Sarah and I were visiting my brother Chris in Bournemouth over Christmas. Boxing Day brought us a cool but fine day to work off the Christmas Day excess. We decided upon a short walk along Hengistbury Head.

On arrival, it was clear that many others had eaten far too much too and had the same idea. It was very busy.

Hengistbury Head is a headland between Bournemouth and Mudeford that juts out into the English Channel. It is also a local nature reserve.

It is possible to get from one end to the other via a variety of means. There is the local land train, or the ferry, and there are a number of trails.

We started along the main thoroughfare, but it was so busy that we decided to walk along the shore. This was mainly shingle and a little more difficult, but still fairly easy going. It provided us with some pleasant views of Christchurch harbour.

At the far end is Mudeford sand spit, and the walk took us about thirty minutes.

There are a number of beach huts at the end of the spit, and apparently these are some of the most expensive in the country.

If you take a short detour from the main path and make your way between the beach-huts, behind these there is a sandy beach from where you can look out over to the Isle of Wight.

At the Head wee had intended to enjoy a cup of tea at the cafe or even something from the store next to it. However, it was too busy and since the queues were out of the door we might have been waiting awhile.

So, we turned around and headed back. This time we followed the main path which is well tarmaced.

The Head is home to a wide variety of animals and fauna, and there is a visitor centre where you can find out more about the area (and there is lots more that we left undiscovered).

This was just a brief visit, but the journey out and its return ensures you manage to cover a few miles. There are alternative walks taking you around the back of Warren Hill (or even up it!) and which follow part of the Stour Valley Way. Whichever route you choose Hengistbury Head is an ideal place to visit for a short walk for all the family.