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101 Things to do in Bournemouth – Kingfisher Barn
Kingfisher Barn is a Visitor Centre in the Stour Valley Nature Reserve; a two mile stretch of riverside footpaths on the northern edge of Bournemouth. The reserve is abundant with flora and fauna, with over 400 species of plants, plus plenty of wildlife, such as kingfishers, otters and dragonflies. How to get to Kingfisher Barn…
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101 Things to do in Bournemouth – Upton Country Park
Upton Country Park, the grounds surrounding Upton House on the outskirts of Poole, consists of over 160 acres of parkland. This parkland incorporates woodland trails, formal gardens and stunning shoreline. In addition, facilities include tea rooms, a welcome centre, an art gallery and play areas for both children and dogs. How to get to Upton…
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101 Things to do in Bournemouth – Escape Rooms
There are a multitude of Escape Rooms in the Bournemouth area; 7 companies offering a total of 14 real life escape rooms, plus a further 15 Virtual Reality escape rooms, to be precise. These cover a broad spectrum of theme and difficulty, from trying to rescue a scared animal to trying to escape a deranged…
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101 Things to do in Bournemouth – Tower Park
There’s so much to see and do in and around Bournemouth on a warm, sunny day. But when it’s cold, wet and windy, less so. One place with plenty of indoor activities on offer is Tower Park. Situated around 5 miles north west of Bournemouth, this entertainment complex was, according to Wikipedia, ‘one of the…
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101 Things to do in Bournemouth – Kingston Lacy
Kingston Lacy is a rather grand, ornately decorated house, surrounded by beautiful gardens, surrounded by parkland. It was the family home of the Bankes family for 300 years, before being bequeathed to the National Trust. Today, you can visit the Italianate mansion and marvel at its splendid interior, take a stroll round the beautiful formal…
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101 Things to do in Bournemouth – Poole Quay
The historic Poole Quay, which was once used to moor ocean-going ships, is now the home of harbour cruisers and pleasure boats. The half mile log stretch running west to east from the Lifeboat Station at one end to the Old Lifeboat Station at the other is a popular tourist destination. Lined with bars and…
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101 Things to do Bournemouth – Hurst Castle
Hurst Castle is a fortress situated on the end of a shingle spit off the English coast, less than a mile from the Isle of Wight. The 16th Century castle has a long and interesting history plus spectacular views. As part of the castle collapsed during storms in 2021, only the Tudor Castle is currently…
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101 Things to do in Bournemouth – Corfe Castle
Corfe Castle is the name of both a castle and a village in the Purbecks near Wareham, just across Poole Harbour from Bournemouth. The village and its thousand year old castle are either 15 miles from Bournemouth (if you cross Poole Harbour by ferry) or 20 miles away (if you drive round the harbour). How…
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101 Things to do in Bournemouth – Stompin’ on the Quomps
The rather unusually named Stompin’ on the Quomps is Christchurch’s annual smooth jazz festival. It takes place in the park on the edge of Christchurch Harbour, known locally as The Quomps. The one day event is mainly about the music, but there is also food, drink and other entertainment in the beautiful harbourside setting. All…
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101 Things to do in Bournemouth – Westbourne
Today I have a tour guide; a friend has offered to show me round the suburb of Westbourne. So far I’ve only been to Westbourne to eat or drink. And to weigh myself – but that’s another story. Westbourne has a reputation for being rather genteel. The main (Poole) road is lined with cafes, restaurants…
Jane's Midlife Journey 