Hengistbury Head

A lot of the south coast is unbroken gently-curving coastline, interrupted only by rivers entering the sea. But some of these interruptions are spectacular, the mouths to natural harbours often part-protected by a hooked headland or sand bar. So it is at Christchurch where the harbour is tucked behind a long sandstone headland - that's Hengistbury Head - and almost sealed by the sandy protrusion of Mudeford Spit. Not only is it a gorgeous seascape it's also possible to walk a complete circuit of the harbour, aided only by a teensy ferry hop from tip to tip. So I did. [Visit Hengistbury Head] [40 photos] The arc of Poole Bay runs ten miles from Sandbanks through Bournemouth to Hengistbury Head with sandy beaches all the way. I started my assault on the headland from Southbourne, easternmost of the coastal suburbs, which is just off the bottom left hand corner of that map. Here a solid grid of bungalows and retirement-focused avenues suddenly breaks into open duneland, the sand…