Partnership Funding to Improve Routes to Highcliffe Beach

Two pedestrian access routes to an award-winning beach are set to be upgraded in September thanks to partnership working.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council and Highcliffe and Walkford Parish Council have agreed to jointly fund £220,000 refurbishment works to the East and West ramps leading to Highcliffe Beach.

These paths, which run from the Highcliffe Cliff Top car park to Highcliffe Beach, have eroded due to washout and have uneven surfaces and some steep gradients. 

Once complete, the new ramps will provide a sustainable solution that addresses those problems and improves drainage. 

Work is expected to start in the middle of September and take around 12 weeks. One ramp will remain open while the other is being worked on. 

Residents and visitors will also be able to access Highcliffe Beach using the accessible tarmac route from Waterford Road and a network of other paths. 

Naish Beach will also remain open.  

Cllr Richard Herrett, BCP Council's Portfolio Holder for Destination, Leisure and Commercial Operations, said:

These important works will improve accessibility and safety at one of our award-winning beaches, benefitting residents and visitors for years to come. 

“We are committed to working with our partners and stakeholders to maintain our seafront infrastructure and making sure our coast is safe and enjoyable for everyone.

Andy Martin, BCP ward councillor for Highcliffe and Walkford and acting chair of the parish council, said:

I am delighted this complex project, which has been three years in the making, is coming to fruition.  

“The improvements to two of our most important cliff paths will be a major boost in accessibility for residents and visitors alike which was always the central objective. 

“I am extremely grateful for the hard work, commitment, and professionalism of BCP officers in taking this plan forward since I first raised it in 2023 and to both BCP and Highcliffe and Walkford Parish Council colleagues for jointly funding it.  

“It’s an outstanding example of co-operation and partnership.

Highcliffe Beach is one of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole's six Blue Flag award-winning beaches for 2026. 

A series of breakwaters have created a sand and shingle beach that is popular with swimmers, surfers and body boarders.  

The beach is backed by grassy dunes, bushes, trees and low-rise cliffs. The Steamer Point Nature Reserve is located at the western end of the beach.