Summary
Poole, located on the world’s second largest natural harbor, is a port town and popular tourist resort featuring beautiful beaches, cultivated gardens, and ample inspiration for enjoyable outings.
During the 1700s, Poole was one of England’s busiest ports and played a significant role in the D-Day landings of 1944. Today, it continues to serve as a key cross-Channel ferry terminal.
Protected from the open sea, Poole Harbour is an ideal destination for various watersports, whether you prefer windsurfing, paddling, or using motorized vessels.
A considerable portion of the harbour is enclosed by nature reserves, which protect sandy coastlines and provide vital habitats for local birds and deer.
It is impossible to discuss Poole without mentioning Sandbanks, frequently featured in lists of the premier beaches in England, renowned for housing some of the most valuable real estate outside of London.
Let’s delve into the top attractions in Poole:
1. Poole Harbour
From the promenade located on Poole Quay, visitors are presented with remarkable views of Europe’s largest natural harbour.
Here, you can observe the expansive dimensions of the harbour, alongside the multitude of cargo ships, cruise vessels, recreational boats, and cross-channel ferries that traverse its narrow entrance daily.
The harbour originated as a drowned valley formed at the conclusion of the last ice age and acts as an estuary for multiple rivers interspersed with islands.
In the upcoming sections, we will discuss diverse ways to enjoy Poole Harbour, including ferry rides, watersports, nature walks, and excursions to Corfe Castle located in the Purbeck Hills to the south.
2. Sandbanks Beach
Every year, Sandbanks Beach secures a Blue Flag award.
This sandy spit at the harbour’s northern entrance features a broad expanse of pristine golden sand, flanked by some of the UK’s most expensive properties. The beach is sheltered by a long row of groynes, which mitigate wave action and ensure safe conditions for swimmers on clear summer days.
Sandbanks undoubtedly ranks among the foremost beaches in the country, complemented by lavish mansions, upscale eateries, various watersports facilities, and yacht dealers. Families can also find children’s play areas and a mini-golf course.
3. Corfe Castle
A visit to the Hartland Moor National Nature Reserve leads you to the historical site of Corfe Castle, situated just over ten miles around the harbour from Poole.
This stronghold began as a wooden motte and bailey castle, established during the Norman conquest, overlooking a crucial pass through the Purbeck Hills, which extends from Wareham in the west to Swanage in the east.
Throughout the subsequent 500 years, Corfe Castle underwent conversion to a stone structure, and during the English Civil War, the Royalist Mary Bankes defended it against a three-year siege.
Following the war, the castle was deliberately damaged to prevent its reuse, with much of its stone repurposed for construction in the charming village below.
A model village and picturesque gardens await exploration, along with a heritage steam railway meandering through the Purbeck Hills to Swanage.
4. Compton Acres
Established in 1920 by the margarine magnate Thomas William Simpson, Compton Acres remains acknowledged as one of England’s most exquisite privately-owned gardens.
Visitors can stroll along a circular path covering ten acres, featuring five distinct themed sub-gardens: a heather garden, a Japanese garden, a rock and water garden, an Italian garden, and a mature wooded valley.
The Italian Garden presents a refined formal setting, adorned with fountains and statues, including Bacchus (within a temple) and “Wrestlers of Herculaneum,” whereas the rock garden ranks among the largest private collections in England, showcasing over 300 diverse plant species.
The Japanese Garden boasts stone and bronze art imported from Japan in the 1920s, along with an authentic tea house entangled in Japanese wisteria.
5. Boat Trip
During the summer months, spending time in Poole often results in the irresistible desire to embark on a boat trip to further explore the vastness of the world’s second largest natural harbour.
The main departure point for hour-long excursions around the harbour is Poole Quay, offering views of all five major islands along with the breathtaking Purbeck Hills.
Additionally, one may catch a ferry to Brownsea Island, the largest of the islands, which is managed by the National Trust. This serene location is dotted with woodland and heather and is home to one of the last remaining populations of native red squirrels in England.
Alternatively, enjoy a cruise to the elegant resort of Swanage while taking in the stunning chalk formations known as Old Harry Rocks along the way.
6. Poole Park
Poole Park has been a vital component of the town since the Victorian era, showcasing well-maintained lawns, mature trees, a café, and recreational amenities surrounding a large boating lake.
Rejuvenated by the sea during spring tides, this expansive body of water covers over 20 hectares, accommodating diverse activities such as kayaking, windsurfing, and rowing.
For those on land, miniature golf, a miniature train ride for children, tennis courts, and a cricket pitch, where Poole Town Cricket Club may hold summer matches, are available.
For fitness enthusiasts, enjoy a parkrun every Saturday morning, attracting hundreds of participants each week.
7. Poole Museum
Poole Museum, located in a Victorian quayside warehouse with a contemporary glass atrium added in 2007, is one of the premier visitor attractions in Southwest England. It spans four floors, chronicling Poole’s history from prehistory to the 21st century.
On the ground floor, the centerpiece is the Poole Logboat, a preserved Iron Age vessel carved from a single oak tree and dating back 2,200 years.
