Second to Sydney, Poole is the largest natural harbour in the world. With sparkling clear blue water, and the neighbouring fantastic seven miles of golden sands that Poole adjoins with Bournemouth, you would be led to think that this fabulously located destination couldn’t get any better.
POOLE
A HIDDEN TREASURE
If you want to keep those sails working, take a scenic trip down the Wareham Channel, located just the other side of Poole, and calmly make your way to Wareham Quay, an historic market town famously frequented, among others, by D H Lawrence. Find and sit at the seat he often sat in, now marked with a plaque.
Today the Harbour’s shallow waters and variable wind conditions make it popular for water sports. With a huge water sport lifestyle including waterskiing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, wakeboarding and kayaking there are activities for everyone, and the local hire shops and teaching schools will have you fully kitted out and out on the water in a matter of minutes! The local enthusiasts are known to be extremely welcoming and are often seen having a chat as the sun goes down with visitors who have been brave enough to take the plunge and dip their toes in the sporty waters...
Likened to the waters of the Mediterranean, it seems the South Coast is still a hidden secret, and the knowledgeable sailing enthusiasts lucky to have access to this coastal destination are now making use of this easy access and securing their stay at a visitor’s marina. Poole is the
perfect choice.
If you have the fortune to have your yacht or motor boat moored further up the English shoreline, a journey down to Poole has much in store for you to discover. Home to the famous millionaire’s row at Sandbanks Peninsula, sailing past the beautiful waterfront homes are a welcome sight to any visitor. Across the water from the peninsula is Brownsea Island, a heritage site belonging to the National Trust, home to a vast bird sanctuary, a huge selection of natural wildlife, and, once you have glimpsed the resident peacocks meandering around the grounds of Brownsea Castle, you can be sure that searching out the other creatures and animals in their natural habitat will soon become an adventure!
Behind Brownsea island sits the Purbecks, a coastline that has been relatively untouched, and once you have stepped ashore at Studland Beach, the magnificent backdrop is like stepping back in time. With so much history to discover, why not start at the grand ruins of Corfe Castle, sitting high on top of the hill, ramble across the many footpaths through lush green fields, and after satisfying your appetite with a hearty meal at one of the many centuries-old public houses, head for the clifftops and make your way down the steps to your yacht, taking in the fantastic coastline, with the famous Old Harry Rocks making for a perfect photographic scene.
Swanage is but half an hour’s sail from Poole, and the glorious summer months are perfect to anchor up in this naturally calm shielded bay, perfect for swimming and to take in yet another beautiful view!
