Poole harbour is the largest natural harbour on the south coast of England, and Poole (and the harbour at Christchurch) both prospered as a towns a long time before Bournemouth - indeed, Bournemouth was such an insignificant village when the London to Dorchester and Weymouth railway was built that it bypassed it completely. How times change!

Map locator - Bournemouth


Paddle Steamer Waverly at Bournemouth pier


Poole Harbour - the old Quayside


The Sandbanks Ferry


Sunset over Bournemouth Beach


Brownsea Island by boat


A cove on Brownsea Island

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