Hayley’s guidebook

Hayley
Hayley’s guidebook

Places to eat and drink

Here are a few of my favourite places to eat and drink. There is more detail within the house manual available in the house.
Renoufs is a highly acclaimed wine and cheese restaurant. In terms of budget it would be higher end but really delicious and worth the money. Again, I would recommend booking this one in advance.
34 moradores locais recomendam
Renoufs Cheese and Wine Bar
48 Poole Rd
34 moradores locais recomendam
Renoufs is a highly acclaimed wine and cheese restaurant. In terms of budget it would be higher end but really delicious and worth the money. Again, I would recommend booking this one in advance.
A great all-rounder is Jenkins and Sons, who are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is nothing fancy but a nice pub in an old butchers with a good vibe and decent food. They allow dogs and often have a pub quiz on a Sunday night (call first to check and book a table). They have a screen which they show big sporting events like the World Cup or 6 Nations.
19 moradores locais recomendam
Jenkins & Sons | Craft beer & cocktail bar in Penn Hill
7-8 Penn Hill Ave
19 moradores locais recomendam
A great all-rounder is Jenkins and Sons, who are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is nothing fancy but a nice pub in an old butchers with a good vibe and decent food. They allow dogs and often have a pub quiz on a Sunday night (call first to check and book a table). They have a screen which they show big sporting events like the World Cup or 6 Nations.
Again good for breakfast, lunch and dinner. In the evening people often go for drinks as well. The menu is big and good value for money. They also allow dogs.
Dancing Moose Penn Hill
Again good for breakfast, lunch and dinner. In the evening people often go for drinks as well. The menu is big and good value for money. They also allow dogs.
Mark Bennett’s is a fantastic sandwich shop, bakery and patisserie. They have a few chairs outside if the weather is nice and an inside eating area.
31 moradores locais recomendam
Patisserie Mark Bennett
Penn Hill Avenue
31 moradores locais recomendam
Mark Bennett’s is a fantastic sandwich shop, bakery and patisserie. They have a few chairs outside if the weather is nice and an inside eating area.
A great Indian restaurant to eat in or takeaway.
7 moradores locais recomendam
Fort Raj
7 moradores locais recomendam
A great Indian restaurant to eat in or takeaway.
This is a craft ale taphouse which attracts quite a cool crowd and gets quite busy on a Friday and Saturday night. There is no need to dress up to go here.
The Butcher's Dog Bar & Bottleshop Ashley Cross
39 Parr St
This is a craft ale taphouse which attracts quite a cool crowd and gets quite busy on a Friday and Saturday night. There is no need to dress up to go here.
This place looks like a very unassuming standard pub, but when you go in, walk to the back and you will find a bookshelf. Push it in the right place and it is actually a door up to a quirky bar upstairs. It has large leather sofas and an open fire and plays chilled music. You could spend all evening drinking cocktails up there. If you like live bands, downstairs in Bermuda Triangle often has bands at the weekend.
24 moradores locais recomendam
Bermuda Triangle
10 Parr St
24 moradores locais recomendam
This place looks like a very unassuming standard pub, but when you go in, walk to the back and you will find a bookshelf. Push it in the right place and it is actually a door up to a quirky bar upstairs. It has large leather sofas and an open fire and plays chilled music. You could spend all evening drinking cocktails up there. If you like live bands, downstairs in Bermuda Triangle often has bands at the weekend.
Good if you want to go for a boogie and often have drinks deals.
14 moradores locais recomendam
Le Bateau Wood Fired Restaurant & Bar
141-143 Commercial Rd
14 moradores locais recomendam
Good if you want to go for a boogie and often have drinks deals.
This is probably the best pizza place I have ever been to. It’s pretty small, so booking is advised and it’s also BYOB. The menu is small and only has pizza plus a few select starters and some amazing desserts. It is very reasonably priced and authentic Italian. It’s probably my favourite restaurant in the area. Bear in mind that it only takes cash!
15 moradores locais recomendam
Da Mario Wood Fired Pizza
12 Queens Rd
15 moradores locais recomendam
This is probably the best pizza place I have ever been to. It’s pretty small, so booking is advised and it’s also BYOB. The menu is small and only has pizza plus a few select starters and some amazing desserts. It is very reasonably priced and authentic Italian. It’s probably my favourite restaurant in the area. Bear in mind that it only takes cash!
Fantastic pies with an interesting pizza selection plus an abundance of different ciders)
The Poole Stable
2 High St
Fantastic pies with an interesting pizza selection plus an abundance of different ciders)
Good for a quick bite to eat
9 moradores locais recomendam
Deli On The Quay
The Quay
