Travel

We are always being asked are there are any bed & breakfast accommodation options close to Poole Harbour? The good news is YES there are several really nice bed and breakfast places within a 5 to 10 minute radius of the prestigious Sandbanks peninsular and the Poole Windsurfing School’s teaching location of Poole Harbour.

With the area being such a popular summer holiday destination the accommodation in Bournemouth & Poole book up very, very quickly. The trick is to be ahead of the game and know where all the little gems of bed and breakfast accommodation are and then book up your stay early on.

Here at Poole Windsurfing we know the local area very well & either personally know what the various bed and breakfasts close to Poole Harbour & Sandbanks have to offer or we have been given direct recommendations from our customers that have stayed at the following accommodation during their holiday.

Top 10 Bed and Breakfast Accommodation close to Sandbanks, Poole Harbour:

1. Pinewood Lodge – a beautifully refurbished Victorian Villa, very well presented and in a great location, 1 night for 2 people £80

2. The Chines Hotel – Cosy rooms in a quite location with garden & even an indoor swimming pool! 1 night for 2 people £75

3. Grovefield Manor – very well presented and in a great location, 1 night for 2 people £65-£90 (standard double), 3 self catering apartments also available for weekly rent

4. Our Living Room – very nice boutique B&B with its own coffee lounge, 1 night for 2 people £60-£75

5. The Beach House – Just 2 minutes walk from us is a small family run B&B that is right on the harbours edge

6. The Laurels – Reasonably priced B&B on a bus route from Poole to Sandbanks, 1 night for 2 people £60

7. The Mariners – Very close to Poole Park & on the main route to Poole Harbour, 1 night for 2 people £70

8. Fenn Lodge – next door to The Chines Hotel, 1 night for 2 people £64

9. Mountbatten Court – Comfortable, clean rooms and friendly owners, 1 night for 2 people £60

10. Sunnyside B&B – 2 double rooms with en-suite shower rooms & toilet, 1 night for 2 people £60

So, there you have it a great round up of the best recommendations for choosing your bed and breakfast accommodation that gives you great access to the beaches, Poole Harbour, the Sandbanks peninsular and most importantly the Poole Windsurfing School!

Top 5 Things To Do In Dorset

An insiders guide to the top things to do in Dorset, whether you are on holiday in Dorset or are a local resident looking for something special to do. Their are so many great Dorset activities, on what is one of the most diverse stretches of the UK’s south coast. There really is something for everyone to do both on & off the water…

1. Learn To Windsurf at UK’s No1 Spot with the Poole Windsurfing School

For years those in the know have been learning to windsurf in some of the best learning conditions in the UK. Poole Harbour is the second largest natural harbour in the world & has the most ideal conditions for learning how to windsurf!

Have a look at this source Our local windsurfing spot – Poole Harbour describing in great detail what makes Poole Harbour & the surrounding area such a great place to learn to windsurf and progress on to intermediate & advanced windsurfing. To sum it up for you, Poole Harbour has predominately on-shore winds (meaning you won’t get blown out to sea!), gently shelving, shallow water to make it easy to get back on when you fall and windsurfing lessons & windsurf hire for all levels of ability!

Check out the Poole Windsurfing Video Guided Tour to see what you could be getting up to during your stay in Dorset:

Try it & you will wonder why you haven’t thought about it before!

2. Take a walk on the Purbeck Hills

Formed of a Cretaceous chalk the Purbeck Hills give commanding views across Poole Harbour, the Isle of Wight and out into the English Channel.

Start by taking the Poole Harbour chain ferry and then walk out past Old Harry Rocks & onto the seaside town of Swanage. On route you can see rare species of flowers, animals & birds.

3. Spend a day on Sandbanks beach

Soak up the sun & enjoy the golden sands of this world famous ‘Blue Flag’ beach. One of the most relaxing things to do in Dorset! Sandbanks, Poole is renowned for its perfect beach, lined by the multi-million pound houses of the rich & famous!

Sandbanks beach is part of the 7 mile stretch of continuous beach from the Sandbanks peninsula all the way to Hengistbury Head at Christchurch.

4. Wildlife spotting on Brownsea Island

The best place for seeing wildlife in Dorset. You can see a mass of bird life, deer & a thriving population of red squirrels. Brownsea Island is part of the National Trust organization.

Taking the ferry across to Brownsea Island is an experience in itself. Once on the island there is varied landscape to explore and amazing views looking out across Poole Harbour and on to the Purbeck Hills.

