Jane's Midlife Journey

Canford Heath Nature Reserve, on the outskirts of Poole, is the largest area of heathland in Dorset. The 850 acre site is situated approximately 6 miles north west of Bournemouth. It is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and is home to snakes, lizards, dragonflies and birds and. Criss-crossed with trails and with an elevated view, it make for a pleasant outing.

How to get to Canford Heath

Located just north of Poole and close to Turbary Retail Park and Tower Park entertainment complex, Canford Heath Nature Reserve is easily accessible by car and public transport. There are several entrances to the Heath, including at Gravel Hill lay-by, Culliford Crescent and Francis Avenue.

By Bus

Buses No 18 from Bournemouth and 25/26 from Poole stop at Knowlton Road close to access points to the Heath.

Parking

There is no actual car park, however there is free parking available on many of the surrounding roads.

Trails

There are trails running through and around the edge of the heath which make for a lovely scenic walk/run with views across the heathland to Poole Harbour and beyond. Trails are also suitable for mountain biking, although a little bumpy for my liking. Note that I am, in fact, a wuss.

The area was devastated by a large fire in the summer of 2022, but is now starting to regenerate. The greens and yellows of new foliage have started to creep up and over the charred black embers.

On a good day, you can see right across to Poole Harbour and Brownsea Island, with the sea glistening on the horizon.

In the other direction is Tower Park with its distinctive water tower and the equally distinctive Parkstone water tower further to the left.

Opening Times

Canford Heath is open around the clock and there are no entry fees.

Facilities

There are no facilities on the Heath. There is a row of shops nearby, just off Culliford Crescent, which includes The Haymoor Pub, Kingfishers Fish & Chips and an Asda supermarket. There are customer toilets in Asda.

The recently opened Canford Nest is a great place to stop for a drink and/or something to eat. It serves breakfasts, lunches, home made cakes and afternoon teas. And it’s licensed. Highly recommended!

Canford Heath for Children

A wander around the trails of Canford Heath is a pleasant activity for most of the family, however the compacted earth and gravel trails are uneven and steep in places, so not particularly suited to pushchairs.

Bear in mind that there can be cattle grazing on the heath, which may bolt if startled. For Orla, the cows and the wildlife are the main attraction. She loves hunting for both. Wildlife on the heath includes birds, lizards, snakes and a wide variety of insects.

In late summer, we enjoy blackberry picking from the bushes around the heath.

Dogs

Dogs must be kept on a short lead between March and July and under close control at all other times of the year in order to protect the wildlife living on the heath.

• Updated: July 2025

I hope you found this information useful. For more inspiration on things to do in and around Bournemouth, check out my other ideas for ‘101 Things to do in Bournemouth’ here.

For more inspiration on things to do in and around Bournemouth with young children, check out my 101 Things to do in Bournemouth with Babies and Toddlers here.