In the area of Avon Beach, this is a great run featuring wonderful variety, including a waterfront promenade, wooded preserve, Highcliffe Castle, and scenic clifftop paths. Starting at Avon Beach, you can run west on a paved waterfront promenade for 1.4 miles to Mudeford, including a jaunt around scenic Mudeford Quay. Nice views of the beach & English Channel.
Highcliffe Path: Google Street View
From Avon Beach headed east, a sand path leads to the Steamer Point Nature Reserve, which has hilly wooded paths leading to sea views. Continue to the paths that lead to Highcliffe Castle, a Gothic revival mansion dating to 1836. Continuing east are ~1 mile of scenic clifftop paths above Highliffe Beach, leading to Chewton Bunny. These are gravel paths with good footing, and great views.
Combining these two routes makes for a terrific 6.3 mile run.
Add-On: At Mudeford Quay, a ferry that runs every 15 minutes to Mudeford Sandbank, where you can access the scenic paths of the Mudeford Sandspit and Hengistbury Head (see our Southbourne to Bournemouth route).
In the area of Avon Beach, this is a great run featuring wonderful variety, including a waterfront promenade, wooded preserve, Highcliffe Castle, and scenic clifftop paths. Starting at Avon Beach, you can run west on a paved waterfront promenade for 1.4 miles to Mudeford, including a jaunt around scenic Mudeford Quay. Nice views of the beach & English Channel.
Highcliffe Path: Google Street View
From Avon Beach headed east, a sand path leads to the Steamer Point Nature Reserve, which has hilly wooded paths leading to sea views. Continue to the paths that lead to Highcliffe Castle, a Gothic revival mansion dating to 1836. Continuing east are ~1 mile of scenic clifftop paths above Highliffe Beach, leading to Chewton Bunny. These are gravel paths with good footing, and great views.
Combining these two routes makes for a terrific 6.3 mile run.
Add-On: At Mudeford Quay, a ferry that runs every 15 minutes to Mudeford Sandbank, where you can access the scenic paths of the Mudeford Sandspit and Hengistbury Head (see our Southbourne to Bournemouth route).
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Essentials
Avon Beach to Mudeford Quay: 2.8 miles out and back; Avon Beach to Chewton Bunny: 3.5 miles out and back. Combined: 6.3 miles
Fairly flat, except a bit hilly in Steamer Point Nature Reserve and atop Highcliffe Beach
Southcliffe Road car park, Christchurch, at Avon Beach
Terrific seafront promenade runs along the beach for up to 7 miles between Southbourne and Sandbanks. Great water views. Combine with 'overcliff' paths for a nice loop. Beach is also runnable.
In addition to the 7-mile seafront promenade, there are clifftop paths at Hengistbury Head & above the beach in Bournemouth, Boscombe and Eastbourne. We also love the path through Bournemouth Gardens.
Nice waterfront running in Poole, known for its large natural harbour. Enjoy the Harbourside Walk and loop around Boating Lake, and the Holes Bay Path to Upton County Park. Can be combined for a long run!
Popular area for exploration of the South West Coast Path. Explore the path north to Studland and southwest toward Weymouth. Varying surface types and not too hilly. Also ~1.2 miles of paved path right in Swanage.
Fantastic running options in this coastal town, including a waterfront promenade along the sweeping harbour, paths around the Lodmoor salt marsh, the Rodwell multi-use trail, and the South West Coast Path for trail runners.
Nice running in the 'Pearl of Dorset' at the Dorset-Devon border. Combine the scenic 1-mile Marine Parade with the garden paths in the hills above the water. The section of South West Coast Path toward Axmouth offers scenery and a challenging trail run.
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Essentials
Avon Beach to Mudeford Quay: 2.8 miles out and back; Avon Beach to Chewton Bunny: 3.5 miles out and back. Combined: 6.3 miles
Fairly flat, except a bit hilly in Steamer Point Nature Reserve and atop Highcliffe Beach
Southcliffe Road car park, Christchurch, at Avon Beach
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