Crab Cottage Guidebook
Food scene
SOBO as the locals call it, loads of independent café’s, shops, restaurants and services to get stuck into.
Few recommendations, you can get your fruit and veg from the traditional grocers, meat from the butchers, and beers.. Try the
Outback, Brewhouse (good with kids), White Bear and the Spyglass and Kettle (good with kids)
7 locals recommend
Southbourne Grove
Southbourne GroveSOBO as the locals call it, loads of independent café’s, shops, restaurants and services to get stuck into.
Few recommendations, you can get your fruit and veg from the traditional grocers, meat from the butchers, and beers.. Try the
Outback, Brewhouse (good with kids), White Bear and the Spyglass and Kettle (good with kids)
Westbourne
A nice visit for boutique shops and eateries.
Sightseeing
a pleasant walk through fisherman's walk brings you out to fisherman's walk zigzag and down to the beach.
Award winning blue flag beach with views out to the Purbecks and the Isle of Wight. Walk right along the prom to Boscombe Pier.
60 locals recommend
Southbourne Beachfront
a pleasant walk through fisherman's walk brings you out to fisherman's walk zigzag and down to the beach.
Award winning blue flag beach with views out to the Purbecks and the Isle of Wight. Walk right along the prom to Boscombe Pier.
Beautiful walks and views, nice visitor centre to mooch around and a nice walk down to
Mudeford spit to the fancy beach huts. You can grab lunch at the café on the spit or get a little ferry over to Mudeford Quay for
fresh seafood and a pint. Free parking there if you’d prefer to drive, but defiantly go for a walk here.
264 locals recommend
Hengistbury Head
Beautiful walks and views, nice visitor centre to mooch around and a nice walk down to
Mudeford spit to the fancy beach huts. You can grab lunch at the café on the spit or get a little ferry over to Mudeford Quay for
fresh seafood and a pint. Free parking there if you’d prefer to drive, but defiantly go for a walk here.
Christchurch is full of nice bars and restaurants, play parks for the children and nice walks around the Quay and
the Priory. You can also hire out boats to journey up the river. Old fort and historical town centre too.
73 locals recommend
Christchurch Priory Church
Quay RoadChristchurch is full of nice bars and restaurants, play parks for the children and nice walks around the Quay and
the Priory. You can also hire out boats to journey up the river. Old fort and historical town centre too.
Beautiful beaches, while you’re there visit Harbour Heights Hotel, is the best place to get a cup of tea (or alcoholic beverage) with an amazing view overlooking Poole harbour. One of my favourite thing to do in Sandbanks is enjoy a BBQ on the little
harbour beach and watch some awesome sunsets. You can rent paddleboards for cheap too, and go for a swim, you may even spot
Harry Redknapp!
210 locals recommend
Sandbanks
Beautiful beaches, while you’re there visit Harbour Heights Hotel, is the best place to get a cup of tea (or alcoholic beverage) with an amazing view overlooking Poole harbour. One of my favourite thing to do in Sandbanks is enjoy a BBQ on the little
harbour beach and watch some awesome sunsets. You can rent paddleboards for cheap too, and go for a swim, you may even spot
Harry Redknapp!
From Sandbanks you can get the chain ferry over to shell bay.
A National Trust beach and
nature reserve.
51 locals recommend
Knoll Beach Studland
From Sandbanks you can get the chain ferry over to shell bay.
A National Trust beach and
nature reserve.
Purbeck breezer bus service offers trips from Bournemouth Town Centre to Swanage, you can hop on and off as much as
you like. I like getting off at Studland village for a visit to the Bankes’ Arms Pub and a stroll to old Harry’s rocks. Swanage is a lovely
little seaside town and feels completely different to Bournemouth and Poole bay—worth a visit. Visit the Lifeboat station.
153 locals recommend
Swanage
Purbeck breezer bus service offers trips from Bournemouth Town Centre to Swanage, you can hop on and off as much as
you like. I like getting off at Studland village for a visit to the Bankes’ Arms Pub and a stroll to old Harry’s rocks. Swanage is a lovely
little seaside town and feels completely different to Bournemouth and Poole bay—worth a visit. Visit the Lifeboat station.
A quaint village with beautiful countryside walks and EPIC castle ruins.
425 locals recommend
Corfe Castle
A quaint village with beautiful countryside walks and EPIC castle ruins.
Historical coastal town, nice independent shops and cafes. There is also a really nice outdoor lido. The seafood there is
awesome. Market day is on Saturday.
224 locals recommend
Lymington
Historical coastal town, nice independent shops and cafes. There is also a really nice outdoor lido. The seafood there is
awesome. Market day is on Saturday.
City advice
Travelling with kids
Rainy Day?
Littledown centre is just around the corner from us which has lots of nice indoor activities.
The relatively new BH2 complex in Bournemouth town has a cinema, virtual reality, an indoor adventure golf bar and much more!
For a bit of culture try Russel Coates museum in Bournemouth.