Kids will be happily entertained with the free wildlife ‘Tracker Packs’ provided by the visitor centre.

5. Soak up Dorset’s heritage with a trip on the Swanage Railway

Experience a unique journey through six miles of breathtaking Dorset scenery, including the ruins of Corfe Castle. Providing access to historic villages, the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site & the seaside resort of Swanage.

A great experience on your list of things to do in Dorset, you can stop off at some of the local villages on-route & even take Sunday lunch or evening dining!

Enjoy your stay – you certainly won’t run out of things to do in Dorset!

Top 5 Things To Do In Southampton

1. Take Windsurfing Lessons at UK’s No1 Spot with the Poole Windsurfing School

When looking for things to do in Southampton, holiday makers and locals often forget that they can take windsurfing lessons and learn how to windsurf at the UK’s No1 spot, Poole Harbour. It is only 30 minutes on the motorway from Southampton and being the second largest natural harbour in the world, with a designated area for watersports, it really is the UK’s No1 Spot to learn to windsurf.

Check out this clip from beginners windsurfing lessons taken at the Poole Windsurfing School to see what you could be getting up to during your stay in Southampton:

2. Have a blast at Paultons Park

You can find rides to suit all the family at Paultons Park; there are real thrill seeker rides, family rides and kid friendly rides. If you are purchasing tickets in advance you can get a family of 4 day pass for £86 which is pretty good value. When you need to take a break from all the exhilaration you can see many different types of birds and animals located around the Park ranging from exotic birds to Australian Wallabies!

Paultons Theme Park is full of fun family entertainment, whether it’s hitting a hole in one in the adventure golf, making a splash in the water kingdom or relaxing on the Rio Grande Train ride around the park. There are tons more attractions for all the family to enjoy, making it one of the top things to do in Southampton.

3. Take a day trip to the Isle of Wight

A top thing to do when you are staying in Southampton is to take a trip to the Isle of Wight, to give you a completely different experience.

The perfect break on the Isle of Wight consists of many elements; strolls along the beaches, fun at Blackgang Chine, animal magic at the Isle of Wight Zoo and reminders of this Dinosaur Isle’s prehistoric past.

The most iconic image on the Isle of Wight is the Needles. Get a good view from Alum Bay, have fun at The Needles Park and take the chairlift down to the beach.

With up to 350 ferry crossings a day, it’s really simple to travel to the Isle of Wight as a day trip from Southampton.

4. Beaulieu National Motor Museum

There are so many great exhibitions at the Beaulieu National Motor Museum…

The BOND IN MOTION exhibition, the largest of its kind staged anywhere in the world, showcases 50 of the best loved and most iconic Bond vehicles – some never before seen in public – in celebration of the 50th year of James Bond films.

‘World of Top Gear’ features actual vehicles created by presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May for some of their most ambitious challenges.

The motor vehicle collection in the National Motor Museum remains one of Beaulieu’s most famous attractions with more than 250 on show from the earliest examples of motoring and family cars of the 30s and 40s through to classic cars of the 70s and 80s and rare motoring oddities.

5. Learn about the ‘Gateway to the World’ at the SeaCity Museum

For a long time Southampton has been known as the ‘Gateway to the World’, a place for traders, settlers and those seeking refuge. At the SeaCity Museum you can learn all about the city’s maritime history. There is also a great exhibition all about the mystery surrounding the Titanic, with the centre-piece of this gallery featuring a 1:25 scale, interactive model of the Titanic, showing the intricate layout of the vessel. Find out more on the SeaCity Museum webpage.


As an addition or backup to the above we have also compiled a list from our insider local knowledge of the top 5 free things to do in Southampton! Incorporate some or all of the following free Southampton tourist activities and you can justify one or two of the great paid for experiences, such as windsurfing lessons at the Poole Windsurfing School.

Top 5 Free Things To Do In Southampton

1. Stroll through the wild heath lands of The New Forest

Less than 30 minutes from Southampton is The New Forest a huge area of wild heath and woodland where you can see wild ponies, donkeys and deer.

The New Forest is the only area of England to remain relatively untouched since Norman times, thanks in large part to its unsuitability as agricultural land. It still retains a code of law handed down during the reign of William the Conqueror that protects the land from development.

