Golden Sands, River Walks & Vibrant High Street

Enjoy a greener seaside break in Southbourne, one of Bournemouth’s best-loved coastal neighbourhoods.

Our self-contained accommodation is perfectly situated for nature lovers, with easy access to beautiful scenery in all directions, from miles of golden sands to the famous New Forest nearby.

It's around a 15-minute walk to Southbourne’s award-winning Blue Flag beach and its long stretch of golden sand.

You’ll also be close to beautiful riverside walks and Southbourne’s vibrant high street, with independent cafés, restaurants, shops and local businesses to discover.

A car isn’t necessary. You can reach us easily by public transport, with Pokesdown railway station and regular local bus services nearby. Once you’re here, Southbourne’s beach, high street, cafés and restaurants can all be explored on foot.

The magnificent Hengistbury Head Nature Reserve, a beautiful and ecologically important stretch of coast where heathland, woodland, saltmarsh, beach and harbour meet is just 2 miles away. Follow the walking trails, look out for wildlife and enjoy wonderful views across Christchurch Harbour and the coast.

It’s also easy to explore further without a car. Head into Bournemouth town centre and seafront, visit Poole and its historic quayside, or travel a few minutes in the other direction to neighbouring historic Christchurch, with its beautiful harbour, riverside and historic town centre. Venture slightly further and you can explore the New Forest National Park, with its ancient woodland, open heathland, pretty villages and free-roaming ponies.

The accommodation has a double bedroom, bathroom and comfortable living space, with a second sleeping area on a double futon. It’s particularly well suited to couples and solo travellers looking for a relaxed coastal break, although families with children 5 or over are also very welcome.

A greener stay

We’ve made lots of conscious choices to reduce the environmental impact of your stay without compromising on comfort. The accommodation uses 100% renewable electricity and energy-saving lighting, with a modern high-efficiency boiler and water-saving measures.

We use eco-friendly cleaning and laundry products, including laundry detergent that we refill locally in the same reusable glass bottle. Guests have separate recycling, food-waste and general-waste facilities, and we’ve chosen natural, recycled and lower-impact products wherever practical — including 100% cotton textiles, blankets made from recycled materials, a rug made from 100% recycled plastic and bamboo toilet paper. The hand soap is handmade by a local independent business.

We also grow some of our own food and have chosen plants for our private garden that help support local wildlife and pollinators.

Discover Southbourne like a local

We want your stay to have a positive impact beyond the accommodation itself. You’ll have our specially created local eco-business guide, with recommendations for independent and sustainable places to eat, drink, shop and explore. It’s an easy way to discover some great local businesses while helping more of the money you spend during your trip stay within the local community.

A little about your host

Sustainability and supporting local businesses are things I genuinely care about. I’m Liz, founder of Spend Green, a local initiative helping people make more sustainable spending choices while supporting independent businesses, and author of Spend Green and Save the World.

I love Southbourne and the surrounding area, and the recommendations in your guide come from that local knowledge. Whether it’s somewhere for coffee, a great independent place to eat or a more sustainable place to shop, I hope it helps you experience a little more of what makes this part of the coast special.

A few things to know

This apartment forms part of our family home, with its own completely private and separate accommodation and entrance. While the area and accommodation is residential and generally very quiet and relaxing, you may occasionally hear the normal sounds of family life or neighbouring homes.

The accommodation isn't suitable for children under five because of the steep external concrete stairs. Families with older children are welcome, although the double futon is better suited to younger children than to two older teenagers.

We hope you’ll enjoy a comfortable seaside stay, discover some brilliant local places and leave Southbourne feeling that travelling a little more sustainably doesn’t have to mean compromising on a great break.