Brownsea tips / travel help please

[Tobyh]

Hi all,

Off to the New Forest shortly and plan on hopping over to Brownsea. Hoping someone can pass on some tips for the wildlife side of things please.

Travel wise it appears that going via Sandbanks is the best bet - how's the parking etc here? does it get really busy midweek (kids still at school though thankfully) - any other tips for a first time visitor?

Many thanks in advance.

TobyH

[AshLee]

We went mid-week and parked in a multi-story in Poole.

I don't remember that part being difficult, but I do remember that we caught THE WRONG FERRY (the last one at that!) on the way back. The crew were very obliging though, and dropped us off in the right place (or we might have been up Newtown Creek without a paddle ).

It's a great place - you can spend the whole day there!

[Gypsy Orchid]

Hi Tobyh We went to Brownsea couple of weeks ago while camping near Swanage. Went on the car ferry from Studland to Sandbanks but unfortunately the car park near the ferry to Brownsea is short stay so had drive round to Poole and park in multi story near the Quay which is better and the boats go every half hour from here. We have been twice and love the island. Once you get away from the entrance it is fairly quiet and peacefull with nice little beaches for picnic lunch. We did manage to catch fleeting glimpse of red squirrel both times and Sika Deer. Lovely place to wander about. Make an early start as you will want plenty of time on the island. Can be a bit expensive car park, boat trip then boarding fee onto the island if you are not NT members (we are so not sure how much this is) Boat trip very pleasant though weather and tide permitting they go round Poole harbour on way back past the other islands and right round Brownsea. Another nice place in this area is Arne RSPB reserve near Wareham but I expect you will find plenty to do in the forest. We are hoping tocamp in New forest in couple of weeks. Hope you have great time. By the way I see you come from Hastings I lived there most of live before moving to Cornwall and Devon but still come back to visit family and check RX site every day.
Regards Sylv.

[Tobyh]

Thank you Gypsy Orchid - I'm looking forward to it - I'm thinking I may well head into Poole and go from the Quay rather than from Sandbanks. Still undecided which is easiest.

I was under the impression that the Red Squirrels were easy to see - maybe it'll take a bit more effort than I thought. I'll make sure I get there early and plan to stay the day. If it's good I'll go again later in the week.

Good to hear from a fellow Hastings person - thanks again.

TobyH

[nigel_b]

I'd go from Poole Quay as well. The parking should be much more straightforward. You'll also get a lovely boat trip through part of the harbour.

[Tobyh]

Thanks Nigel, decision made!

TobyH

[DrNickBurton]

Hi,

once you get on the island, the best place for wildlife is the nature reserve on the north side, which is run by the Dorset Wildlife Trust. This has a couple of bird hides plus a red squirrel feeding station. Stand by the latter for about half an hour and you are bound to see some.

More info here:

Brownsea Island Nature Reserve

Enjoy!

[animartco]

Originally Posted by Tobyh

Thank you Gypsy Orchid - I'm looking forward to it - I'm thinking I may well head into Poole and go from the Quay rather than from Sandbanks. Still undecided which is easiest.

I was under the impression that the Red Squirrels were easy to see - maybe it'll take a bit more effort than I thought. I'll make sure I get there early and plan to stay the day. If it's good I'll go again later in the week.

Good to hear from a fellow Hastings person - thanks again.

TobyH

Hi TobyH, You live in Hastings? I'm near Canterbury. Not too far away. Anyway, I went to Brownsea when I was young, and have fond memories. The beaches don't have large waves, so it is a completely different experience, paddling along them. I stopped for half a minute and found Heaps of tiny things, must have been shrimps, nibbling at my toes. It was a lovely tickly sensation.

[Tobyh]

Originally Posted by Tobyh

Thanks Nigel, decision made!

TobyH

Which I then of course changed and went from Sandbanks.

Just for info - you cannot park right at the Sandbanks ferry area, the car park there is 1 hour max stay but you can park anywhere on nearby roads for free which we did for the entire day. If you arrive earlyish this shouldn't be an issue.

I did see some red squirrels but very difficult to photograph. I'm advised autumn is best when they come down to the ground to feed - which makes sense.

The Dorset Wildlife Trust hold the north side of the island and they have a fantastic hide for Terns - it's a walkway out onto the water which overlooks an island where the birds nest - fantastic for watching and getting flight shots with just a 300mm attached!

TobyH

[JennyS]

...... but you can park anywhere on nearby roads for free which we did for the entire day. If you arrive earlyish this shouldn't be an issue.

You'd need to get there very early in July and August and don't even try for a Sunday!