The New Forest is a great low key Southampton tourist attraction – try to escape from the confines of the car and head out on foot, bicycle or on horseback to get a more intimate feel of the forest, its coast and villages. The New Forest is a genuine walker’s paradise with many circular and linear routes. There are many picnic sites with toilet facilities, all of which are carefully sited to allow visitors safe and easy access to a variety of forest landscapes. The New Forest is a fantastic place for cycling with miles and miles of traffic free off-road tracks leading you right into the heart of the forest with few hills to worry about.

2. Look around the Southampton City Art Gallery

The gallery is internationally renowned for its impressive art collection, spanning six centuries of European art history. Thousands of visitors explore the exhibitions and displays every month.

Finding the Southampton City Art Gallery is easy, go to the Civic Centre (it’s the big grey building with the tall clock tower – easily walkable from the West Quay car parks or the railway station). It’s free and actually a very good gallery. There is always something to do for families at the gallery. Children and adults can explore exhibitions together through gallery trails, and during the school holiday’s they have a fantastic range of activities for children of all ages.

There is also a rather nice cafeteria for lunch or snacks. Allow about 2 hours for a visit to see the lot.

3. Take a rain check and browse around West Quay Shopping Centre

WestQuay shopping centre has over 100 stylish shops for you to explore including Apple, Dorothy Perkins and John Lewis. When the shopping bags are getting heavy you will have plenty of options for getting a bite to eat with the new dining level at WestQuay, introducing new brands such as Pizza Express, Wagamama and Café Rouge Express.

WestQuay is conveniently at the centre of major road networks and hosts 2 dedicated car parks offering over 4,000 car parking spaces. There’s a free shuttle bus from the railway station to West Quay shops and Town Quay, ask the station staff for where the shuttle bus stop is.

4. Take a picnic and enjoy the Southampton Common

Take a picnic to the community award winning Southampton Common, a much loved and well used green space and is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The Common is one of the UK’s most important wildlife sites and internationally listed as a site of excellence. This place makes for one of the really nice free Southampton tourist activities that is enjoyed just as much by the locals!

Once you have had your picnic why not stroll over to the Hawthorns Urban Wildlife Centre. Situated on the south east corner of Southampton Common the centre provides information about Southampton’s abundant wildlife and how the City’s open spaces are managed, to protect and increase biodiversity.

5. Look at the boats in Ocean Village Marina & Town Quay

Situated in the shelter of Southampton Water, and right in the heart of Southampton, Ocean Village offers more than just a marina. It has great restaurants and bars, two cinemas, great sailing facilities and great views. Overlooking the marina is the Royal Southampton Yacht Club.

Ocean Village has plenty of parking, spread across a surface car park (which is closed during major events such as the Clipper Round the World Race and the Sports Boat and RIB Show) and a huge multi-storey car park.

Town Quay is the departure point for the Isle of Wight passenger and Hythe ferries. From here you get a good view of the big ships including the Queens (if it’s in dock) and the giant P&O cruisers. This is one of the great free activities in Southampton. Take a camera and a brolly if it’s raining. The free shuttle runs to here from the station via West Quay.

Enjoy your stay – you certainly won’t run out of things to do in Southampton!

The feedback we are getting is that everyone wants to go ride awesome powder in Japan – right? The problem is that despite the Japan Powder Trip we laid out being truly amazing value for all the guiding you would have got, it was just out of people’s budget – right again?

So, we have crunched the costs but still have a ski & snowboard trip that will get us riding the world’s best powder!

Trip Includes:
Airport transfers
Accommodation
Breakfast
1st day’s lift pass at Nesiko
Day trip to Rusutsu – including transport & lift pass
Day trip to Kiroro – including transport & lift pass

Cost £779

Limited to Only 9 Spaces – Small Group, Maximum Japanese Back Country Powder!
Get in touch early to secure a place on your backcountry skiing/snowboarding trip of a lifetime!

Additional Days:
It will then be up to everyone what they want to do with the remaining 6 days riding. You can estimate spending £240 for 6 days lift passes, although this can be less if you ride in the same resort for more than a couple of those days or if we hit some of the lesser known resorts.

If some of us want to take a few guided days we can arrange this for a very good price.

Flights:
You should estimate £700 for your flight although the exact price will vary depending on our numbers & exact date of booking the tickets.

Call 01202 237247 to reserve your space(s) before the trip is fully booked.

