Branksome Chine Beach

Branksome Chine Beach is a very popular Blue Flag beach that attracts both locals and visitors. It has wide golden sands with gently sloping entry into the water making it ideal for families with small children. There is an RNLI lifeguard station with beach patrols from May to September. Dogs aren’t allowed on this beach during this period either.

Sat Nav postcode is BH13 6LP (Google map)

Branksome Chine Beach
Branksome Chine Beach

The beach front car park is located just off Pinecliff Road. It fills up very quickly in the summer months so get there early. Car park charges and details can be found towards the bottom of the page.

Facilities are excellent and include a cafe/bar/restaurant with plenty of outdoor seating. There’s also a take-away cafe and a beach shop that also sells hot drinks, ice-creams and refreshments. Next to the car park you’ll also find toilets and a beach office.

Branksome Chine Beach car park and restaurant/cafe

A section of the beach has been designated for watersports activities so if you bring your paddle board, kayak or windsurfer please use this area to launch it (zone is between chequered black and white flags).

There are several volley ball nets and some football pitches located on the beach in the direction of Canford Cliffs (5 minute walk west heading towards Sandbanks). If no one is using them I think you can use them for free (not sure though) but if you want to guarantee availability you have to hire them in advance – best check at the beach office for correct information.

Branksome Chine Beach is a Blue Flag Award beach indicating that the water is tested daily and is of excellent quality. Records of test results are kept at the beach office.
Lifeguard cover is from May to September but note that cover is only for people swimming between the two red and yellow flags and not all of the beach. If you have young kids make sure you stay in this section of the beach. Lifeguards are there to prevent people from drowning and are not babysitters so please remember that you also have a responsibility to look after your child’s safety. It’s no excuse to just fall asleep in the sun and hope that the lifeguards will look after your kids. There’s no guarantee they’ll stop them from fighting, eating sand, getting burnt or getting lost.

Branksome Chine Car Park

Sat Nav postcode is BH13 6LP. (Google map) Capacity 104 spaces (4 disabled). Car park charges are given below. This is a seafront car park and most convenient for visiting the beach especially if carrying loads of beach equipment. During the summer months this car park can fill up quickly. Cheaper alternative car parking can be found 500m away at Beach Road Car Park (see below)

Payment can be made using cash, phone or using an online app (JustPark, RingGo or PayByPhone).

More information about this car park can be found on the https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/Parking/ website

Branksome Chine Car Park Charges

8am-10pm, Mon-Sun15 Mar – 31 Oct01 Nov – 14 March
1 hour£2.80£1.50
2 hours£5.40£3.40
3 hours£8.30£3.40
4 hours£11.80£3.40
6 hours£16.50£3.40
14 hours£21.60£3.40
Overnight parking 10pm-8am £3. No height restriction but only cars and motorbikes permitted. Information checked/updated on 04 March 2024

Branksome Beach Road Car Park

Sat Nav postcode is BH13 &BE (Google map). Capacity 368 spaces. Branksome Beach Road Car Park is a larger and a cheaper alternative to the busy Branksome Chine Car park. If staying for 6 hours parking here can save you £7.10 making the extra 500m walk to the beach worthwhile. However after 6 hours the price almost doubles. This car park is only open to the public between April and September and closes at 10pm.

Payment can be made using cash, phone or using an online app (JustPark, RingGo or PayByPhone).

More information about this car park can be found on the https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/Parking/ website

Branksome Beach Road Car Park Charges

6am-10pm, Mon-SunApril-September
up to 1 hour£2.10
up to 2 hours£3.50
up to 4 hours£6.50
up to 6 hours£9.40
up to 16 hours£18.50
Car park closed 10pm-6am. This car park is also closed from October to March. No height restriction but only cars and motorbikes permitted. Information checked/updated on 04 March 2024
View of Branksome Chine Beach looking east towards Bournemouth Pier
View looking west towards Sandbanks Beach
Branksome Chine Beach
Branksome Chine Beach

Related Pages: Bournemouth Beach / Durley Chine Beach / Middle Chine Beach / Alum Chine Beach / Branksome Dean Beach / Canford Cliffs Beach / Flaghead Beach / Sandbanks Shore Road Beach / Sandbanks Beach