Dropping from Southbourne's clifftop down to the beach, Fisherman's Walk is the tree-lined green and zig-zag path that forms part of a series of leafy walks breaking up Bournemouth's low sandstone cliffs. Instead of a single formal garden, expect an easy, informal stroll through lawns and ornamental planting, and one genuinely loved by locals: a volunteer group, the Friends of Fisherman's Walk, maintains the space and runs events here throughout the year.
History
Before it became a park, Fisherman's Walk served as a working route, local fishermen carried their catch up it from the shore to the New Bell Inn in Pokesdown. Lawns and a bandstand dating from the 1920s were later added to the clifftop green, part of the same wave of civic landscaping that gave Bournemouth its chines and cliff lifts, including the miniature funicular built alongside it in 1935. A Green Flag award recognises the park as a well-managed green space.
Walking down
Rather than dropping steeply in one go, the path winds down through a series of gentle zig-zags, keeping the slope manageable for pushchairs and anyone hoping to avoid steps. Trees part occasionally to reveal the sea, and on clear days the view extends out toward the Isle of Wight. At the bottom lies the sand at Fisherman's Walk beach, or, for those wanting to save their legs for the climb back up, the seasonal Fisherman's Walk Cliff Lift runs beside the path.
No gates or admission fees restrict Fisherman's Walk, which stays open and free all year round. It's one of several green, family-friendly routes down to the sea around the bay, with more ideas available in our guide to things to do in Bournemouth.
