It’s easy to overlook one of the New Forest’s greatest assets – its beaches. Yes, many people come to this beautiful part of the country for the historic heathland, chocolate box villages, stunning forest and all its flora and fauna, but don’t overlook the stunning coastline and all it has to offer.
Here are just a few of our magnificent seven beaches near Ringwood; we’ve given you some guidance on whether it’s sand or shingle, what to do there etc.
Happy beach life!
Boredom is never an issue at Highcliffe Beach in Dorset, about 25 minutes from Ringwood. A mixture of sand and shingle, it’s perfect for swimming and bodyboarding, but if you don’t want to get wet, there are plenty of cliff top walks, including one to Highcliffe Castle.
If you’re a nature lover or bird watcher, the beach is surrounded by Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) which provide a home to many of the UK’s rare species of reptiles, birds and insects.
There’s a decent car park (over 400 spaces), along with a cafe.
Just along from Highcliffe Beach is Hengistbury Head Beach, another wonderful wildlife haven.
There’s a vast nature reserve at the more underdeveloped end of this unspoilt pebble beach; dogs are welcome – as long as they’re well behaved. This is a great spot for windsurfing and swimming, but there’s no lifeguard on duty, so bear that in mind.
To explore the reserve, first head for the Visitor Centre to plan your day; you can also take the land train to Mudeford Sand Spit, where you can indulge in tea and cake at one of the cafes.
Another great beach near Ringwood (again, only about 25 minutes away) Mudeford Sandbank is a beautiful beach – technically a sand spit which adjoins Hengistbury Head and forms a natural barrier between Christchurch Harbour and the sea.
Another one for nature lovers, it’s designated a Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI), and while dogs are off lead, if you’re coming from the Hengistbury Head Nature Reserve they need to be under close control.
There are five public toilet blocks, one with hot showers; there are also outside cold showers if you need to rinse off the saltwater and sand.
In terms of getting there, it’s easy by foot, bike or land train from Hengistbury Head car park, or by passenger ferry from Mudeford Quay and Christchurch Quay.
Another shingle beach, when the tide’s out there are sandy flats at Barton-on-Sea (or Christchurch Beach as it’s often called).
There’s plenty to do – from canoeing and kayaking to swimming (no lifeguard on duty, however) and more fantastic cliff-top walks.
There’s a cliff top cafe and restaurant, toilets and space for 200 cars in the pay and display car park. Dogs are welcome.
Head north west from Ringwood, and you can discover the delights of Goatee Beach, located behind Eling Church (parking in the cemetery car park, use the postcode SO40 9HF). It may not be the type of beach where you would roll out your towel for sunbathing, but it is a great place to walk the dog and take in the views of the estuary.
There is a large park next to it, which is ideal for picnics and letting the kids run around. While you are there, pop into the Grade II listed Eling Tide Mill, which has been there for 900 years. There’s a cafe and some great riverside walks too.
This shingle beach forms part of a mile-long spit which reaches out into the mouth of Southampton Water. Enjoy panoramic views of the Solent, Southampton and the Isle of Wight, and pay a visit to the picturesque Calshot Castle, built in 1539 by Henry VIII. Calshot Beach itself is home to one of the UK’s biggest outdoor and watersport centres, which offers a range of activities including windsurfing, kitesurfing, sailing and climbing. On the other side of the spit, there’s an extensive salt marsh, home to a wealth of birds and other wildlife.
Last, but not least, is this lovely long stretch of shingle beach, which does have some sand at the water’s edge during low tide.
There are a couple of cafes, an ice cream kiosk and a play area next to the beach, as well as the colourful, picture postcard beach huts along the seafront.
As well as spending time on the beach, you can explore some great walks along the cliff top paths from Milford to Barton on Sea – where you can stop at the Beachcombers cafe for a decent refuel.
On the promenade, The Needles Eye Cafe has meals, snacks and ice creams, while at the end of the beach is the Marine Cafe bar and restaurant.
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