Hengistbury Head Photo Walk – A Coastal Photography Walk in Dorset

Fog remnants sit on the golden ferns and evergreen trees as I drive through the forest toward Hengistbury Head in Dorset. It’s early winter, and today’s photo walk will take me along the cliffs and shoreline of this coastal headland, camera in hand, looking for quiet moments in the changing light.

The golden theme continues as the road cuts through the December foliage. Craggy trees overhang the camper van as my attention is split between the road ahead, and Mother Nature.

The road opens up as I enter Holmsley. To my right, the landscape dips, and carving through the autumn ferns like a ribbon, is another road dotted with cars. Hampshire turns to Dorset. Trees are replaced with roundabouts, retail parks and more roads.

Single lanes turn to dual carriageways, as I amble towards my destination. I cross the River Avon and before long, I swing into the vast car park, creeping under the 2.1m height restriction. Although popular in the summer months, in December there are a plethora of spots to choose, and I pick one away from others. My attention turns to Hengistbury Head, and the photo opportunities that await me.

This winter photo walk at Hengistbury Head on the Dorset coast is exactly the quiet morning I am hoping for.

If you enjoy photo walks like this one, why not explore more in my Photo Walks collection, particularly this one from Newquay?

Battling the Hengistbury Head elements

I step out of the van as a gust of wind batters me. The small grassy knoll I have parked by is proving little protection from the gales as they roll in over the sea.

Undeterred, for now anyway, I lace up my hiking boots and sling my rucksack over my back. I head across the car park with my chin tucked to chest, baseball cap wedged firmly down. The headland awaits.

Two sheep show little interest in me, and within minutes I am on the beach. To my right, the coast stretches further into Dorset. To my left, Hengistbury Head climbs. Slowly at first, but getting steeper, the path winding skyward. Attention turns to the sea, and any photo opportunities that catch my eye.

Rock groynes reach out to sea, like long, hardened fingers stretching and scraping the seabed. On the ‘fingernail’ stands a marker with a red top warning of its presence in high tide.

“As I fire off another shot, a dog bounds into view. Perfect timing!”

Onwards (and slightly upwards)

Despite the weather, the winding path looks inviting. The long grass-covered sand dunes have to be conquered first, and as I fire off another shot, a dog bounds into view. Perfect timing!

I glance over my shoulder as I walk on. The red warning atop the end of the groyne catches my attention. I take another shot, and this one feels like it portrays the weather.

Blustery and wintery, emphasised by the frothy rough waves.

The trail winds on, gradually ascending. With the increase in height comes the increase in wind. The biggest challenge is not the hill itself, but losing my baseball cap to the gusts.

I reach the summit, and the views stretch off into the distance. A line of beach huts protrudes from the headland, towards the mainland. The water is calmer away from the crashing waves, and a few boats bob in Christchurch Harbour.

Research suggests the NCI Lookout Tower has stood here since 1975. Initially manned, this changed and it stood empty from the mid 1990 to 2018.

“Jealous of their view, I watch birds soar overhead, and I snap one. Framed for a square crop.”

My attention returns to the walk.

I venture as close to the edge as I dare, and another groyne and its red warning hat deserves a photo. Jealous of their view, I watch birds soar overhead, and I snap one. Framed for a square crop.

Moody skies above Hengistbury Head. Perforce for a Dorset Photo Walk

The long grass (possible marram grass) whips about in the wind, and there is the feel of rain in the air. I see layers. The yellow grass, the golden ferns and a lone tree. Its backdrop is the moody skies. These elements make a photograph I like, and why I chose Hengistbury Head in particular for this photo walk.

I reach the tip of the headland, and I start my descent to the beach. Hengistbury Head beach turns into Mudeford Sandbank. The name may change, but they do have something in common.

Beach huts. Small, colourful, mostly well kept but expensive beach huts. One Mudeford beach hut sells in 2025 for £485,000 within 24 hours.

I can only imagine the amount of money you must have to justify spending nearly half a million pounds on a hut. These are huts that are not much bigger than a standard lounge (5m x 3m). Crammed together, some a metre apart, and on a public beach. The owners must love the beach lifestyle in this particular area.

I turn my back on the painted beach huts that are better suited to my photographs than my wallet. Looking out to sea, a line of what I believe are oyster catchers add an extra visual to the scene.

The usual layers of sand, waves, horizon and sky get punctuated with the natives. In single file, the oyster gatherers advance across where the waves turn. A repeating pattern of figures and movement.

Time to end the Hengistbury Head Photo Walk

“Grey, windy, and threatening. But, after all, this is the coast of the UK in December, so why would it be any different!”

I leave the sand, and make my way between the expensive beach huts. As I emerge the other side, another walker stops me.

“Anything interesting?” he says, nodding his head towards my camera

“Oh, just a few snapshots” I reply

“I thought you were going to tell me you’d got a photo of a Bald Eagle?” he said expectantly

I pointed to the fence that ran along the path we were stood on. “A Bald Eagle could land right there, start talking to me and I would still have to ask it what kind of bird he is!”

The man laughed and we went our separate ways.

With the skies getting darker and the rain threatening, I decide to cut short my walk. I have made it to Hengistbury Head, capturing the essence of this place as I see it on this particular day.

Grey, windy, and threatening. But, after all, this is the coast of the UK in December, so why would it be any different! Don’t forget to check out my Homepage for more stories.