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Routes
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United Kingdom
England
South West England
Dorset
Christchurch
Highcliffe And Walkford

Highcliffe Castle – Steamer Point Beach Huts loop from Highcliffe-on-Sea

Routes
Running trails & routes
United Kingdom
England
South West England
Dorset
Christchurch
Highcliffe And Walkford

Highcliffe Castle – Steamer Point Beach Huts loop from Highcliffe-on-Sea

Moderate

5.0

(2)

154

runners

Highcliffe Castle – Steamer Point Beach Huts loop from Highcliffe-on-Sea

00:50

7.63km

70m

Running

Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: June 26, 2026

Waypoints

A

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

1

1.75 km

Highcliffe Castle

Highlight • Castle

Highcliffe Castle has been described as arguably the most important surviving house of the Romantic and Picturesque style of architecture, which flourished at the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century. Its significance is recognised nationally by its Grade 1 status on the Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural and Historical Interest.

There is an international importance, too. For a large amount of medieval French masonry, shipped across the Channel, was used in its construction. It is this Norman and Renaissance carved stone, along with the Castle’s Gothic revival features and ancient stained glass, that make it appear older than it is.

Built mainly between 1831 and 1836, the Castle is the realisation of one man’s fantasy. He was Lord Stuart de Rothesay, a distinguished diplomat who had known and loved the cliff-top site overlooking Christchurch Bay since he was a boy.

The magnificent building, once lavishly furnished in the 18th century French style remained a family home until the 1950s. In the late 1960s two fires rendered the building derelict and in 1977, to prevent further deterioration, Christchurch Borough Council purchased it.

Tip by

2

3.34 km

Beach Huts at Sandbanks

Highlight • Beach

3

3.82 km

Mudeford Beach Path

Highlight • Beach

Nice short cut from the cliff top to the beach.

Tip by

4

3.93 km

Avon Beach Pebbles

Highlight • Structure

Please don't remove any Pebbles. Please don't stand on the Pebbles.

Tip by

5

4.85 km

Steamer Point Beach Huts

Highlight • Rest Area

The sand and shingle beach below the cliffs is generally fairly quiet and remains largely undeveloped. At low tide a good expanse of sand is exposed.

The beach can be accessed either from Highcliffe Castle or by taking the mile-long path from Friar’s Cliff Beach. For much of the length of the beach a raised promenade runs along the base of the cliffs.
Dogs are allowed on beach, but best on a lead, also a car park is nearby with room for 200 vehicles.

Tip by

B

7.63 km

End point

Parking

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Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

4.52 km

1.61 km

773 m

376 m

301 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

3.52 km

1.93 km

1.16 km

626 m

346 m

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Elevation

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

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Weather

Powered by Foreca

Wednesday 26 August

23°C

16°C

15 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 20.0 km/h

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