Season: spring
Branksome Chine and its beach sit between Bournemouth and Poole, comprising part of a seven mile long strand of beach that runs between Poole in the west and Hengistbury Head in the east. Branksome beach is backed by tall cliffs that display vivid gorse in season. This windy day had tempted out windsurfers to ride the waves at the weekend. Other beachgoers were enjoying a run or a walk along a promenade that is blessed with a choice of restaurants and ice cream parlours.
What the beach and this area mean to David.
The scene at Branksome Chine beach, looking out from the lifeguard station.
Season: spring
To vary the scene slightly, I stopped just short of Branksome Chine to investigate the adjacent Branksome Dene Chine, where I interviewed Dave after his morning sea swim here. The weather was glorious, with bright blue skies over a silver sea. After a long spell of low pressure covering the whole country, today’s weather provided a welcome tonic, itself evident in the smiles that accompanied the passing walkers, cyclists and joggers.
The rhythm of Dave’s life, in harmony with the beach and its elements.
A view of the beach and the cliffs, looking back from the end of a sea groyne.
Season: autumn
Branksome Chine sits between Poole and Bournemouth. It has a wide sandy beach with a gradual slope into the sea. It’s a Blue Flag beach and has an excellent restaurant by the beach, frequented by celebrities. There is a beach office and lifeguard cover from May through to September. This is a well-to-do area, but the beach and its views are still natural and sensational.
Another manonabeach® aesthete, this time social, explains the importance of this beach and its significance for beachgoers. See also Peter at Gyllyngvase in Cornwall for a sensory example.
Late autumn sunshine on the beautiful beach at Branksome Chine.
