Brownsea Island
Overview
The perfect day’s adventure, this island wildlife sanctuary is easy to get to but feels like another world from the moment you step ashore.
The island sits in the middle of Poole Harbour, with dramatic views to the Purbeck Hills. Thriving natural habitats, including woodland, heathland and a lagoon, have created havens for wildlife, such as the red squirrel and a huge variety of birds.
The island is rich in history too, which is revealed in our Visitor Centre. There are the remains of daffodil farming, pottery works and the village of Maryland to explore, or head to the Outdoor Centre to find out more about the birthplace of the Scouting and Guiding movement.
Visit the National Trust website, or the Visit Dorset website, or the Dorset Wildlife Trust website
See the Scouting History website and the Scouts Fact Sheet details
What makes it special
- Family adventure
- Stunning views and interesting wildlife
- Visit the world famous First Camp site of Scouting
Opening Times
Limited by the boat service from Poole or Sandbanks (mid-March to autumn half-term)
See the Brownsea Island Ferries website, or the Greenslade Pleasure Boats website
Price
Adult - £7.50 (with Gift Aid £8.40)
Child - £3.75 (with Gift Aid £4.20)
Family - £18.75 (with Gift Aid £21.00)
(x1 adult and x3 children) - £11.25 (with Gift Aid £12.60)
Hostels nearby
Other things to do nearby
Climbing in Totland Bay
There are various indoor and outdoor climbing walls in close proximity to the Youth Hostel. For something a little different, why not try tree climbing?
Swanage
A friendly, colourful seaside town with an award winning beach, amazing chalk pillars of Old Harry's Rocks and a very English Victorian pier.
Mowlem Theatre
Opened in 1967, the Mowlem Theatre is situated on the sea front at Swanage and has over 200 film productions a year as well as 60-100 nights of live theatre.
Swanage Steam Railway
Explore the beautiful countryside around Swanage on the old steam trains that chuff along to Corfe Castle and beyond. Visit the website
Corfe Castle
Uncover the secrets of Dorset's iconic medieval monument and discover how royalty, warfare and nature have shaped the castle.
Studland Beach and Nature Reserve
One of the UK’s finest beaches and extensive nature reserve. Enid Blyton lived here, so look for Policeman Plod’s thatched cottage!
Walking and Rambling in Totland
The hostel is surrounded by National Trust land and footpaths galore. Footpaths go north to Yarmouth, south to Lord Alfred Tennyson's Monument on the Tennyson Trail, east to Freshwater Bay and west
Mountain Biking in Totland
The Isle of Wight is heaven for cycling, both on and off road.
Watersports in Totland
Totland Bay and Freshwater Bay provide surfing, kayaking, paddleboarding and coasteering. Colwell Bay is great for kite surfing and at Compton Bay you can go surfing.
New Forest Water Park
Set in 50 acres of beautiful countryside, the park is a great place to try waterskiing, wakeboarding or you the inflatable banana and tyre rides.
New Forest Tour
See the New Forest National Park like never before! Enjoy grandstand views on an exhilarating, open-top ride through pretty villages and magical landscapes, passing wandering ponies.
Walking and Rambling in the New Forest
It’s usual to think of trees when you think of a forest, but the heath land is an equally important landscape in the New Forest National Park.
Cycling in the New Forest
There are over a hundred miles of way-marked cycle routes in the New Forest which offer safe cycling for all the family (maps are available at the hostel).
Watersports in the New Forest
According to the official Bournemouth website, no area in Europe has such a wide range of watersports in such a condensed area as Bournemouth and Poole!
The Tank Museum
Our exhibitions tell the story of armoured warfare from World War One to the present day.
Bournemouth
Serious shopping and entertainment centre. Tethered balloon flights, great beaches and top concerts throughout the year. Visit the Bournemouth website