Hidden Histories of Boscombe Chine

Whether you’re a resident or visitor you’re sure to enjoy this circular guided walk with Hattie Miles. You will find out about Boscombe Chine’s history, the many famous people connected to it and discover some of its hidden secrets. You will also discover the fascinating history of the Chine Hotel. 

Meet at the Chine Hotel, 25 Boscombe Spa Road, Boscombe, BH5 1AX  

Friday morning 31st May starting at 11am … No need to book, just turn up!

Price: £6 (over sixties & students £5). The walk lasts approximately one-and-three-quarter to two hours.

Be prepared: this is a moderate walk and includes some slopes and steps with a good rail. I recommend wearing comfortable shoes and dressing appropriately for the weather. Walkers can park in the hotel’s overflow carpark in Wharncliffe Road if spaces are available, but please let reception know you are there. There is on-street parking nearby. Drummond, Knyverton and Knoll roads are usually good too. The hotel is a ten minutes walk from bus routes on Christchurch Road. Refreshments are available at the Chine Hotel before and/or after the walk. 

The Chine Hotel c1951 from an advertisement in the Bournemouth town guide.

Two walks for Bank Holiday Monday

There are photographs from these walks on the walkingtalks Facebook page.

There are two walks on Bank Holiday Monday, 27th May … In the morning “Hidden Histories of Boscombe Chine” starts at 11am from the Chine Hotel in Boscombe Spar Road. In the evening “The Darker Side of the East Cliff” sets off at 7pm from Hotel Miramar on East Overcliff Drive.

The Darker Side of the East Cliff

Join Hattie Miles on this intriguing circular walk from Hotel Miramar on Bournemouth’s East Cliff. You will hear the extraordinary story of a murder that took place in 1935 not far from the hotel, as well as an historic shipwreck and the story of an RAF war hero. Be prepared for a ghost story and some intrigue too …

Bank Holiday Monday evening 27th May starting at 7pm … Meet at Hotel Miramar, East Overcliff Drive, Bournemouth, BH1 3AL (find Hattie in reception or on the terrace).

Price: £6 (over sixties & students £5) … no need to book, just turn up!

What happened to Frances Mawson Rattenbury and his wife Alma? Discover on this walk!

Be prepared: this is a mainly flat walk on pavements but I recommend wearing comfortable shoes and dressing appropriately for the weather – walkers can park in the carpark at the rear of the hotel, just let reception know you are there … there are also bus stops nearby. You can enjoy refreshments at Hotel Miramar before or after the walk. The walk lasts approximately 90 minutes.

Hidden Histories of Boscombe Chine

Whether you’re a resident or visitor you’re sure to enjoy this circular guided walk with Hattie Miles. You will find out about Boscombe Chine’s history, the many famous people connected to it and discover some of its hidden secrets. You will also discover the fascinating history of the Chine Hotel.

Meet at the Chine Hotel, 25 Boscombe Spa Road, Boscombe, BH5 1AX  

Bank Holiday Monday morning 27th May, starting at 11.00am … and Friday morning 31st May starting at 11am … No need to book, just turn up!

Price: £6 (over sixties & students £5). The walk lasts approximately one-and-three-quarter to two hours …

Be prepared: this is a moderate walk and includes some slopes and steps with a good rail. I recommend wearing comfortable shoes and dressing appropriately for the weather. Walkers can park in the hotel’s overflow carpark in Wharncliffe Road if spaces are available, but please let reception know you are there. There is on-street parking nearby. Drummond, Knyverton and Knoll roads are usually good too. The hotel is a ten minutes walk from bus routes on Christchurch Road. Refreshments are available at the Chine Hotel before and/or after the walk. 

The Chine Hotel c1951 from an advertisement in the Bournemouth town guide.

Wimborne Road Cemetery walk

SATURDAY 11th MAY: Join Hattie Miles and discover Wimborne Road Cemetery. There are many fascinating stories to be told about the Bournemouth people buried there and Hattie will guide you to some of the most interesting memorials. 

Saturday morning 11th May starting at 11am.

Price: £6 (over sixties and students £5) … no need to book, just turn up!! Please note: dogs (apart from assistance dogs) are not allowed in Bournemouth cemeteries.

Meet in the carpark of the Dean Park Inn, 41 Wimborne Road, BH2 6NB at 11am or at the main entrance of the cemetery at about ten-past-eleven. 

Be prepared: This walk is on level ground but we do step up onto uneven routes to see some of the memorials. There are a few seats in the cemetery but not many. I recommend wearing comfortable shoes and dressing appropriately for the weather and you may want to bring some water to drink on the way. Walkers can park on St Augustines Road, opposite the Dean Park Inn, if you want to enjoy lunch after the walk you can use the carpark at the Dean Park Inn, you can also park on Iddesleigh Road at the back of the cemetery or Porchester Road … there are also bus stops nearby. The walk lasts approximately 1 hour 45 minutes. The Dean Park Inn offers good refreshments … teas, coffees, ales etc and lunches after the walk. Walkers can use the loos at the Dean Park Inn.

Wimborne Road cemetery … 18.11.18 … photograph by Hattie Miles

This walk can be booked as a private walk for a club or society … just contact Hattie on hattiepix@gmail.com

Bohemian Boscombe

FRIDAY 10th May … 11am start!! Discover Boscombe’s colourful past on this free guided walk with Hattie Miles.You’ll hear interesting and entertaining stories about creative and flamboyant people as we take a look at architectural gems that help reveal the area’s history and hidden secrets. This is a free walk supported by the Bournemouth Emerging Arts Fringe.

The walks will be on Sunday morning 5th May and Friday morning 10th May both starting at 11am.  No need to book, just turn up!

Meet at the entrance of the Sovereign Shopping Centre in Christchurch Road pedestrian precinct ready to start at 11am  … the walk will last approximately 75 minutes.

Be prepared: the route is mainly flat and is within the precinct, Sovereign Centre and Royal Arcade. I recommend wearing flat, comfortable footwear and dressing appropriately for the weather. There are good bus services to Boscombe Centre, plenty of pay carparks nearby and some on street parking a short walk away. There are good loos in the Sovereign Centre and lots of cafés nearby. NB: This walk is not suitable for dogs as Sovereign Centre has a no dogs policy.

Bournemouth Emerging Arts Fringe festival offers eight days of interesting arts events around the area from 4th – 12th May. For festival details visit www.b-e-a-f.co.uk

Southbourne Secrets

Join Hattie Miles on this circular Southbourne walk that will tell you about some of the area’s development, famous residents and hidden secrets. The walk will start and finish outside Costa Coffee in Southbourne Grove.  It will take us to the cliff top and down to the beach and aims to tell a few things about the area that you may not know. 

Thursday morning 9th May starting at 11am

Meet outside Costa Coffee in Southbourne Grove, BH6 3RA

Price £6 (over sixties £5) … no need to book, just turn up!

Be prepared: this is a moderate walk and includes some slopes and a few steps. I recommend wearing comfortable shoes and dressing appropriately for the weather. There is plenty of on street parking in Southbourne but you will need to park away from the centre to avoid time restrictions. If you travel by bus Southbourne is well served including 1, 1b and M2 services. We pass several public loos on route and can use facilities at Costa Coffee before and after the walk. The walk will last approximately 1 hour 45 minutes.

Sweeties, The Pipe Shop and Southbourne’s fabulous Green Man

Photographs from the 17th and 19th March, 28th April and 9th May walks are on the walkingtalks Facebook page!