Stanpit Marsh
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 locationsPlease click here for more information
Stanpit Marsh Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Stanpit Marsh Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Stanpit Marsh OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Stanpit Marsh Open Street Map 
- 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.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
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. 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 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. 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. 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. One of the twenty ponies (with their foals) allowed to graze on the marsh; on the main footpath North from Grimbury Marsh.