Date of Trip: 17th – 27th Feb 2013
Booking Deadline: 17th Oct 2012

We hope you have enjoyed your time windsurfing this summer? Many people have asked us what we do over the winter and we have talked about our skiing/snowboarding experiences. Well, we have now organised the ultimate skiing/snowboarding trip of a lifetime to Japan for this coming winter!

If you are planing a ski or snowboard trip with the idea of riding some powder then then this is the ultimate experience that will stay with you for ever! Japan is THE location for riding champagne powder and the lesser known spots we head to get 15-16 metres (yes that’s metres!) of the lightest powder snowfall every season. Compare that to the typical seasonal snowfall in the Alps of 3-6 metres of average quality snow and you can see why this is like no other ski or snowboard trip you have ever been on.

For full details (including daily itinerary & video clips) checkout our dedicated webpage for this trip:
Guided Off Piste Ski & Snowboard Trip – Hidden Powder Stashes of Japan!

Ride bottomless powder in the area know as ‘The Playground of the Gods’!

Limited to Only 9 Spaces – Small Group, Maximum Japanese Back Country Powder!
Get in touch early to secure a place on your backcountry skiing/snowboarding trip of a lifetime!

Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido produces some of the lightest and driest powder in the world. The magic happens because Hokkaido is fed by cold air, low pressure systems originating in Siberia that pick up moisture over the Sea of Japan, creating almost perpetual high quality powder snowfalls between January and March.

The massive snowfall is only a part of the beauty of this holiday, you are also skiing in a location like no other… Where else can you ski bottomless powder, with no crowds, unlimited off-piste areas including trees, steeps & open powder fields? The scenery also sets this trip apart from any other, as you ride down the side of a volcano, cruising through snow laden tree lines and even taking in ocean views. All this combined with an unforgettable cultural experience will have you coming back on this trip every year!

Why come on our trip?
More off-piste guided days, extensive coverage of the back country, local guides, small group, best value & an unforgettable Japanese back country powder riding experience!

Call 01202 237247 to reserve your space(s) before the trip is fully booked.

Date of Trip: 17th – 27th Feb 2013
Booking Deadline: 17th Oct 2012

For full details (including daily itinerary & video clips) checkout our dedicated webpage for this trip:
Guided Off Piste Ski & Snowboard Trip – Hidden Powder Stashes of Japan!

If you want to ask any questions feel free to call or send an e-mail using the contact details below.
To reserve your space(s) just give us a call on 01202 237247.

Once in a while you just have to sit back and appreciate some of the awesome conditions you can be lucky enough to windsurf in. This wave, ridden by Goya Windsurfing Pro rider, Tato Molina is just insanely long and perfectly formed. Checkout the sail cam action in the following video and just remember this guy is traveling at speed along this wave and it still seems to last forever!

Maybe Peru (the location for this epic wave riding) should be on your wishlist of windsurfing destinations to sail at, it sure is for us after watching this wave riding action!

This clip sets the standard for future posts we will make, showcasing top notch windsurfing conditions in the form of short video clips & photos. Stay tuned to our blog for your windsurfing inspiration!

Top 5 Things To Do In Poole

1. Take Windsurfing Lessons at UK’s No1 Spot with the Poole Windsurfing School

When looking for things to do in Poole, holiday makers and locals often forget that they can take windsurfing lessons and learn how to windsurf at the UK’s No1 spot, Poole Harbour. It is just around the corner from the popular tourist destination of Bournemouth and being the second largest natural harbour in the world, with a designated area for watersports, it really is the UK’s No1 Spot to learn to windsurf.

Check out this clip from beginners windsurfing lessons taken at the Poole Windsurfing School to see what you could be getting up to during your stay in Poole:

2. Take a trip out to Brownsea Island

The Brownsea Island Scout camp is recognised as being the world’s first Scout camp, the event being regarded as the real origin of the worldwide Scout movement.

Described by presenter, Bill Oddie as “the best place for seeing wildlife in Dorset”. You can see Sika deer, wading birds and the elusive red squirrel. There is lots for the kids with ‘wildlife tracker packs’, trails, and a range of exciting events and activities. Find out more on the National Trust Brownsea Island webpage

Escape the hustle and bustle of Poole & Bournemouth, wandering through the woodland, heathland, wetland and shoreline of Brownsea Island. Many special events are on offer throughout the year including the popular Open Air Theatre, activity weekends and guided walks.

