Trail map
View or download the trail map and then follow the steps at each place on the walk - you can scan the QR codes, or read on below for information about each stage!
Stop 1: Wick Fields
Stick to the paths along an ancient riverside route linking burial mounds at Hengistbury and Wick. Once a refuse site, now a Site of Special Scientific Interest rich in wetland wildlife.
Look out for:
- red foxes and rabbits in livestock fields
- butterflies like Small White, Comma and Red Admiral
- birdsong from cuckoos, chiffchaffs and Cetti’s warblers
- hedgerows full of hawthorn, cow parsley & common reed
Fun fact: cuckoos lay their eggs in other birds’ nests, mimicking egg patterns to trick their hosts!
Stop 2: Bird viewing platform
Quietly peek through the screens to spot reedbed birds. Dogs welcome - just keep them calm for the birdwatchers!
Stop 3: Reedbed and water meadows
Gaze across the River Stour to Christchurch Priory. In summer, spot grazing cattle and maybe even elusive otters.
Fun fact: this area was once a thriving Iron Age port, trading with the Roman Empire.
Stop 4: Livestock fields
Here you will see our rare-breed Shetland cattle and Cotswold sheep. Their grazing helps preserve wildflower meadows and supports biodiversity.
The grazing:
- prevents scrub overgrowth
- encourages wildflowers like orchids and bird’s-foot trefoil
- supports species like skylarks, meadow pipits and 6-spot burnet moths
Fun fact: Shetland cows’ wide muzzles protect low-growing plants - they can’t overgraze!
Stop 5: Golf shop – hedgerow haven
These hedgerows are buzzing with life - home to birds like yellowhammers, whitethroats, and blue tits, plus insects and small mammals.
Hedgerows are important because they:
- provide food, shelter, and nesting spots
- act as wildlife corridors
- help reduce soil erosion and water run-off
Planted in the 1990s, this species-rich hedge includes hawthorn, dog rose, spindle, and oak - which alone supports over 2,300 species!
Stop 6: Roebury Meadow – wellness walk
Let your dog stretch their legs and reconnect with nature in this open meadow, surrounded by wildlife-rich hedgerows.
Stop 7: Pitch & Putt – skylark song
This former golf course is now a wildflower meadow and skylark stronghold. In spring, listen for their soaring, melodic song - up to 460 syllables long!
From April to July skylarks, lapwings, curlews nesting on the ground so it is vital you stick to paths and keep dogs on leads in sensitive areas.
Stop 8: West Field – meadows and natterjacks
This meadow is alive with pollinators, birds, and rare wildflowers. Long grasses sway in the breeze and provide cover for wildlife - and fun for dogs! Just make sure to check for ticks and grass seeds on your pet after exploring this area.
Look out for:
- stonechats, crickets, bees
- natterjack toads in fenced ponds - rare, nocturnal, and protected
Fun fact: male natterjacks sing to attract mates - you can hear them up to a mile away!
Stop 9: Beach and sand dunes
Walk the boardwalk (made from recycled Boscombe Pier timber) through shifting sand dunes - fragile habitats home to rare species.
Look out for:
- sand lizards (reintroduced by Marwell Zoo & ARC Trust)
- natterjack toads burrowing in the dunes
- rare plants like sea holly and prickly saltwort
Fancy a paddle? Head to the shoreline - but watch for resting birds.
Spot the artificial rockpools carved into groynes by Dr Alice Hall to support marine life!
Stop 10: Double Dykes – Iron Age defences
These impressive earthworks were built over 2,000 years ago to defend one of Britain’s busiest Iron Age ports. The ditches and banks once stretched from sea to harbour.
Cotswold sheep graze here to keep scrub in check—vital for preserving the structure. Their wool, once called the Golden Fleece, was a prized Roman export.
Walk complete
Head back to the Hiker Café for a well-earned drink and snack. Dogs welcome in the outdoor seating area.