One of my favourite things about Sandbanks is how everything is accessible on foot – leaving the stresses and strains of driving and parking firmly left in the underground car park. We always say that life is better with sandy toes and so if there’s a way to get somewhere that goes via the beach, it will always get our vote! But if walking isn’t for you, the scooters, bikes ferries and open top busses mean there is something truly liberating about stepping out of the door and setting out to explore!
With picture postcard views on almost every turn and almost flat terrain across the peninsula, it’s no surprise that bikes and scooters are so popular. The relatively new electric bike and scooter hire scheme means you can pick up some wheels almost on demand and is a perfect environmentally friendly way to combine speed with beauty. I love the fact that you can hire by the hour and unleash your inner child again!
If you want to go further afield, a trip across the chain ferry to the Purbeck (AKA perfect) Hills opens up so many possibilities and there’s something mesmerising about watching Bramble Bush Bay shuttle vehicles, bike riders and foot passengers alike efficiently across the water. The crossing takes only a few minutes and with simultaneous loading and off loading it always seems like a well run set up. If you want to give it a try you can find more details here. The ferry queues along Banks Road on the Sandbanks side might get a little long in the summer time, but the break into two lanes (one for queuing and one for general circulation) does its best to keep things flowing.
The view from the chain ferry coming back into Sandbanks. 
The open top bus is another great way to get around…. and it even goes on the ferry too. It can get a bit blustery on the top deck though although the views make it well worth it. The number 50 is our favourite route.
Of course, I wouldn’t do Sandbanks justice if I didn’t mention the sheer magic of moving around on the water too. On any sunny day (or on most duller ones too!) Poole harbour is a sea of brightly coloured paddle boards, windsurfing, canoes, kayaks, inflatable boats and tied up fishing boats too. We’ve had many a magical moment as we’ve (the royal we in some instances) donned our wet suits to enjoy the wonders of the waves. We like to wander by the roadside hire shops along the harbour side to check out the latest in kit, as well as consider what we’re going to try next. And if you’re feeling really adventurous you can hire a boat and sail around brown sea island – just be careful crossing the shipping lanes……you can’t help but feel humbled when you see the size of some of the boats!