Boat Services are available from Poole Quay and Sandbanks Jetty, boat trips also run from Bournemouth Pier. The Island is open daily to the public from 24th March – 4th November 2012.

3. Hire a traditional beach hut

Take to the beach in style by hiring a beach hut in Poole and be a part of a great British tradition. You can’t get a more traditional thing to do in Poole!

The latest news is that Poole Borough Council have recently built 22 brand new beach huts at Branksome Chine. They have stunning views across Poole’s award winning beaches and are available to hire on a weekly basis between April and September.

4. Find something for everyone at the Tower Park Complex

For those days where the whole family just needs a bit of entertainment, Tower Park has it all. Attractions include a 10 screen multiplex cinema to bingo, bowling and a water park with 12 of the UK’s craziest indoor and outdoor rides.

5. Stroll through Compton Acres – the South’s Finest Privately Owned Historic Gardens

Built in 1924, Compton Acres is a wonderful example of a historic garden in the UK. It is of late Victorian Mixed Style design with seven distinct gardens to wander around and enjoy, including the famous Italian and Japanese Gardens. Having undergone extensive refurbishment over the past 8 years, Compton Acres is now highly regarded as one of the most important historic gardens in England.

As well as its beautiful ten acres of gardens, there are two cafes, shops and a specialist Plant Centre. Special events such as pony rides and an Easter egg hunt are also held throughout the year.


As an addition or backup to the above we have also compiled a list from our insider local knowledge of the top 5 free things to do in Poole! Incorporate some or all of the following free Poole tourist activities and you can justify one or two of the great paid for experiences, such as windsurfing lessons at the Poole Windsurfing School.

Top 5 Free Things To Do In Poole

1. Walk around the famous Sandbanks Peninsular

Walk around Poole Harbour and the world famous Sandbanks peninsular, taking in both the natural scenery and a sneaky peak at the 4th most expensive property in the world. Many of the rich and famous have houses on the Sandbanks peninsular and a leisurely walk is the best way to get a glimpse of how the other half live!

You can stop off at Sandbanks beach for on-route refreshments and a dip in the sea to cool your feet.

2. Spend a day or an evening at Poole Quay

Spending some time at Poole Quay is a great free activity to do during your visit to Poole. You can sit in one of the many restaurants or bars and watch the yachts come and go in the marina and Poole Harbour. Poole Quay is also home to the most famous super yacht manufacturer in the world, Sunseeker. You can see the latest luxury and performance super yachts been fitted out and prepared for delivery around the world!

Every Thursday in July on Poole Quay from 7pm check out the ‘Summer Breeze with Fireworks on the Quay‘ where you can enjoy live music, street entertainment, family activities, special themed nights and a fantastic fireworks finale at 10 pm. In August Summer Breeze on the Beach then takes place at Shore Road Beach, Sandbanks every Thursday. If you are visiting Poole between the months of May and August, Friday evenings herald the return of “Quay for my Car” on Poole Quay, kicking off at 6pm. There are shows for everything from VW Beetles to Porsches. The Poole View website has a list of ‘Quay for my Car’ dates and the type of cars that will be shown.

3. Cycle the famous 7 mile stretch of Poole & Bournemouth beaches

If you want to see the famous 7 miles of golden sand beaches then taking to 2 wheels is a smart way to get around. Cruise along the promenade towards the famous Sandbanks beach and if you are feeling adventurous, over the chain ferry and into the Purbecks. In the other direction you can go all the way to Hengistbury Head and even take a land train from there to Christchurch Harbour.

4. Browse Poole’s Weekly Farmers Market and Street Market

Every Thursday between 9am and 2pm Poole’s Farmers Market is held in Falkland Square. You will find the best local and free range products brought to you by the Farmers, Nurserymen, Bakers and Pie Makers who breed, grow and make their own produce. The Farmers Market is held in Falkland Square, outside the Dolphin Centre.

There is also Poole’s Weekly Street Market every Thursday & Saturday between approximately 9am and 5pm along Poole High Street from Lagland Street/North Street to Old Orchard. The market offers something for everyone at great prices.

5. Swim in the Sea at Sandbanks

Make the most of Poole’s natural wonderland by enjoying a relaxing swim at one of the five gently sheltered beaches, including Sandbanks – winner of more Blue Flags than any UK resort – with soft golden sands, raked and cleaned all year round.

