Dog-friendly Bournemouth

A 3.4-mile loop of an hour and three quarters along the seafront promenade between two wooded chines, returning up through the subtropical planting of Alum Chine and the pines of Branksome Dene. Flat on the prom, then 60 metres of steady climb through the chines on surfaced paths and steps. Park at Branksome Chine or Alum Chine, both pay and display, both a steep zig zag walk down to the sand and both busy from mid-morning in summer. This is the key stretch to know: BCP allows dogs all year from the western side of Alum Chine to the Branksome Chine beach office, so a swim is legal in August here when the main Bournemouth sands are shut, with leads required on the promenade and the zig zags.

A 5.2-mile circuit in two and three quarter hours, over Warren Hill to the head, out along the sand spit past the beach huts to the harbour mouth and back on the sheltered Christchurch Harbour side. Surfaced track, sand and grass, with one climb of 90 metres and no shelter on the top. Start at the Hengistbury Head car park off Broadway, pay and display, large, and served by the land train to the spit from April to October, though the train does not take dogs. This is one of the few BCP frontages where dogs are allowed on the beach all year, and Mudeford Sandbank too, but the head is a nature reserve with a March-to-August lead season and grazing cattle, so leads on the top and freedom on the sand.

Four miles of continuous parkland in two hours, following the Bourne stream inland from the pier through the Lower, Central and Upper Gardens to the water lilies of Coy Pond, and back the same way. Level, surfaced, lit through the Lower Gardens and sheltered by trees, which makes it the obvious choice in bad weather or when the beaches are closed to dogs. Park in one of the town centre multi-storeys, cheapest at the Bath Road South or Richmond Hill decks, or come in by train to Bournemouth station, fifteen minutes on foot from the Central Gardens. Dogs must be on leads through the formal gardens and along the seafront promenade, the stream is shallow with easy access for a drink, and there are water bowls outside several of the garden kiosks.

Long-established hotel and holiday apartments above Alum Chine at Westbourne, a short walk down the wooded chine to the sea. Dogs are accepted, given treats on arrival and lent a blanket for the room, though additional charges may apply. The all-year dog stretch of beach from Alum Chine to Branksome Chine Beach Office starts at the bottom of the chine.