9 moradores locais recomendam
Good for a quick bite to eat
A fantastic fish restaurant which prides itself on using sustainable local produce
14 moradores locais recomendam
Storm Fish
16 High St
14 moradores locais recomendam
A fantastic fish restaurant which prides itself on using sustainable local produce
Visit for incredible views out across Poole Harbour. It can be very pricey but they do have a good value weekday lunch menu.
120 moradores locais recomendam
Rick Stein, Sandbanks
10-14 Banks Rd
120 moradores locais recomendam
Visit for incredible views out across Poole Harbour. It can be very pricey but they do have a good value weekday lunch menu.
Great pit stop if you are out for a beach stroll.
28 moradores locais recomendam
Jazz Cafe
28 Shore Rd
28 moradores locais recomendam
Great pit stop if you are out for a beach stroll.
Fantastic happy hour from 5 - 7pm
8 moradores locais recomendam
1812 Exeter Rd
1812 Exeter Road
8 moradores locais recomendam
Fantastic happy hour from 5 - 7pm
A more upmarket venue with great views across Bournemouth.
22 moradores locais recomendam
Level8ight The Sky Bar
Terrace Road
22 moradores locais recomendam
A more upmarket venue with great views across Bournemouth.
Delicious but VERY unhealthy burgers and thick shakes
14 moradores locais recomendam
7Bone Burger Co. - Bournemouth
9 Gervis Pl
14 moradores locais recomendam
Delicious but VERY unhealthy burgers and thick shakes
A more refined but still delicious burger
Monty's Lounge Bournemouth
39 Bourne Ave
A more refined but still delicious burger
A new take on Mexican street food
28 moradores locais recomendam
Ojo Rojo
106 Commercial Rd
28 moradores locais recomendam
A new take on Mexican street food
A Michelin recommended restaurant, is fine dining but at a reasonable price (compared to similar quality restaurants). If you are looking for a special evening out, this is the place. You must book in advance as it gets very booked up, but they often have last minute cancellations - just check out their Facebook page to check!
21 moradores locais recomendam
Restaurant Roots
141 Belle Vue Rd
21 moradores locais recomendam
A Michelin recommended restaurant, is fine dining but at a reasonable price (compared to similar quality restaurants). If you are looking for a special evening out, this is the place. You must book in advance as it gets very booked up, but they often have last minute cancellations - just check out their Facebook page to check!
Not the cheapest, but if you are looking to try tasty and unique food here is the place.
77 moradores locais recomendam
The Larder House
4 Southbourne Grove
77 moradores locais recomendam
Not the cheapest, but if you are looking to try tasty and unique food here is the place.
Deli Rocks is perfect for Italian-inspired lunches. With great sandwiches, pizza, salad and some pasta dishes along with a rocky-funky interior, it’s a great place to stop by for lunch
19 moradores locais recomendam
Deli Rocks
23 Southbourne Grove
19 moradores locais recomendam
Deli Rocks is perfect for Italian-inspired lunches. With great sandwiches, pizza, salad and some pasta dishes along with a rocky-funky interior, it’s a great place to stop by for lunch
This is a cafe / restaurant located at Durley Chine opposite the Harvester. It’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and can get pretty booked up. The food is nice, but the real selling point is the view from the roof terrace. It serves coffees, cake and alcohol and is a great place to sit in the sun and watch the world go by.
10 moradores locais recomendam
Chineside
Off W Overcliff Dr
10 moradores locais recomendam
This is a cafe / restaurant located at Durley Chine opposite the Harvester. It’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and can get pretty booked up. The food is nice, but the real selling point is the view from the roof terrace. It serves coffees, cake and alcohol and is a great place to sit in the sun and watch the world go by.
This bar / restaurant is located on Boscombe Beach and again is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There is a slightly more up-market restaurant upstairs which serves great food and has fantastic views or downstairs you can sit and just have drink or have something from the bar menu. Dogs are welcome here, but only downstairs.
149 moradores locais recomendam
Urban Reef - Seafront Restaurant in Bournemouth
Undercliff Drive
149 moradores locais recomendam
This bar / restaurant is located on Boscombe Beach and again is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There is a slightly more up-market restaurant upstairs which serves great food and has fantastic views or downstairs you can sit and just have drink or have something from the bar menu. Dogs are welcome here, but only downstairs.
It is child and dog friendly and has a great menu. There is a large outside seating area for sunny days too.
9 moradores locais recomendam
The Grasshopper
139-141 Bournemouth Rd
9 moradores locais recomendam
It is child and dog friendly and has a great menu. There is a large outside seating area for sunny days too.