“Under a blazing sun, Sandbanks, on it’s gradually sloping peninsula, felt more like Miami’s South Beach” Daily Express

Enjoy your stay – you certainly won’t run out of things to do in Poole!

Top 5 Things To Do In Bournemouth

1. Learn To Windsurf at UK’s No1 Spot with the Poole Windsurfing School

When looking for things to do in Bournemouth, holiday makers and locals often forget that they can take windsurfing lessons and learn to windsurf at the UK’s No1 spot, Poole Harbour. It is just around the corner from Bournemouth and being the second largest natural harbour in the world, with a designated area for watersports, it really is the UK’s No1 Spot to learn to windsurf.

Check out the Poole Windsurfing Video Guided Tour to see what you could be getting up to during your stay in Bournemouth:

2. Go to the Bournemouth Oceanarium

Through the Lower Gardens and next to the pier is the Oceanarium, this attraction has sea life from all over the world from The Amazon to the Florida Keys. You can walk through the shark tunnel and enjoy seeing the sting rays.

Crystal-clear waters and naturally-themed habitats allow close encounters with a dazzling array of underwater life from elegant seahorses to sinister tropical sharks. Journey below the surface of the worlds greatest rivers; the Amazon, Ganges and the Nile and meet weird and wonderful creatures like the upside-down catfish and the giant pacu.

3. Hire a traditional beach hut

Take to the beach in style by hiring a beach hut and be a part of a great British tradition. You can’t get a more traditional thing to do in Bournemouth! Did you know Bournemouth invented the beach hut back in 1908 and still rents out the oldest in the world?

Alternatively you could hire one of the new funky surf reef ‘beach pods’, based at Boscombe Beach – the ultimate in style.

4. Plan the rest of your trip with a Bournemouth City Sightseeing tour

This extended tour now takes you through Christchurch, Bournemouth and Poole in a tour lasting 80 minutes. Bournemouth lies in the heart of Dorset on the South Coast and has seven miles of golden sands and sparkling sea. The vibrant cosmopolitan town has it all – a vast variety of shops, restaurants theatres & shows plus a buzzing night life. It is home to beautiful parks and Bournemouth’s Gardens. Take the tour and plan your visit with City Sightseeing Bournemouth which will highlight all the things to do and see during your stay. You can hop on and off at your leisure at the 22 conveniently located stops which are positioned along the route.

Take your pick from Sandbanks Beach in Poole, the beach at Durley Chine, Solent Beach in Christchurch or explore all three with your 24 hour valid ticket! Relax in Poole Park where old and young visitors alike will enjoy the play park, miniature railway and boating lake. Stroll around the shops and museum at Poole Quay or hop off at Sandbanks Peninsula and see the homes of the rich and famous! Spend the evening enjoying a meal or drink in lively Bournemouth town centre or try one of the bars at West Cliff. Poole Quay also offers a range of restaurants and pubs and the Aruba Bar can be found on Bournemouth Pier. There are many things to do and see in and around Bournemouth, so let City Sightseeing highlight all the best attractions and help you to make the most of your stay.

5. Take to the sky with the Bournemouth Balloon

Located in the Lower Gardens, another of Bournemouth’s top attractions is the Bournemouth Eye (or now called Bournemouth Balloon). The Bournemouth Balloon is the town’s answer to the London Eye. It transports it’s passengers up in a balloon where they can see the whole area from the New Forest to the Isle of Wight. This gentle trip is the premier way to see the stunning scenery of Bournemouth and the surrounding areas.

As one of the very unique things to do in Bournemouth this helium-filled balloon is fixed to the ground by a steel cable and a winch system takes the balloon 500 feet up, giving its riders 360 degree panoramic views over the town, its beaches and the surrounding Dorset countryside.

The balloon operates seasonally, from 9 am until late 7 days a week, from Easter until the end of September. However it is weather-dependent and on stormy days doesn’t fly.

As an addition or backup to the above we have also compiled a list from our insider local knowledge of the top 5 free things to do in Bournemouth! Incorporate some or all of the following free Bournemouth tourist activities and you can justify one or two of the great paid for experiences, such as windsurfing lessons at the Poole Windsurfing School.

Top 5 Free Things To Do In Bournemouth

1. Do the Pier to Pier Walk

Start at either Bournemouth or Boscombe Pier and finish at the other. Enjoy the scenic stroll along the promenade and treat yourself to coffee and cake at one of the many cafes, restaurants or hotels at either end.

