Sandbanks
Sandbanks is a small peninsula projecting into the mouth of Poole Harbour which is the second largest natural harbour in the world after Sydney. It is well known for the highly regarded Sandbanks Beach and property values. Sandbanks has, by area, the fourth highest land value in the world and the Sandbanks and Canford Cliffs coastline area has been dubbed as “Britain’s Palm Beach” by the national media.
A chain ferry, ‘The Sandbanks Ferry’ connects Sandbanks with Studland on the opposite side of harbour mouth. The Sandbanks area of Poole Harbour (known as North Haven Lake) is widely used for water sports and by light marine craft. The north side is home to the Southern Headquarters of the Royal Yachting Association and an international sailing school. There are many small marinas dotted around the harbour.
Views to the north extend across Poole Harbour to Poole town. To the south views extend across the English Channel toward Cherbourg, France (which Poole is twinned with) and to the world heritage coastline of Studland and Swanage in the west. There is a daily ferry to Cherbourg from Poole and if you take it you will be travelling almost exactly the same route the Canadian, American and English troops took on D-Day.
Sandbanks Chain Ferry
There are fabulous homes both on Sandbanks (although many hidden behind tall walls) and across the immediate region, stretching east from the Harbour through Canford Cliffs and into Branksome Park which has been referred to as Britain’s ‘Beverly Hills’ mainly because of the huge houses and sylvan environment. The 3 areas share the same exclusive BH13 postcode.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution stationed a lifeboat at Sandbanks in 1865. The crew had to travel from Poole in a horse-drawn carriage whenever it was launched so a new Poole Lifeboat Station was opened at Fisherman’s Dock on Poole Quay in 1882.
Poole Harbour & Evening Hill
Sandbanks is located at the eastern end of a 10 mile long ‘blue flag’ sandy beach that stretches to Christchurch in the west. The main attraction however, is the beach itself, Sandbanks Beach being known as the best beach in the UK. It has been awarded the ‘European Blue Flag’ year after year for the beach’s cleanliness and great water quality. Many people flock to the beach yearly and in the summer the beach is so shallow that you can walk out into the sea almost 200 yds safely. During the busy months between the May and September lifeguards are on duty and also a First Aid post if required.
Courtesy Wikipedia
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