Itinerary #15 - Poole Crown copyright 11 10 1 3 9 2 8 4 5 7 6 Poole Harbour is a large inland Poole Quay, along with the old Poole lagoon, sheltered from the sea by part of town behind it, is a very at- Sandbanks and Studland. It covers tractive place to visit today. There an area of c.14mi2 (36km2), with a is much to see and do. A stroll 1. Poole 278 coastline of c.63mi (100km) and is along the harbour front, exploring 2. Old Town 286 mostly shallow. With access inland the old streets with their fine Geor- Poole Quay 282 via the River Frome, this area has a gian merchants’ houses and sitting Poole Museum 285 history of human habitation going at a quayside cafe table admiring Customs House 287 back at least 400,000 years. the scene is a good start. Old Lifeboat Museum 284 Poole Pottery 279, 286 There is considerable evidence of Beaches Many people will go RNLI Headquarters 283 settlement by Mesolithic, Neolith- straight to the seaside. Poole of- Poole Potery 279, 286 ic and Bronze Age people in the fers 3mi (5km) of pristine, golden St James’s Church 286 Wareham area. However it was sands, with a seaside promenade Newfoundland Trade 280 only during the Iron Age that large from Shore Road to Branksome 3. Constitution Hill 288 scale pottery-making and trading Chine. With beach huts and many 4. Poole Park 288 started. The Poole Boat dates from facilities, this is said to be one of 5. Compton Acres 288 c.300BC and may have been used the best beaches in Britain. Canford Cliffs 288 to transport goods within the har- 6. Sandbanks 288 bour, rather than in the open sea. Brownsea Island is the star attrac- Poole beaches 288 tion here for anyone interested in The Romans developed a deep nature. It is famous for its popu- Chain Ferry 289 water port at Hamworthy to sup- lation of Red Squirrels, rare else- 7. Brownsea Island 290 ply their invading army. Later, they where in England. In winter, many 8. Hamworthy 289 greatly expanded the production waders and waterfowl pass through 9. Holes Bay 289 of pottery, which was exported all or stay here. Large flocks of Avo- 10. Upton Country Park 289 over Roman Britain and northern cets overwinter here. Special trips 11. Beacon Hill viewpoint 273 Gaul. The industry later moved are laid on by the RSPB to observe inland to Verwood. these avian visitors. Dorset Guide Book 1st edition by Charles Tait 358 What to Do and See - Dorset ORDNANCE SURVEY 1:50,000 & 1:25,000 MAPS OS Landranger Map 195 Bournemouth & Purbeck OS Explorer Map OL15 Purbeck & South Dorset; Map 118 Shaftesbury & Cranborne Chase; OL22 New Forest Poole 1. Poole (page 278, popn. 2011, 154,718) is clus- Portugal and France. Salt, wine, olive oil and other tered around the north and east side of Poole goods were then returned to Poole. Harbour. The town has been a trading and fishing 3. Constitution Hill Viewpoint (page 288) in port since the Iron Age. Parkstone has panoramic views of Poole, the 2. The Old Town (page 286), behind the Quay, has Harbour and Purbeck. many fine old buildings dating from the 18th century 4. Poole Park (page 288) is east of the Quay in a when the town was a booming port. Some of the loop of Parkstone Bay. streets are pedestrianised whichs adds greatly to the 5. Compton Acres (4ha, page 288) has seven sep- pleasant ambiance of this area of town. arate gardens; they are said to be “highly regarded as Poole Quay (page 282) has retained many of its one of the most important historic gardens in England”. old buildings. Today it caters predominantly for Off the B3369 to Sandbanks near Canford Cliffs, visitors, with many bars, restaurants and shops. the Gardens are open all year; there is a gift shop, a Boat trips depart from here for Brownsea Island, plant centre and two cafes. Wareham or Swanage and around Poole Harbour. 6. Sandbanks (page 288) is a sand spit which forms Poole Museum (page 285) is housed in a converted the southeast side of Poole Harbour. Famous for old warehouse. Its prize artefact is the Iron Age its high property prices, mere mortals can still enjoy Poole Boat. The collection includes everything the wonderful sandy beach facing the sea, one of the from Palaeolithic handaxes to Roman ceramics. best in Dorset. This museum is an essential visit for anyone wishing Poole beaches (page 288) extend for 3mi (5km) an insight into the past and is on a par with the from Sandbanks to Branksome. Many facilities are Dorset County Museum in Dorchester. open in summer with RNLI Lifeguards present. Customs House (page 287) is now a restaurant. It The Chain Ferry (page 289) carries vehicles and was rebuilt after a fire in the style of the previous passengers across to South Haven Point. building. It was here that the infamous Hawkhurst 7. Brownsea Island (page 290), the largest island Gang made off with contraband tea in 1747. in Poole Harbour, is an essential visit for everyone Poole Lifeboat Station (page 284) was established interested in nature. Ferries run from Poole Quay in 1865. Its first motor lifeboat is preserved in the and Sandbanks. It is owned by the National Trust; Old Lifeboat Museum on Fisherman’s Dock. The DWT maintains the northern part as a nature present station is at Old Poole bridge. reserve. Open from late March to end October; RNLI Headquarters (page 283) is on Holes Bay. there are some special RSPB trips in winter. The Riggers Restaurant is open daily to the public 8. Hamworthy (page 289) is on the west side of for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Poole, facing southwards onto Wareham Channel. Poole Pottery (page 279, 286) was established in This seaside area is much quieter than the beaches 1873. The area around Poole Harbour was already facing the English Channel, but every bit as nice. a significant pottery producer in the Iron Age. 9. Holes Bay (page 289) is a large tidal inlet, Under the Romans this became a major industry, the north of which can be accessed from Upton making Black Burnished Ware. Country Park. It is good for waders and waterfowl St James’s Church (page 286) was built in the during the winter and migration times. 1820s in a rather austere style. The wooden pillars 10. Upton Country Park (page 289), on the north are of Newfoundland pine. shore of Holes Bay, belongs to the Council. With The Newfoundland Trade (page 280) in Codfish formal gardens, woodland and a tearoom it is a started in the early 16th century. For nearly 300 pleasant place to take a stroll. years Poole merchants prospered from a three 11. Beacon Hill and Hill View (page 273), near way trade. Salt and goods were shipped to fishing Corfe Mullen, both offer fine panoramic views over stations. Salted, dried Codfish was sent to Spain, Poole Harbour and Upton Heath. 359 Dorset Guide Book 1st edition by Charles Tait.