The Southern beach below Hengistbury Head is one of the the less commercialised beaches in
the Bournemouth area. It is now known as Solent Beach although most people still
know it as Hengistbury Beach. The beach is a mix of sand and shingle and is offset by the
30 metre high crumbling cliff-face of Hengistbury Head.
Although somewhat despoiled by the very necessary beach defences, the beach is a quiet natural place.
If you want a continuous supply of
icecream, nearby toilets, childrens clubs etc, this is the wrong beach for you. If
however you like to be a little more self sufficient and dislike noisy crowded beaches you will
find Solent beach more to your liking. Be aware that there is no Lifeguard on the this beach and you should stay
back from the cliffs.
Looking East down Solent Beach from "the White Pits" (just East of Westbourne beach).
Solent beach is about 1.5 kilometres in length.
.
Hengistbury Beach is also popular for sea fishing, especially from the end of the
Long Groyne. Nearby open grassland (known as Barn Field) allows the visitor to picnic away from the
sandy beach and is also very popular for kite flying. Visitors should be aware that fires and barbeques are not allowed, this is after all, a
very special place and should be treated with respect.
There are toilets and a cafe near the Noddy train ticket office which is adjacent to Hengistbury Head Car Park.
The cliffs of Hengistbury Head are made up of soft compressed sand
and are not suitable for climbing. Trying to climb them is both stupid and dangerous and likely
to cause damage to an already vulnerable area.
.
There are two car parks (Hengistbury Head Car Park and Solent Beach Car Park) which hold 700 and 500 vehicles respectively.
However, in the summer, they do fill quickly. There is limited
road parking which is time limited, mainly to 1 hour parking. There is a bus service. The No19 bus (usually
an open top double decker) stops at Hengistbury Head. Acces to the beach can also be achieved by walking from Mudeford
Sandspit, which itself can be accessed either via the ferry from Mudeford Quay or a ferry from Christchurch
Quay or Tuckton Bridge. There is also a walk of about a mile from Wick Village along the Stour Valley Way to
Hengistbury Head.
