Hengistbury Head


Throw more balls, take less pictures….

Why go? Because “it’s got everything in one place”…


I think this is the best description of a favourite walk in Dorset by my best friend Sammie Kendall and her dog Tesla.
Sea, sand, trees, cliff, harbour, views, dog friendly cafe, wildness, nature reserve, calm and storm.


There is a route and a walk to suit everyone, from flat to adventurous. And a train that allows dogs. And accessibility for those of us who cannot walk the distance.


It is a dog friendly place where your dog is considered and cared for by the Hengistbury Head team. With regular water bowl stations on the walk and The Beach House cafe even sells Dog Donuts (not that our dogs liked them very much) but the human coffee is awesome.

Hengistbury is a place where we need to respect nature. There are routes where your dog will need to be placed on a lead or kept under control due to the nature reserve and ducks on the Mudeford Spit side. We must prevent dogs from entering sensitive parts of the nature reserve, including the ponds. Get the tides wrong and you may find you are knee deep in water and cut off from land or side swiped by a crashing wave. Or you can just stick to the off lead beach.

Beware mating seasons if walking Harbour side so as not to disturb the rare birds that nest there.

We would advise checking tide times and Sam uses the website www.tides.willyweather.co.uk which gave me the giggles.

TIP:

Save on parking: arrive at 9am and get until 11 am free on the road parking.
There is also a secret free parking spot but you’d need to ask us on our Facebook group. Ssshshhh
— Sammie Kendall

If you’re lucky on a morning you might hear the rhythm of the drum on the dragon canoe by the amazing Pink Champagne Breast Cancer Dragon Boat Team.

Paddle boarders, boats, beach huts, you name it. It’s here…

And if you take the ferry across to Mudeford Quay you can buy some catch of the day. Mudeford Quay is another beautiful Full Moon viewing spot accessible by road as well as the ferry.

Love Nicky and Merlin and Sam and Tesla x

Dog Friendly Dorset Admin Team

Join in on our monthly breed and all-breeds play dates and walks: www.dorsetdogs.com/play-dates

Join us on Facebook and Instagram

To add anything please email hello@dorsetdogs.com subject: Dorset Walks

NOTE: Beach House Cafe is being rebuilt from Sept 2022

 

Postcode: BH6 4EN

Wheelchair Access

Yes, and a train that runs but please check times and season

Car Park fees

On road parking 10-6pm 1hr

Dog Water Stations

Cafes:

Beach House is dog friendly

Hikers Cafe doesn’t allow dogs inside

Visitor Centre

Our Daschund Christmas Walk www.dorsetdogs.com/play-dates

Ahoy Captain

National Coastwatch making sure our dogs are hydrated during the summer.

Car Park charges Jan 2022