2. Take a stroll through Bournemouth gardens

Bournemouth is famous for its gardens (Grade II listed gardens) which are split into three areas of Victorian beauty – starting with the Lower Gardens, adjacent to the sea and leading to the Central Gardens in the town centre and then the Upper Gardens. The award winning gardens have colourful flower displays and include a stream, ice-cream kiosks and mini golf. In the summer what better way to relax than to listen to the music from the Pine Walk bandstand or visit the aviary or art exhibition? The Bournemouth gardens are like no other as they have a whole wealth of things to keep its visitors interested.

3. Cycle from Bournemouth to Hengistbury Head

If you want to see the famous 7 miles of beaches then taking to 2 wheels is a smart way to get around. Cruise along the promenade towards the famous Sandbanks beaches and if you are feeling adventurous, over the chain ferry and into the Purbecks. Going in the other direction you can cycling out to Hengistbury Head where you can even take a land train to Christchurch Harbour.

4. Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum

Visit one of the most important and fascinating museum-houses in England. It holds collections of international status and reflects the Victorian fascination with world cultures. One of the more cultural things to do in Bournemouth, the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum is just up the road from the beach at Bournemouth pier.

5. Swim in the Sea

Maybe the most ‘done’ of all Bournemouth tourist attractions is to take a swim in the sea at one of Bournemouth’s golden sand beaches. It’s free to swim in the ocean and enjoy Bournemouth’s beaches.

Enjoy your stay – you certainly won’t run out of things to do in Bournemouth!

A lot of people who come to Poole Windsurfing for lessons tell us that they want to learn, so that they are ready for their windsurfing holiday aboard. So we thought we’d do some reviews of interesting windsurfing locations around the world, starting with Tallinn, capital of Estonia.

The waters off the coast of Estonia are shallow and there is plenty of wind, making it ideal for windsurfing and kitesurfing enthusiasts.

There are many windsurfers in Tallinn and over 5,000 kitesurfing enthusiasts in Estonia.
Windsurfing in Tallinn is enjoyed in the sea and on the lakes – one of the popular windsurf lakes being Harku. In the winter ice-surfing tracks are opened in Estonia giving the surfing a whole new feel.

All the necessary equipment and accessories can be rented from the many service providers in coastline harbours, surf clubs and lake side holiday resorts. Most rental outlets require that you have at least basic skills, so make sure you’ve had your lessons at Poole Windsurfing before you go!

The best time for surfing in Estonia is from late spring (April) to early autumn (September).

The capital, Tallinn is a very beautiful medieval town, so if you can, plan an extra few days to look around. The best place to stay is in the historic old town and if you want affordable luxury Tallinn accommodation the best choice is a serviced apartment.

Here are some of the best places for your Estonian windsurfing holiday:
• Beaches in Tallinn and Pärnu are best for beginners and intermediate level windsurfers. It is possible to rent equipment at a number of beaches, for example Pirita and Harku.
• Ristna (Hiiumaa Island). Known as “a windsurfer’s paradise”. Because of almost constant heavy winds, Ristna is very popular among skilled windsurfers. Equipment rental is also available.
• Vääna-Jõesuu (25km from Tallinn). A beautiful beach with great wind conditions.
• Roosta holiday camp (near Haapsalu, 115km from Tallinn) is the perfect choice for a longer all-in-one windsurf vacation for beginners. Equipment rental is available.
• Kaberneeme harbour (30km from Tallinn) provides you a beautiful beach with a view over tiny islands and historic fishing villages. Windsurfing equipment rental is available.
• Saaremaa Island is the largest island in Estonia, and is also a popular destination for windsurfers.

If you want to know more about the Poole Windsurfing ‘holiday quick start’ lesson plan please contact us at info@poolewindsurfing.co.uk” or call on 01202 237 247

Find the best windsurfing locations on the planet! There is now an extensive website where you can record & view every possible detail about sailing sessions, venues and equipment used.

On My Windsurf Sessions there are so many bits of windsurfing information that you can look at, some of which is pretty geeky but also very useful. For example, you could look at the chart giving the most windy spot of the year, if you are trying to decide where to go on your next windsurfing holiday.

Windsurfers can upload their recorded speeds & keep an eye on who is topping the speed charts!

Basically there is a whole wealth of windsurfing information on the website, its a great place to get some interesting statistics on windsurfing locations, where like minded windsurfers can share information and create a bit of friendly competition!