Mudeford Quay
Distance from Lyndhurst - 13½ miles (22 kilometres)
Located at the entrance to Christchurch Harbour - ever-popular with water sports enthusiasts - Mudeford Quay is a great place to visit, particularly for children who enjoy catching crabs with baited lines!
Mudeford associations with the sea
Reputedly the haunt of smugglers in days long gone, Mudeford Quay inevitably retains a close association with the sea, an association emphasised by the presence of fishing boats, lobster pots strewn about the quayside, fishermen's cottages, an RNLI inshore lifeboat station, and a locally renowned fresh fish stall.
Ferries also ply their trade to Hengistbury Head and Christchurch, and fishing and sightseeing boat trips are also available.
Mudeford wildlife
Wild birds provide additional interest: mute swans, sometimes in large numbers, glide about the harbour; cormorants hunt for fish; gulls are ever-present; summer terns entertain with graceful flight and steep, splashing dives; and surprisingly tame starlings scavenge around the lobster pots.
Relax and enjoy
Enjoy refreshments in the quayside café and pub; relax whilst watching yachts and other craft pass along the narrow channel of swirling water - known as the Mudeford Run, or simply the Run - separating Hengistbury Head from Mudeford Quay; or take a stroll along the seafront to the highly rated Avon Beach, a short distance away.
A nearby play park will help keep the children entertained for hours, and adjacent green space is ideal for picnics, ball games, kite flying and whatever else takes the fancy.
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