Millions of people visit Bournemouth and Poole each year, and you can see why. Great beaches, smashing shops and one of the most pleasant climates in the country. It is also a fantastic place to base yourselves to explore in the New Forest, the rolling hills of Purbeck and historic Salisbury are all just a bus ride away.For beaches you have three wonderful options. Firstly right in the centre of Bournemouth, near the main Bournemouth bus stops and the famous Pier are miles of golden beaches. If you land in Bournemouth by coach or train just get an m1 to Gervis Place form the station.
Next along the coast are the beaches at Branksome Chine and Sandbanks. Famous for the homes of the rich and famous, this is the Marbella of the south coast! Get the 50 from Bournemouth or the 52 from Poole.
For the best day out go to Swanage. Either the 50 from Bournemouth, or 40 from Poole, or combine them both. With the 50 you get to see Sandbanks and a trip over to Studland on the ferry and with the 40 you’ll see Corfe Castle and the stunning Purbeck Hills. And with m1 and m2 running every 3 or 4 minutes between Poole and Bournemouth you have finished a full loop of the best of Dorset.
If it is not beaches you are after, how about Salisbury? The historic cathedral was completed in 1258 and is home to one of the four remaining original copies of the Magna Carta. Just a short stroll away is the fascinating narrow lanes, with small shops and cafes. On Tuesdays and Saturdays Salisbury hosts a market, as it has done since 1227. From Bournemouth just jump on the X3 which runs every 30 minutes. And whilst you are there check out our famous Stonehenge Tour.
And to enjoy a peaceful day in the New Forest, get the X1 or X2 to Lymington, but for a great view of the Isle of Wight and the Needles, make it the X1. In the summer the New Forest Tour is the best way to see the Forest and unwind – and you join it at either Lymington or get the train to Brockenhurst. Nearer to hand Compton Acres is worth stroll around. 52 from Poole and Sandbanks stops right outside and 50 from Bournemouth stops at Canford Cliffs a short walk away.
