Cheapest parking near Bournemouth beaches?

hatewashingmachines

Hi,
We are staying on the outskirts of the New Forest in a couple of weeks and I'm wondering if any of you know any cheap places to park near Bournemouth Beach. Ive been looking on the internet and it looks like its £10 per day on the Bournemouth Tourism website. Can anyone of you suggest any alternatives?

EDIT: We've decided to use park n ride so that solves our problem!!
Still would like to know where the nicest beaches are nearvto Hoburne Bashley please.

zenmaster

Can you walk any distance? There is plenty of street parking at Coy Pond but it's a 1.5 mile (very pleasant) walk through the woods and gardens.

Does it have to be Bournemouth? There is also (slightly less) street parking at Canford Cliffs, with a 10 minute walk through the chine. This is very steep on the way back though.

Dr_Hfuhruhurr

There is plenty of free street parking on West Overcliff Drive. Its possible to walk down through one of the chines to the beach. Or there is a path right on the cliff top that takes you down some steps to the Durley Inn.

hatewashingmachines

Thank you for your replies. Walking is not a problem for me but for 3 kiddies and an OAP it might be a problem! Plus we will have all our beach stuff with us... Deckchairs, buckets, pond nets, beach shelter etc etc!! The air show is also on so it looks like we might have to look at alternatives as their will be alot of restrictions. I will look at park and ride. While I'm here do you have Any recommendations for any nice quiet sandy beaches nearby? Possibly with rock pools for the kids?

mupetuge

Hi, You could park in southbourne by the wooded entrance to Fishermans Walk (get there early though say 8.30am) and then walk through straight to the Beach at Soutbourne. The walk takes only 10mins and is very pleasant.

delain

When you say on the outskirts of the new forest where do you mean? There could be much more child friendly beaches closer than Bournemouth.

Bear in mind that Bournemouth beach will be absolutely heaving and not far off standing room only this time of year.

I like the beach at Hengistbury Head, I don't know how much the parking is though, I usually go on the bus!

You are considerably less likely to get dog ends in your sandcastle there and it is very pretty, although doesn't have the pier etc that Bournemouth does.

ETA I saw what you wrote about the air show. Don't bother going to the beach when the air show is on! Last year I was in labour on air show weekend but the previous year our buses even here were running 1+ hours late because of traffic in Bournemouth and surrounding areas, and I'm 5 miles away.

It really is not worth taking a car into Bournemouth that weekend.

hatewashingmachines

We will probably use park & ride to the air show then!

I don't plan on visiting Bournemouth beach every day, only one day for the air show. We will be staying at Hoburne Bashley so any nice beaches that are less than 30 min drive away? Not bothered about pier or amusements as kids only want to play in the sand/water/rock pools.

Thanks for the replies

ballisticbrian

Obviously those who live here know a few haunts but the less people that know about them the better! Air show days will be horrific, personally I will take the motorbike but I know that doesn't help you either. Parking has just gone up across Bournemouth as well as the installation of 1000s of meters, it's disgusting.

hatewashingmachines

Well that was helpful ?...Not

ballisticbrian

Oh and by the way, our council constantly tell us all what they are spening our council tax on to encourage tourism, but most of the jobs in tourism are national minimum wage.

ballisticbrian

Don't get me started.