Beaches

A nice promenade to stroll along but it can get very busy in Summer. Dogs are only allowed on certain parts of the beach between 1st May and 30th September and they usually have to be on their lead. We often drive to Durley Chine and park for free at the clifftop (weekend only) and walk down to the beach. If you walk left you go towards Bournemouth and if you walk right it takes you towards Sandbanks.
149 moradores locais recomendam
Praia de Bournemouth
149 moradores locais recomendam
A nice promenade to stroll along but it can get very busy in Summer. Dogs are only allowed on certain parts of the beach between 1st May and 30th September and they usually have to be on their lead. We often drive to Durley Chine and park for free at the clifftop (weekend only) and walk down to the beach. If you walk left you go towards Bournemouth and if you walk right it takes you towards Sandbanks.
Sandbanks beach has a promenade if you walk one way and doesn’t if you walk the other. We prefer this beach as it is usually less busy, though parking around Sandbanks can be expensive. There’s a church called The Church of the Transfiguration on Chaddesley Glen (a side road at Sandbanks) who let you park in their car park for a small donation compared to the council car park prices.
121 moradores locais recomendam
Praia de Sandbanks
Banks Road
121 moradores locais recomendam
Sandbanks beach has a promenade if you walk one way and doesn’t if you walk the other. We prefer this beach as it is usually less busy, though parking around Sandbanks can be expensive. There’s a church called The Church of the Transfiguration on Chaddesley Glen (a side road at Sandbanks) who let you park in their car park for a small donation compared to the council car park prices.
If you drive down to the chain ferry and use that to go across Poole Harbour, there are some of the best untouched beaches in the area. They can be less busy and offer fantastic views. Though be warned that there is a nudist beach...unless that’s your thing!
69 moradores locais recomendam
Studland
69 moradores locais recomendam
If you drive down to the chain ferry and use that to go across Poole Harbour, there are some of the best untouched beaches in the area. They can be less busy and offer fantastic views. Though be warned that there is a nudist beach...unless that’s your thing!

