Bournemouth Mini Guide

AboutOut &As well as being a superb destination in its ownright, Bournemouth makes an ideal base to exploreDorset and the surrounding areas.Just a few miles outside town you’ll start to discoverthe county’s rich heritage in towns like Poole andChristchurch. Venturing further west or north, thelandscape is populated by a number of charming,chocolate-box villages like Corfe Castle andShaftesbury, while to the east is the beautifulexpanse of the New Forest.PooleFive miles to the west of Bournemouth is Poole, atown steeped in maritime history. The town was awell known haunt for pirates and smugglers, andwas also a major embarkation point for the D-Daylandings of World War II.Poole Quay comes alive with the sound of roaringengines every Tuesday evening from April toSeptember, as bikers come together for DreamMachines; the country’s biggest weekly motorbikemeet. Petrolheads are also catered for on Fridaysfrom May to August when car enthusiasts displaytheir vehicles at Quay for my Car.Families visiting Poole during July will find a host ofentertainments laid on every Thursday evening withentertainers, live music and a spectacular fireworkfinale, none of which costs a penny.Jurassic CoastHead west of Bournemouth with a drive up theJurassic Coast - nothing short of a photographer’sdream. A 95 mile World Heritage Site, itencompasses iconic Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove andDancing Ledge. Weymouth plays host to the 2012Olympic and Paralympic Games’ sailing events (27thJuly - 12th August Olympic Sailing Events, 29thAugust - 9th September Paralympic Sailing Events),but don’t get too caught up with the excitement tomiss its vibrant harbour and popular beach.Scan code forsurrounding areainformationDorchester nestles between Bridport and Weymouth,an historic market town, best known for its mostfamous resident Thomas Hardy. It boasts a Romanamphitheatre and some of the county’s best cream teas!ChristchurchNeighbouring Bournemouth to the east is the IronAge town of Christchurch. Here you’ll find a numberof stylish boutiques, traditional pubs andcontemporary wine bars and cafés sitting in theshadow of the town’s impressive and unmissablePriory. Dating back to the 11th century,Christchurch Priory has a captivating history and isan essential stop for visitors. Just outsideChristchurch is Mudeford Quay; very popular withyoungsters wanting to turn their hand to crabbing,and the fish stall is a great spot for just-caughtseafood. Visitors wanting to find a warm spot in thesun to relax will find the sandy beaches at AvonBeach and Friars Cliff ideal, located just a shortwalk away from the Quay, along the promenade.New ForestThe ancient New Forest, located to the east ofBournemouth and Christchurch, was once the royalhunting ground of William the Conqueror. Here,ponies, cattle, pigs and wild deer roam free, andvisitors are encouraged to explore all areasof the Forest with very few restrictionsin place. Situated throughout the NewForest are a number of very prettyvillages, like Beaulieu, Burley andBrockenhurst, and the area is wellservicedby a number of excellent eateries.No matter what time of year you choose tovisit, or what kind of weather greets you,you’ll find a wealth of fantastic attractionsand places of interest to explore, all withineasy reach of Bournemouth. Just make sureyou leave enough time to pack it all in!For a full list of attractions and activitiesand a map of their locations go to page 50.0845 051 1700 | www.bournemouth.co.uk 9