The Tiny Islands & Resorts of Dorset
Isle of Purbeck, Maria Burns
Dorset is a large county in south west England, which has quite a few tiny islands. Isle of Purbeck is not a true island, but a peninsula (and home to Jurassic coast landmarks like Lulworth Cove and Old Harry Rocks). Its key feature is Purbeck limestone, along with Corfe Castle and a major nature reserve.
Nearby Poole Harbour (one of the world’s largest natural harbours) forms the boundary. This is also the end point of the South West Coastal Path.
If out walking, always follow the Countryside Code to keep all creatures safe. If at the coast, read about how to keep dogs safe by the seaside (check beach bans before travel).
Never walk on sand dunes, to protect nesting birds, seal pups and other wildlife. Also keep dogs away, especially in breeding season.
Brownsea is a charming little island near Poole is home to wildflowers and seabirds. And due to being an island with the right kind of trees, it’s a good spot for red squirrels (they need habitat, not culling greys). Arne Nature Reserve is great for birdwatching, with heathland, woodland and saltmarsh all in one place.
Studland Bay (home to unique dunes and heathland) is a national nature reserve, home to many native reptiles (including sand lizards) and endangered seahorses.
Owned by the National Trust, the beach was used to train for the D-Day landings in World War II. Live ammunition is still occasionally found, so report it to National Trust immediately.
Sandbanks (one of England’s Most Expensive Places)
Sandbanks is apparently the fourth most expensive place to live in the world (John Lennon bought a bungalow here for his Aunt Mimi in 1965). It used to be wild sand dunes, before turning into a mecca for shorefront homes.
There have been recent problems after a wooden fence was put up, which blocks off parts of the sandy beaches that run from some of the homes ‘back gardens’. Locals are saying ‘nobody owns the sand’ as they are having to walk different routes, sometimes with their dogs.
Back in Sandbanks, one resident (almost 80 years old) was walking her dog at night near the sand, then the security lights went on, CCTV started to film her, and a voice boomed out telling her to ‘go away’.
The best-known residents of Sandbanks for many years were Harry Redknapp and his wife, though they no longer live here (he is building a new mansion that will be more private, after becoming bothered by tourists).
The cheapest home on Right Move at Sandbanks is a 2-bedroom flat for £425,000. The most expensive property was almost £6 million (5 bedrooms and bathrooms, a pool, sauna, lawn and guest suite).
American writer Zoe Strimpel is mystified by the high prices in Sandbanks:
Sandbanks has none of what I would look for in a seaside home: no wildness, no seclusion, no sense of exposure to the full roar of the elements. Its naturalness has been manicured out of it, in accordance with the architectural and landscaping tastes of the football and entertainment elite .
