Beaches
Local Area Guide
milford-on-sea
Milford-on-sea is a stony beach with excellent views of the Isle of Wight. There is a great walk from the beach along Hurst Spit to Hurst Castle. There are a couple of cafés, an ice cream kiosk and a play area next to the beach.
Dog friendly all year round.
Highcliffe
Highcliffe Beach is the most easterly beach in Dorset, sitting right on the border with Hampshire.
A series of breakwaters help to create a sand and shingle beach that is popular with swimmers and surfers, particularly body boarders. Not in keeping with its name, Highcliffe is backed by grassy dunes, bushes, trees and low-rise cliffs. The dunes and shrublands behind the beach are criss-crossed with several paths and at the western end there is the Steamer Point Nature Reserve.
From July to September there is a lifeguard service on the beach and the beach is cleaned daily during the high season and at regular intervals during the winter.
Car-parking for just over 600 cars is available at the top of Highcliffe cliff, a pay car park, including disabled parking as well as a café (The Cliffhanger Café) and toilet and baby changing facilities. From here there is a rather steep path descending down onto the beach that makes disabled access difficult. However, there is a surfaced wheelchair route from Waterford Road to Chewton Glen.
The Dorset coastal path runs alongside the coast to Mudeford Quay, providing a few miles of undisturbed paths for walkers to enjoy.
Dogs banned between groynes H8 & H11 from 1st May to 30th Sept. Dogs are permitted on the gravel promenade if on a lead all year.
avon beach
Not far from Christchurch in Dorset, Avon beach is a good destination for families with young children. Backed by a promenade to one end and attractive, pastel coloured beach huts to the other, the beach here is gently sloping and is mainly sand, although there is some shingle. From the beach fine views towards the Solent and the Isle of Wight.
Avon beach has everything you need for a family day out at the beach; you can hire one of the beach huts or accessories such as deck chairs, sun loungers, and wind breaks. There is a pay and display car park at beach level although this only has parking for around 100 cars so in peak season latecomers may need to park a little further away.
From July to September there is a designated bathing area with RNLI lifeguards patrolling. Along with clean, shallow waters this a popular beach for paddling and playing water games, although younger visitors might want to wear beach shoes as the shingle can feel quite sharp. This part of the beach can get quite busy in peak season, although it usually remains quieter than nearby Bournemouth.
As well as the bathing area there is a separate part of the shore dedicated to water-sports. Windsurfing and kitesurfing are popular here.
The facilities around the beach are excellent. There is a restaurant, café and beach shop selling equipment for crabbing as well as the usual buckets and spades. There are public toilets with showers and disabled facilities and even a first aid point.
Dogs are banned between 1st May and 30th September.
