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Bournemouth Hengistbury West Beach

Dorset, England

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Bournemouth Hengistbury West Beach is a scenic and ecologically significant destination located on the Dorset coast, forming part of the 15 kilometre coastline of Poole Bay.

Bournemouth Hengistbury West Beach is situated on the west side of the Hengistbury Headland, a promontory that juts out almost a mile into the sea, separating Poole Bay and Christchurch Bay. The beach is approximately one kilometre wide and is composed mainly of shingle and pebble.

The Hengistbury Headland, which includes the beach, is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and remains largely undeveloped. The terrain is a mix of heathland, woodland, wetland, and scrub, providing a habitat for a variety of plant and animal life. The headland is also thought to have been home to one of Britain's first Iron Age communities.

The beach offers views towards Poole Bay and the western tip of the Isle of Wight. It is a popular spot for swimming and surfing, although there is no lifeguard cover. Visitors can access the beach via a miniature land train that operates along a circular route, taking in the main car park and Mudeford Spit. The beach is also dog-friendly throughout the year.

The Hengistbury Headland has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and most of the headland remains undeveloped. There are nature trails and a visitor centre, with information boards providing details about the wildlife and history of the area. Access to the beach is available via a land train from the Hungry Horse cafe.

Bournemouth Hengistbury West Beach is adjacent to the Bournemouth Coast Path.

Shingle Pebbles

Weather and tides for Thursday 8 October

Today
Chance of rain %
Max temperature 15°C
feels like 14°C
Wind 14mph
Max UV Index
Tonight
Chance of rain 76%
Min temperature 12°C
feels like 6°C
Wind 20mph

The tide at Bournemouth Hengistbury West Beach is currently falling. Low tide will be at approximately 3:18 PM, and the next high tide will be at approximately 8:14 PM.

Today's air pollution levels are forecast to be Low

Detailed weather and tides »

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Location: Hengistbury Head, Bournemouth

Location type: Urban

OS Grid: SZ163908

Coordinates: 50°43'0"N 1°46'10"W

Mapcode: GBR 55J.WZT

What 3 Words: safe.brand.quest

Coordinates and location codes are for an approximate mid-point of the beach, and may not reflect the best access point or the most popular part of the beach.

Country: England

Local Authority: Bournemouth

Nearest postcode: BH6 4EN

(for sat-nav purposes only, a beach does not have a postal address!)

Important! Beach information is compiled from a variety of different sources and is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of compilation. However, information may be incorrectly supplied by our sources or go out of date after publication. BritishBeaches.uk makes no warranty as to the accuracy of any information on this page.

Visitor information for Bournemouth Hengistbury West Beach, Dorset, England. Weather, tides, visitor comments, beach facilities, photos, nearest postcode, beach information and nearby accommodation.

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216.73.216.20 Thu, 08 Oct 2026 10:46:00 +0100