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We want you to have the best experience when visiting our beautiful beaches on the south coast so we have created an interactive map and mobile application which allows you to see how busy they are before you pick your perfect spot in the sun.
Take a look at our Beach Check page for more information.
Please be aware that dogs are not allowed on the main beaches from 1 May to 30 September. Dogs are allowed on the beach all year round at Branksome Dene Chine and at the western end of Sandbanks beach.
The majority of our beaches now have a lifeguard service provided by the RNLI. However, please check their website for the exact locations and patrol times of the lifeguarded beaches across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
In Poole the lifeguard towers are located at the following beaches:
More details can be found on the RNLI website.
To stay safe at the beach, always swim at a lifeguarded beach between the red and yellow flags and never swim alone.
LV=KidZone is the children’s beach safety scheme which operates during the peak summer season. You can pick up a free wristband from the Tourist Information Centre just off of Poole Quay in Poole Museum on the High Street and from seafront rangers or an RNLI Lifeguard tower.
Do make sure you have an arranged meeting place (such as an RNLI Lifeguard tower) and the Seafront team, in blue t-shirts, are always on hand to help.
Read through the ‘Ten top tips for a safe summer at the seaside’ and the RNLI beach safety – ‘Know your flags’, this information will help you have the safest day possible whilst on the beach and should help you to relax.”
If you’re heading to the beach this summer, spare a thought for safety. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is urging anyone planning a trip to the beach and, particularly, anyone thinking of going into the water, to choose a lifeguarded beach and swim in the area between the red and yellow flags.
Around two-thirds of people in the UK go to the seaside at least once a year – perhaps for summer holidays or day trips. Last year alone, RNLI lifeguards responded to more than 9,500 incidents and helped more than 10,900 people on some of the UK’s busiest beaches.
To help the beach-going public stay safe, the lifesaving charity is offering some essential beach safety tips to make sure people remember their summer holidays for the right reason.
You can visit RNLI’s beach safety page for more information.
If you do visit the beach and it’s too busy, then why not find another quieter area – there’s plenty of seafront to choose from – using our BCP Beach Check app – free to download for any Apple or Android device helping you find that beautiful slice of heaven and keep yourselves safe.
Watch the Coastwise video for more information
Advice for adults and children on sunscreen and sun safety in the UK and abroad can be found via the NHS website.
Keep the whole family hydrated in hot weather. Bring a reusable bottle and get free fresh water across the seafront – you can locate our hydration stations easily by their fabulous bright signage or by using the free refill app
Our number one priority right now is ensuring that people are able to enjoy our beautiful resort in a safe and responsible way; looking after our local community, our visitors and precious environment. Dispose of your rubbish carefully using the bins provided or take it home and Leave only Footprints
Our friendly team of Seafront Rangers are there to give advice and help you enjoy the seafront. As well as patrolling the promenades and beaches across and Poole, the team work from beach offices at:
To keep our beaches and seafront clean, safe and enjoyable, please follow our beach guidelines
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