Christchurch sits at the confluence of the Avon and Stour rivers, with the dramatic headland of Hengistbury Head — rich in archaeology and wildlife — just south of the town centre. The South West Coast Path technically ends nearby at Poole Harbour, and the Stour Valley offers gentle riverside walking inland.

A historic priory town with an attractive harbour setting, Christchurch makes a pleasant coastal and riverside walking base at the eastern end of the Dorset coast, with Hengistbury Head a particular highlight for birdwatchers and walkers alike.