Bournemouth and Poole are near to some of the most beautiful dog walks in the UK. In Dorset, on the south coast of the UK, walks around here give beautiful views, beaches and summer sunshine. Here are the best dog walks around Bournemouth and Poole.
1. Hengistbury Head to Mudeford Sandbank
The first of my best dog walks around Bournemouth and Poole starts at Hengistbury Head, just outside of Bournemouth. There’s a visitor centre here with a large car park, with plenty of spaces. There’s also some free roadside parking along Southbourne road, leading up to Hengistbury Head.
Dogs are allowed on the Southbourne beaches near Hengistbury Head. It’s the perfect place to let your dog have a run around after getting out the car.
The footpath up to the top of Hengistbury Head is really easy and see and follow. Hengistbury Head is a prominent, iconic landmark that’s impossible to miss.
As you climb up, the views looking back over Southbourne and towards Bournemouth are just beautiful.
Continue walking the other side of Hengistbury Head, following the coast path, towards Mudeford Sandbank. If you’re visiting in late summer, the footpath here is surrounded by beautiful purple heather, which just looks stunning against the blue sea.
Mudeford sandbank has more beautiful golden beaches. And they’re dog-friendly beaches too, so you can enjoy the beach with your dog. On a sunny day, you can go for a paddle or swim in the sea to cool down.
Mudeford also has some pretty beach huts, which add some more lovely colour to the scenery. Towards the end of Mudeford Sandbank is a cafe called The Beach House, which is a great place to stop for lunch or a drink before turning back to walk back towards Hengistbury Head.
2. Studland to Old Harry Rocks
Another of the best dog walks around Bournemouth and Poole is the walk from Studland to Old Harry Rocks. Studland Bay is owned by the National Trust, and is an important habitat for lots of wildlife. There are several National Trust car parks along the Studland Beach. I usually park at Studland Middle Beach car park, but all of the car parks are large and spacious. Most of them have cafes next to the car park, as well as direct access to the beach.
Studland is another dog-friendly beach near Bournemouth and Poole. At high tide it’s not the biggest beach, but there’s still plenty of space for your dog to run around and have fun. The sea on Studland beach is also great for dogs, as it is calm and sheltered and has a very gently gradient before it gets deep.
Walk along Studland beach, or just behind the beach, keeping the sea on your left to walk towards Old Harry Rocks. You can see the rocks clearly from the beach so you’ll know you’re heading in the right direction. At the end of the beach, the footpath to Old Harry is well signposted.
It takes about an hour to walk from the end of Studland Beach to Old Harry Rocks. The path doesn’t have a lot of shade – so be careful doing this walk with dogs on a hot day. But the views are just beautiful.
Old Harry Rocks
I love the views looking down to Old Harry Rocks when you get there. The rock formations are so impressive, and the white chalk glows in the sunlight.
It can get quite busy at the top with people taking photos, but it’s usually easy to find a clear spot to get an amazing view down to the rocks.
Make sure you look the other way as well, as further down the coast there are more impressive chalk formations.
You can walk as far along the coast path as you and your dogs would like. When you’ve had enough, just turn back and follow the path back down to Studland beach. There’s a nice pub called The Bankes Arms which you walk past, which has lots of dog-friendly outdoor seating. So you can stop here for a drink on your way back.
And when you get back to the beach, you and your dogs and can have a quick dip in the sea to cool down.
3. Durdle Door to Lulworth Cove
Walking along the spectacular Durdle Door, near Poole, has to be one of the best dog walks around Bournemouth and Poole. It’s an amazing area.
Durdle Door is a really impressive rock formation, in the shape of a archway or a door. You can park at the Durdle Door car park and then walk the short distance to the edge of the cliff, where you can look down on Durdle Door. The view from up here is really nice – especially at sunset.
You can also walk down to the beach at Durdle Door, so you can see it from sea level. It’s a pebbly beach, not sandy, but allows dogs. There are quite a lot of steps to get down, but it’s worth it for the lovely views.
Back at the top of the cliff, you can follow the cliff path east towards Lulworth Cove. The coast path is well signposted, and you just need to keep the sea on your right. The views out to sea are lovely.
Lulworth Cove is another really impressive rock formation. The cove is almost circular, and lined with white chalk rocks. It’s another pebbly beach which you and your dog can walk down the steps too.
There’s also a nice village at Lulworth, with some dog-friendly pubs and ice cream shops.
You can continue to walk along the coast path, if you and your dog want a longer walk. The coast path continues on for miles, so you can walk as far as you want before heading back to Durdle Door.
4. Mudeford Quay to Avon Beach
The walk from Mudeford Quay to Avon Beach is another great option for a dog walk around Bournemouth and Poole. You can park at Mudeford Quay car park, not far from Bournemouth, which usually has plenty of spaces. The quay is a nice place to wander around, before turning east and walking down to the beaches.
The highlight of this walk is the beautiful white and golden sand beaches. On a sunny day in the summer, it doesn’t even feel like you’re in the UK at all.
Dogs are allowed on the beaches near Mudeford Quay. However, as you walk towards Avon Beach, there are some restrictions on dogs on beaches during the summer. Check the clearly marked signs on the beaches to see if you can go on each beach with your dog at the time of year you visit.
Even in summer, you can still enjoy this walk with your dog by walking along the promenade just behind the beach. You’ll need to keep your dog on a lead, but you can still enjoy the views over the beaches. You can also enjoy the views of the pastel coloured beach huts, which I think add a lot of beauty to the area.
There are lovely views across the sea to the Isle of Wight on this walk, which you can enjoy on a clear day. There’s lots of benches to stop for a picnic as well. You can walk to Avon Beach and beyond, as far as you like, before turning back to Mudeford Quay.
5. Brownsea Island
Ok, this walk isn’t one of the best dog walks around Bournemouth and Poole, because dogs aren’t actually allowed on Brownsea Island. But, for anyone reading this who doesn’t have a dog, it’s one of the most beautiful walks in the area – so I had to include it! But if you have a dog, skip this walk and head down to the end of the post!
You can get the ferry over to Brownsea Island from Poole Quay. The ferry trip takes around 20 minutes. You can see the ferry times here. The ferry takes you through the calm waters of Poole Harbour, and it’s a really pleasant ride.
Brownsea Island is owned by the National Trust, so there’s a small entrance fee for non-members. Once you get to the island, one of the highlights is to look for red squirrels. These endangered squirrels live on Brownsea Island – one of the few places in the UK you can see them. The best place to spot them is behind the church. But it’s not guaranteed to see one – they can be very shy and elusive.
There’s plenty more wildlife on Brownsea Island as well. Head over to the nature reserve and bird hides to see rare butterflies and also wading birds that migrate here.
You can walk all around Brownsea Island on the well-marked footpaths. The views along the coast are stunning, and at the end of the summer the purple heather makes the forests even more beautiful.
Enjoy the best dog walks around Bournemouth and Poole! You can also check out my guide to visiting Dorset with your dog, and also the best dog walks in the forest of dean and the Gower Peninsula.
