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Hengistbury Head Circular Walk
...This walk starts with an easy climb to the top of Hengistbury Head which is near the disused coastguard station. This is an excellent view point for Poole Bay, Isle of Wight and Christchurch Harbour. Continue along the top of the Head before descending to the Mudeford Sandbank. Go around the sandbank, first along the beach on the seaward side, then along the track/gravel road on the harbour side. Finally return to the car park along the road...
Distance:
Time:
Difficulty:
Start Point:
3.25 Miles
2 Hours
Easy
Hiker Café, Hengistbury Head Pay and Display Car Park BH6 4EN
Pub/Restaurant:
1. Start the walk at a point the other side of the cafe from the car park. Take the gravel path towards the sea - this runs parallel to a set of double dykes dating back to the Iron Age. On reaching the sea, turn left and follow a broad tarmac track, which eventually climbs gradually to a triangulation point at the top of Warren Hill. As you ascend, you pass a small pond that is home to the rare Natterjack Toad.
From the summit, there are fine views of the coast, reaching from the Isle of Purbeck in the west to the Isle of Wight in the east, and of Christchurch Harbour, with the tower of Christchurch Priory to the north-west.
2. Continue eastwards along the tramac path, which descends slowly to the cliff tops. The track reaches a fork - take the right-hand route, which soon passes to the right of a pool that was formed by the mining of ironstone. The path curves round to the left, following the headland, before descending via a set of steps to the beach.
3. Walk straight ahead in roughly a northerly direction, following a track which soon runs along the left-hand side of a narrow spit of land and to the left of a set of beach chalets. Two-thirds of the way along this spit is a jetty - from here, you can take a passenger ferry across to Mudeford on the other side of the entrance to Christchurch Harbour, where there is a pub, the Haven House Inn, which does snacks at lunchtime.
4. Follow the path in front of the Beach House Cafe - this leads to the end of the spit and the entrance to Christchurch Harbour. Bear right and follow a path round the old 'Black House' (now holiday apartments) until you reach a broad path. Turn right and follow this path back along the spit, this time on the seaward side. On reaching the back of the Beach House cafe, bear right, then bear left onto the outward path. In a short distance, near the turning point for the Hengistbury Land Train (a motorised 'train' that runs between this point and the cafe/car park) turn right along a sand and shingle path.
5. Cross a wooden footbridge over an inlet and continue along a path that runs along the southern edge of Christchurch Harbour. When you reach a small stand of low trees and bushes, take the path that heads inland to your left, passing along the right-hand edge of a fenced field. On reaching a tarmac path, turn right and follow it. The track passes to the right of an old barn before reaching the starting point of the walk.
