Second-year BA (Hons) Textiles Design student Lillia Bowsher shares her top five tips on the best things to do and places to see after her first year in Bournemouth.
Visit Hengistbury Head
One of the first places I visited once settling in was Hengistbury Head. This is an idyllic walk past desirable beach huts (something to daydream about) and the harbour, before going up the steps along the headland to a viewpoint, where we could even see The Needles on the Isle of Wight. It was relatively easy to get to; we caught a bus from Bath Road to get us as close as possible before walking approximately 30 minutes along the beach until our destination! They also have a Summer Breezer bus running, but it stops at the end of the season, so be sure to check that out.
Take a shopping trip to Castlepoint
Who doesn’t love a bit of retail therapy? Grab your friends, hop on the bus and spend a day mooching the rails. Castlepoint had some great shops to look around – it’s one of the largest shopping centres in Dorset so there’s definitely something for everyone.
Discover Boscombe
Another great place to explore is Boscombe beach and gardens. My friends and I found an amazing selection of shells and sea glass here, so keep your eyes peeled for some trinkets. It’s nice to explore a different area of the coastline, too. The gardens are lovely to walk around, and absolutely full of colour. There are also many different routes leading you to the beachfront, so you can find your own path.
Visit the Purbecks
Going slightly further than Zone A on the bus is Old Harry Rocks. This lovely walk takes you along the clifftops in the Isle of Purbeck. They are very unique to see and it’s definitely worth going for a break around your studies – plus they are the only ones like it! You can get there by bus, crossing the water via the chain link ferry, but you will have to pay your bus fare past the bus pass zone.
Lastly, get involved with pop-up trails
Around the BCP area are loads of seasonal or one-off events to follow along, like Bournemouth and Poole Christmas light trails, along with decorated mermaid tails and sea turtles for charity, and more. It’s so easy to get into town from halls, especially Maderia Road and Home Park, so make the most of it. There are various travel blogs and Instagram accounts to follow for insights into what’s going on. It definitely makes you feel part of the community, and it’s just something fun and light-hearted to get you out of the house!
