The Bournemouth Coast Path is a 20-mile-long
footpath
A footpath (also pedestrian way, walking trail, nature trail) is a type of thoroughfare that is intended for use only by pedestrians and not other forms of traffic such as Motor vehicle, motorized vehicles, bicycles and horseback, horses. They ...
through
Dorset
Dorset ( ; Archaism, archaically: Dorsetshire , ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by Somerset to the north-west, Wiltshire to the north and the north-east, Hampshire to the east, t ...
and
Hampshire
Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Berkshire to the north, Surrey and West Sussex to the east, the Isle of Wight across the Solent to the south, ...
, England from
Sandbanks to
Milford-on-Sea.
The path follows the coastline and goes through
Bournemouth
Bournemouth ( ) is a coastal resort town in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole unitary authority area, in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. At the 2021 census, the built-up area had a population of 196,455, making it the largest ...
,
Boscombe,
Southbourne,
Hengistbury Head,
Mudeford and
Highcliffe.

Between Hengistbury Head and Mudeford the path uses a
ferry
A ferry is a boat or ship that transports passengers, and occasionally vehicles and cargo, across a body of water. A small passenger ferry with multiple stops, like those in Venice, Italy, is sometimes referred to as a water taxi or water bus ...
to cross
Christchurch Harbour. In winter, when the ferry does not usually run, there is a 3-mile detour through
Christchurch
Christchurch (; ) is the largest city in the South Island and the List of cities in New Zealand, second-largest city by urban area population in New Zealand. Christchurch has an urban population of , and a metropolitan population of over hal ...
.
The Bournemouth Coast Path performs an important role by connecting the
South West Coast Path (by the
Sandbanks Ferry) in the west and the
Solent Way in the east.
See also
*
Long-distance footpaths in the UK
References
External links
Exploring the Bournemouth Coast Path
{{Authority control
Tourist attractions in Bournemouth
Footpaths in Hampshire
Long-distance footpaths in England
Coastal paths in England
Footpaths in Dorset