THE beautiful wildlife reserve that looks like it belongs in an Enid Blyton novel is open for the summer again.
Brownsea Island, found off Poole Harbour in Dorset, has been closed since November for the winter season.
You can see Brownsea Island from Poole Harbour[/caption]
There’s a castle on the shore of the island as well as a huge woodland[/caption]
It was said that author Enid Blyton took inspiration from Brownsea Island when writing about Whispering Island in Five Have a Mystery to Solve.
On the island, owned by the National Trust, you’ll find a huge woodland, heathland and lagoon as well as a huge castle, built in the 1500s, which you can see on the shoreline.
Anyone who is a National Trust member gets free admission to the island; non-members pay from £5.50 for children and £11 for adults.
Everyone however has to pay to cross on the ferry which you can pick up from Poole Quay.
For anyone wanting to pop over, there’s now a new ferry service operated by Greenslade Pleasure Boats.
The ferry services run every half an hour with the journey taking 20 minutes and costing up to £14.50.
The ferries no longer leave from the Sandbanks jetty as its been dismantled because of structural issues, but plans are in place to build a new one.
A spokesperson told Dorset Echo: “We have plans for a new and improved jetty, ensuring a better experience for our visitors in the future.”
Along with a new ferry service, there’s also a new wildlife observatory called The Lookout.
Here you can get a beautiful view of the lagoon, home to a variety of bird species, and spot the red squirrels—over 200 of which live on the island.
Brownsea Island was said to be the inspiration behind some Famous Five books[/caption]
You can reach the island very easily from Poole[/caption]
For anyone wanting to learn more about the island’s wildlife, there are guided tours, or shuttles, and other events, from wetland bird walks to bushcraft sessions.
There are also yoga classes, as well as live music and even theatre, which you can read more about on their website.
Around the island, there’s also a second-hand bookshop, and a small shop selling souvenirs.
For the kids there’s an adventure nature trail and playground which can be enjoyed for free.
The ferry crossing only takes 20 minutes to the island[/caption]
In terms of food, you can grab a bite to eat at The Villano Cafe, they serve fresh crab sandwiches, pasties, sandwiches, jacket potatoes, and ice cream.
You can also camp on the south side of Brownsea Island which overlooks Purbeck hills.
It’s a very popular spot for holidaymakers with one visitor saying on TripAdvisor: “It’s a beautiful island and travelling by boat to get there makes it a real adventure.”
Another added: “A fabulous day out. The island offers so much, spectacular scenic walks and an abundance of wild life.”
Brownsea Island had closed on Monday 4 November 2024 due to the colder months and rougher seas and reopened on Saturday 15 March.
It will be open throughout the spring, summer, and autumn for visits until Sunday 2 November 2025, when it will close again.
Here’s a tiny island you won’t have heard of has the UK’s best beach.
And some amazing seaside resorts in the UK with one even compared to the Med.
This Beautiful Dorset Hamlet Has A Pub On The Beach
Seatown is a beautiful town in Dorset with cliffs and a shoreline pub…
Seatown is part of the well-known Golden Cap coastline so it has beautiful views and even an award-winning pub right on the beach.
Home to only 600 people, the little hamlet has a tea room, a few shops, cafes and a very well-known pub. The Anchor Inn in Seatown is right on the beach and has won several awards.
They won Visit England Tourism Pub of the Year in 2017, they scooped up the Best Pub in Dorset in 2018 and Best Destination Pub in Dorset & Somerset in 2021.
The seaside pub is run by independent brewery, Palmers. The brewery is just up the road and is one of the oldest in the UK.
One reviewer on Tripadvisor said the The Anchor Inn is an “excellent spot, a hidden pub down beautiful country lanes” and added it “opens up to a beautiful sea view and of golden cap”.
Brownsea Castle was built in the 1500s and is closed to the public[/caption]