Further floors host a selection of captivating maritime artifacts, pottery produced in Poole and beyond, alongside insights into community life, including a dentist’s chair, a historic fire engine, and a vintage pharmacy cabinet.
Temporary exhibitions are featured in two rooms, with a notable display on Port-Impressionist Augustus John occurring in the summer of 2018.
8. Scaplen’s Court Museum
Located on Sarum Street in Poole’s Old Town is a former inn dating back to the 1300s.
Managed by the nearby Poole Museum, Scaplen’s Court is a Grade I listed property that provides museum displays detailing life in Poole from the 1400s until the end of the 1800s.
Among the stone fireplaces is graffiti left by Parliamentarian soldiers who resided here during the 1640s amidst the English Civil War.
Guests can explore a Victorian classroom, a period kitchen, and a walled herb garden designed by the renowned landscaper George Dillistone in the 1930s.
9. Upton Country Park
Situated at Holes Bay, at the northernmost point of Poole Harbour, is a 130-acre country park featuring a Grade II listed manor house, refined gardens, a stretch of shoreline, and ample parkland.
Occasional guided tours of the Regency-era house are available, yet the park’s main attraction lies in its walled garden, which showcases well-maintained borders and beds, bordered by a terrace overlooking the park’s tearooms, open daily.
During summer, visitors can enjoy a splash fountain, walk or cycle along various trails, and explore a soft play area in the Courtyard Barn. Additionally, segway tours of the estate are available during the summer months.
Each Saturday at 09:00, a free, timed 5k park run takes place at Upton, welcoming participants of all abilities.
10. Hamworthy Park
Quieter and less exposed than Sandbanks, Hamworthy Park lies on Poole Harbour, situated a short distance west of the ferry terminal.
The park offers a narrow beach and a small promenade lined with beach huts and benches.
Here, the calm waters are ideal for families with younger children, while windsurfers and kitesurfers frequent the area to start their aquatic adventures.
The park provides stunning views of the Arne Peninsula, Brownsea Island, and the Purbeck Hills to the south.
Moreover, the park features expansive grassy areas, a café, a playground, and a paddling pool.
11. Shell Bay
Directly opposite Sandbanks, Shell Bay is readily accessible via a brief ferry ride.
This beach features pristine golden sand, but instead of lavish homes, it is bordered by protected dunes and heathland.
The northern coastline serves as an exceptional viewpoint, gazing west over Poole Harbour. Conversely, the eastern side of the bay offers spectacular views along the coast towards Bournemouth.
Shell Bay connects to the National Trust site, Studland Bay, stretching south for miles and featuring a nudist beach in its most remote area.
Along the coastline, stunning views of the Old Harry Rocks can be enjoyed.
12. Old Lifeboat Museum
At Fisherman’s Dock, located at the end of Poole Quay, visitors will discover an intriguing glimpse into local maritime history at this historic boathouse.
Served as Poole’s lifeboat station from 1882 until 1989, it houses the Thomas Kirk Wright, which was launched in 1939. This vessel was the first of nineteen lifeboats to reach Dunkirk during the evacuation on May 30, 1940. Visitors can explore the boat and learn about its notable 23-year service as a lifeboat.
The RNLI also manages a shop within the boathouse, offering clothing, cards, and other RNLI-themed souvenirs to support this charity.
13. Arne RSPB Reserve
Located on the Arne Peninsula of Poole Harbour, this expansive nature reserve covers nearly 1,400 acres.
RSPB Arne features a diverse array of habitats, including sandy beaches, scrub, wet woodlands, ancient oak woodlands, mudflats, reedbeds, agricultural land, and both dry and wet lowland heath.
The reserve features a “welcome hut” where visitors can learn about the RSPB’s conservation efforts in the park, alongside a shop and café.
It boasts the largest population of spoonbills in the UK, along with gorse scrub serving as a vital breeding ground for Dartford warblers.
A herd of sika deer, having escaped deer parks in the 19th century, have become a naturalized species within the reserve.
14. Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park
Targeting children aged eight and under, Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park amalgamates animal encounters with both indoor and outdoor play options.
Scheduled animal activities allow youngsters to hand-feed lambs and goat kids, witness the milking of cows, groom ponies, observe racing piglets, and interact with guinea pigs.
The park further offers a maize maze, wooded trails, numerous picnic areas, pony rides, tractor-trailer expeditions, pedal go-karts, pedal tractors, an indoor bouncy castle, and a “fun barn” soft play area.
15. Watersports
Poole Harbour rightfully earns recognition as one of the premier locations in the UK for water-based activities.
The range of experiences available across its 110 miles speaks volumes in this regard.
The waters in the harbour are typically calm, while reliable winds in the more open but shallow areas, particularly around Sandbanks, facilitate activities like windsurfing, kite-surfing, and sailing.
More sheltered areas of the harbour are ideal for kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding, with designated zones for motorized activities primarily located in the Wareham Channel.
A variety of watersports companies operate from Lilliput on the eastern side of the harbour.
For example, Jetski Safaris offers guided excursions through the harbour and along the Jurassic Coast, requiring no previous experience in operating a jet ski.
