Bournemouth’s beaches are the reason most people come seven continuous miles of gently shelving golden sand, backed by cliffs, chines and a promenade you can walk end to end. Several hold Blue Flag and Seaside Award status for water quality and facilities.
They divide into five main beaches, west to east: Alum Chine, Durley Chine, Bournemouth Beach (by the pier), Boscombe and Southbourne, each with its own character, from the quiet wooded chines in the west to the surf and watersports at Boscombe. Beyond these, quieter named stretches such as Fisherman’s Walk at the Southbourne end reward anyone happy to walk a little further along the sand.
Beach safety
Swim between the red-and-yellow flags where lifeguards are on patrol, check the tide before walking under the cliffs, and never use inflatables when the orange windsock is flying offshore winds can carry them out to sea.
