Jane's Midlife Journey

The Blue Pool is a former clay mining pit within a woodland nature reserve. The Blue Pool derives its name from the striking turquoise colour the water can sometimes appear. In fact, although the pool is sometimes a bright blue, it can also be dark blue, green, grey and even reddish brown. These colour changes are due to light diffraction from clay particles within the pool.

The pool is surrounded by trails of varying lengths leading around the Blue Pool and into the woodland, all culminating at the tearoom and gift shop.

How to get to to Blue Pool

The Blue Poole is between Wareham and Corfe Castle, 19 miles south west of Bournemouth. By car, take the A351 to Wareham, then follow the brown tourist signs through Furzebrook for around a mile until you see a sign on your left for The Blue Pool.

By Bus

The number 40 Breezer Bus stops at Blue Pool Lane around a ten minute walk to the entrance of the Blue Pool.

Parking

There is ample, free parking available on site.

Opening Times

The Blue Pool is open daily. Opening times vary according to the season from 9.30 am until between 5 and 6 pm for much of the year. And from 10 am until 4 pm between November and February.

Price

Adult entry costs £9.50 (£7.50 between November and March).

Details

The Blue Pool

Dating back to the 17th century, the 10 metre deep Blue Pool was originally a clay pit used to extract clay for pottery makers. After it was abandoned, rainwater filled the pit, creating the colour phenomenon that visitors can enjoy today. The pool has been operating as a tourist attraction for almost a century, opening to the public in 1935.

Trails

The pool sits within 150 acres of land as part of the Furzebrook Estate and is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest. There are two main Trails around the pool:

The Green Route passes around the base of the pool and includes some steps and uneven ground. It can also be muddy in places.

The Red Route is accessible and suitable for both wheelchairs and pushchairs. The path leads you through the woodland above the pool, with viewpoints along the way to view the water from different angles as it catches the light.

Upon arrival, visitors are given an Art Deco style map, which is very pretty, but not that easy to interpret. And the trails aren’t particularly well marked. I got lost a couple of times during my visit.

Rope Bridge

The Blue Pool also boasts the UK’s longest suspended Rope Bridge. The bridge spans 50 metres and stands 10 metres from the ground, mirroring the depth of The Blue Pool. Note: The rope is only tethered at either end, which makes walking across it very bouncy!

Wildlife

The Blue Pool is home to an array of wildlife. Squirrels, deer, badgers, owls and lizards all reside here. On my visit, I only spotted a couple of peacocks.

Events

Special events take place throughout the year, from outdoor cinema in summer to wreath making and Christmas parties in winter. You can check out details of forthcoming events here.

Illuminate at The Blue Pool

In winter, the nature reserve is transformed with the annual Illuminate display. Over a kilometre of lighting brings the canopy alive with a multitude of magical colours.

Tea Rooms

The Tea Rooms offer breakfast, cakes, sandwiches and light lunches. In addition, there is a range of afternoon tea options.

There is also an Ice Cream Parlour serving Italian Gelato between April and September.

Gift Shop

The Gift Shop sells a selection of local produce, including The Blue Pool’s own honey.

Accomodation

If you really love it here, you can stay longer. The Blue Poole offers accommodation in cottages, tree houses and tents. Plus the opportunity to wild camp.

The Blue Pool For Children

The Blue Pool has plenty to keep children entertained. A Gnome & Fairy Trail through the woods brings you to a large Play Area.

Gnome and Fairy Trail

Children can follow the Gnome and Fairy Trail and see how many gnomes and fairy doors they can discover along the way. Activity sheets are available at the entrance.

Play Area

At the end of the trail is a Play Area with a range of swings, balancing beams and climbing frames.

Price

Children’s entry costs £4.75 (£3.75 in winter). Under fives are free.

Food & Drink

The Tea Rooms offer a children’s Afternoon Tea, which includes a
a sandwich, a scone with jam, fruit and a carton of juice for £6.

Events

The Blue Pool organises events for children during the school holidays. There are Easter and Halloween trails plus a range of craft activities on offer. During the summer, there is pig feeding and at Christmas, Santa is in attendance.

• Updated: September 2025

I hope you found this information useful. For more inspiration on things to do in and around Bournemouth, check out my 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.