I love forest walks with the family and recently we combined a trip to Highcliffe Castle with a stroll through Steamer Point Nature Reserve.

If you park at Highcliffe Castle and walk to towards the cliff, head right and you’ll soon see a big sign welcoming you to the start of the nature reserve.

The kids had a great time climbing on fallen trees and stumps, mushroom and wildlife spotting and kicking up the autumn leaves.  The views are incredible and we even found a few sculptures, my favourite being a dragonfly which is located by a small lake.

There are numerous paths to explore through the woodland but we kept the sea in sight and found a wonderful little visitor centre en route.  The centre is unmanned and inside you’ll find information on the local countryside, animal bones and skulls plus a beautifully painted mural with doors which my daughter spent ages playing with.

We walked all the way to Friars cliff which actually isn’t that far but we stopped plenty and it took us maybe about 45 minutes.  From here we walked down onto the beach and back along to the steep steps which led us up to the car park at Highcliffe Castle.  We had such a great afternoon and if our car park ticket wasn’t due to end we would of happily kept walking to Mudeford.  This will be a walk we’ll look forward to doing next year in the sunshine.

Local history:

Steamer Point Nature Reserve takes its name from the steamer boat that was pulled up into a gap in the cliff and wedged between two holly trees in 1830, arranged and paid for by Lord Stuart de Rothesay.  The steamer boat was subsequently used and inhabited as a sea lodge for many years before falling into disrepair around the start of the 20th century.

During the war, Steamer Point was used by the Signals Research and Development Establishment as the site of a military radar research station, helping to develop radar cover for our south coast.  The building known as 'Site 16' was used as an anti-aircraft gun emplacement with a Lewis machine gun. 

Good to know:

• We spotted a nice picnic area with tables whilst walking through the nature reserve and here you’ll be spoilt with views looking out to the Isle of Wight.

• If you need toilets then there’s some located at the start of the nature reserve and also at Friars Cliff.

• Car parking prices are reduced during the winter period and increase again in spring.

• If you need lunch or a sweet treat then we can highly recommend The Castle Pantry which is located at Highcliffe Castle.  If you would like to read a review from our visit in the summer then please visit the Dorsetmums Blog.