Top things to do

There is so much to do around here and I couldn’t possibly go into detail about everything, but I have outlined some of our favourite things to do and also offered some rainy-day activities.
We often drive to Studland and park at South Beach Car Park. From here you can either walk to Old Harry and back or there is a slightly longer circular route (see here for the route: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/purbeck-countryside/trails/old-harry-rocks-walk). As it doesn’t take long you can take a picnic and either eat en-route or head down to the beach for a swim in the sea after. If you wanted to combine a walk with a pub, the Bankes Arms (dog friendly) offer a good pub menu including roasts on a Sunday or if you wanted to treat yourself, the Pig Hotel offers amazing food in a beautiful old house (booking essential). If the weather allows, we usually do the walk and head to sit in the garden of the Pig Hotel (dog friendly outside) for drinks and pizza flatbread which they serve outside with no booking required. If you make a day of it, on your way back to the chain ferry, you should stop at Shell Bay to watch the sunset. There are chairs outside where you can have drinks whilst looking over Poole Harbour or there is great seafood served inside (booking advised). If you are wanting a slightly more strenuous walk, you can either walk from our house to either Studland or Swanage and get the bus back or drive over and walk to Swanage and back. Swanage is a traditional seaside town with quaint little shops, fish and chips and small cafes.
152 moradores locais recomendam
Old Harry Rocks
152 moradores locais recomendam
We often drive to Studland and park at South Beach Car Park. From here you can either walk to Old Harry and back or there is a slightly longer circular route (see here for the route: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/purbeck-countryside/trails/old-harry-rocks-walk). As it doesn’t take long you can take a picnic and either eat en-route or head down to the beach for a swim in the sea after. If you wanted to combine a walk with a pub, the Bankes Arms (dog friendly) offer a good pub menu including roasts on a Sunday or if you wanted to treat yourself, the Pig Hotel offers amazing food in a beautiful old house (booking essential). If the weather allows, we usually do the walk and head to sit in the garden of the Pig Hotel (dog friendly outside) for drinks and pizza flatbread which they serve outside with no booking required. If you make a day of it, on your way back to the chain ferry, you should stop at Shell Bay to watch the sunset. There are chairs outside where you can have drinks whilst looking over Poole Harbour or there is great seafood served inside (booking advised). If you are wanting a slightly more strenuous walk, you can either walk from our house to either Studland or Swanage and get the bus back or drive over and walk to Swanage and back. Swanage is a traditional seaside town with quaint little shops, fish and chips and small cafes.
I won’t go into every walk we enjoy in the Purbecks, but the coastline is absolutely stunning. A short drive from the house is the famous Durdle Door, which is a must see but can get very busy in the summer. We also love Kimmeridge and a beach called Worbarrow Bay (also known as Tyneham). The National Trust has some great walking routes in the area and their website helpfully outlines the time, whether the route is dog friendly and the terrain (https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lists/summer-walks-in-dorset-). If you are looking for a good roast dinner in the Purbecks, head to The Scott Arms in Kingston.
19 moradores locais recomendam
Purbeck District
19 moradores locais recomendam
I won’t go into every walk we enjoy in the Purbecks, but the coastline is absolutely stunning. A short drive from the house is the famous Durdle Door, which is a must see but can get very busy in the summer. We also love Kimmeridge and a beach called Worbarrow Bay (also known as Tyneham). The National Trust has some great walking routes in the area and their website helpfully outlines the time, whether the route is dog friendly and the terrain (https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lists/summer-walks-in-dorset-). If you are looking for a good roast dinner in the Purbecks, head to The Scott Arms in Kingston.
Paddleboarding off Boscombe beach or in Poole Harbour There are many places to hire paddleboards or kayaks along the beach. On a nice calm day, it is so lovely to hire a paddleboard and relax on the water. If the sea is a little rough, head to Sandbanks and hire a paddleboard from The Watersports Academy and have a go in the safety of the harbour, where the water only comes up to your hips. If that's slightly too adventurous, just relax on the beach or stroll along the promenade and watch others playing in the sea. If you are there for more speed then you can do windsurfing lessons in the same area, or head to Boscombe where you can have surf lessons or hire surfboards.
30 moradores locais recomendam
The Watersports Academy
15 Banks Rd
30 moradores locais recomendam
Paddleboarding off Boscombe beach or in Poole Harbour There are many places to hire paddleboards or kayaks along the beach. On a nice calm day, it is so lovely to hire a paddleboard and relax on the water. If the sea is a little rough, head to Sandbanks and hire a paddleboard from The Watersports Academy and have a go in the safety of the harbour, where the water only comes up to your hips. If that's slightly too adventurous, just relax on the beach or stroll along the promenade and watch others playing in the sea. If you are there for more speed then you can do windsurfing lessons in the same area, or head to Boscombe where you can have surf lessons or hire surfboards.