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Stanpit Marsh

1.55 miles (2.5 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap Enjoy lovely coastal views and a variety of wading birds in this nature reserve in Christchurch. It's a delightful area with lagoons, marshland, reed beds and splendid views back to Christchurch Harbour and Priory. It's great for wildlife with over 300 birds spotted at the site. Look out for Curlew, Little Egret, Black-tailed Godwits and Herons. Also keep an eye out for rabbits and the resident horses and their foals.
You can park at the Stanpit Recreation Ground car park and then pick up the walking trails through the reserve. National Cycle Network Route 2 runs from Christchurch to the reserve on a nice traffic free path too.
To extend your walking in the area you can pick up the Stour Valley Way or the Avon Valley Path which run through Christchurch. Also nearby is the splendid Mudeford Quay and Hengistbury Head where you can enjoy coastal views towards the Purbeck Hills and the Isle of Wight. To reach Hengistbury Head you can walk east to Mudeford Quay and catch the ferry to Mudeford.
The Bournemouth Coast Path also runs past the reserve so you can pick this up and head along the coast to Highcliffe Castle and Coast too.

Postcode

BH23 3ND - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

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Stanpit Marsh OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Stanpit Marsh Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

There's a cafe at the Hengistbury Head car park where you can enjoy refreshments after your walk.

Photos

Christchurch, Stanpit Marsh - geograph.org.uk - 1705320

A prototype of the Bailey Bridge across Ma Sillar's Channel, Stanpit Marsh, Christchurch, Dorset. The Bailey Bridge was designed and constructed at the Christchurch Barracks. Ma Sillar was a notorious 18th century smuggler. The Ma Sillers channel (now all but silted up) lead directly to the rear of her pub, The Ship in Distress.

Crouch Hill on Stanpit Marshes - geograph.org.uk - 492067

Crouch Hill on Stanpit Marshes. The slight hump on the horizon is called Crouch Hill, although it is only a few feet higher than the surrounding land. It is fenced off to allow flora and fauna to develop without interference from humans or animals.

Stanpit Marsh, Christchurch - geograph.org.uk - 1051238

Stanpit Marsh, Christchurch Salt & freshwater marsh, reedbeds & scrub; SSSI. A little egret & curlew can be seen pottering around in the middle ground. Another frequent species is the common twitcher, which overwinters; its breeding habits are however not recorded.

Bailey bridge, Stanpit Marsh - geograph.org.uk - 1051074

Bailey bridge, Stanpit Marsh. This is an early example of the Bailey bridge, designed by Donald (later Sir) Bailey at the Experimental Bridging Establishment in nearby Bargates, Chistchurch. A few of the reserve's resident horses can be seen in the background

Trig point, Stanpit - geograph.org.uk - 1051066

Trig point, Stanpit. Seen from the entrance to Stanpit Marsh Nature Reserve. The trig point's ID is S4376. To the right, Stanpit Recreation Ground, a favourite with dog walkers.

Stanpit Marsh, mare and foal - geograph.org.uk - 1431510

Stanpit Marsh, mare and foal. One of the twenty ponies (with their foals) allowed to graze on the marsh; on the main footpath North from Grimbury Marsh.

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Stanpit Marsh.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Stanpit Marsh.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)