Location and the Beach
South of Christchurch and East of Southbourne Bournemouth
The main car park can be found at 200 Broadway, Southbourne, Bournemouth BH6 4EL
Beach Facilities
Large Pay and Display Car Park, Shop, cafe and toilets at the Visitor Centre.
Hengistbury Head has become extremely busy over the past couple of years. It is very popular with walkers, as there is a large car park, cafe, nature reserve and visitor centre. The beach by the headland cliffs traditionally used by naturists is a popular walking route from the car park to Mudeford Sandbank with its beach huts and cafe.
Thanks to BN member Bernie for the following update;
Work has started on Hengistbury Head Long Groyne (April 2024) so parts
of the head have been fenced off. Work should be finished by October
2024. https://twobays.net/project/hengistbury-head-long-groyne-works/
[1] Some walkers still use the beach but almost no one is setting down
by the cliffs including Naturists, not that many people ever used that
beach. A temporary stone road runs along the beach from the works to
near the visitors centre. I only saw one small vehicle use the
temporary stone road the couple of times I was on that part of the
beach. The bit between the head and Mudeford beach huts is now fenced
off so no Naturists can use that part of the beach. As the beach was
empty, I took the opportunity to cycle naked up and down the beach at
low tide on the firm damp sand. I have been using beaches naked nearer
to Southbourne since before covid, just a short distance west, more now
because of the work is going on this year at Hengistbury head. The
second section of beach past the end of the promenade from Southbourne.
Lots of places in the dunes as well as on the beach. I have also been
using the beach west side of Southbourne where the beach is deeper and
has no beach huts. Not many people use this beach other than on hot
Sundays when the main beaches get a bit full. There is a large pay and
display car park, cafe, nature reserve and visitor centre at Hengistbury
Head, free short stay on the road, more free parking west of
Southbourne. I have not seen any other Naturists, just me over about 6
days in June 2024. I have been naked most the days on the beaches
between Hengistbury head fenced off area to just west of Southbourne
without any problems. I did not go naked on the promenade. Beach
Showers, drinking water and free hotplates from Southbourne to Boscombe
which would be clothed although I have showered naked early and late in
the day when not many people about.
[1]
Hengistbury Head Long Groyne works 2021-2024 - Poole & Christchurch
Bays Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management [1]
Repair & upgrade works to the 1930s structure; exploratory work in 2019
found a number of voids in the underlying foundations and it was closed
to the public for safety reasons.
twobays.net
