways to arrive on Bournemouth sand.
Riding PierZip
Tickets are sold as solo, dual (2-person) or Friends & Family (4-person) rides, booked online in advance, with discounts available for a second or third go. Riders need to be at least 6 years old, 1.3 metres tall, and between 30kg and 120kg, and pregnant women are not able to take part for safety reasons. A video recording of the ride can be added on, and PierZip can also be combined with a ticket for RockReef's climbing walls and rope courses on the pier for a "Climb 'N Fly" package.
When it runs
PierZip operates at weekends throughout the year, and daily during school half terms, July and the summer holidays, weather permitting. It closes each January for annual maintenance, and exact opening times shift with the season, so it's worth checking RockReef's website on the day.
PierZip sits right at the entrance to Bournemouth's famous stretch of sand, pair it with a walk along the pier or a swim off the beach below. Explore more in our guide to things to do in Bournemouth.