Canford Cliffs Chine is the wooded ravine that lends its name to one of the most desirable pieces of coastline in Poole, running down through the low sandy cliffs between Branksome Chine and Shore Road. As with Bournemouth's chines further round the bay, it started as a natural cleft in the soft cliffs and was later shaped into a sheltered walking route down to the sand.
History
On the first-edition Ordnance Survey map of 1889, the upper part of the chine appears as "Pleasure Grounds", evidence that this section of the valley was already being kept as an ornamental public space in Victorian times, roughly when Canford Cliffs and neighbouring Branksome Park were being developed as a fashionable seaside suburb. Today the chine's steep, sandy cliff face is managed as a conservation area and provides shelter for local wildlife.
Visiting
Steps and a path descend through the chine to Canford Cliffs beach, a Blue Flag stretch of sand with RNLI lifeguards on duty in summer. Going down is easy enough, but there is some gradient, so the return climb takes a bit more effort, and getting in directly from the nearby car park can be awkward; many people find it simpler to come in via Shore Road or Branksome Chine. Up at the top, Canford Cliffs village offers a good range of independent restaurants, cafés and shops, so a walk down to the beach fits neatly with lunch or a coffee.
Nearby
The beach at the bottom of the chine is among Poole's quieter, family-friendly spots, with volleyball nets in season and lifeguards through high summer. A short walk inland is Canford Cliffs Village Pocket Park, a small green space in the middle of the village. This is one of several wooded chines that punctuate this stretch of coast; find more of them, along with the rest of the area, in our guide to things to do in Bournemouth.
