Beach hut breaks
We have four beach huts—our 'beach retreats'—available to carers looking after someone who pays Council Tax to BCP Council. Carers can book for a small fee of £5 per day.
The huts are located at:
- Sandbanks – suitable for those with accessibility needs
- Alum Chine – steep-sloped access
- Boscombe – about a 10-minute walk to the toilets
- Avon Beach (Christchurch)
To book a beach hut, please contact the Carers Support Service.
Using the beach hut
- Each hut can be used by up to six people. Please be considerate of your neighbours.
- Pets aren’t allowed in the beach huts.
- The Avon Beach hut can’t be used between one hour after sunset and sunrise.
Facilities
We’ve equipped the beach huts with some useful items:
- Chairs
- Crockery, cutlery, kettle, and a gas hob (at Sandbanks, Alum Chine, and Boscombe only)
- Portable ramp (at Sandbanks and Alum Chine only)
- Washing-up bowl and dish cloths (at Sandbanks, Alum Chine, and Boscombe only)
- Cleaning supplies
Please bring your own tea towel.
How to book
To book, please contact BCP Carer Support. You can book up to three days in the winter (October to March) and two days in the summer (April to September).
Keys
On the day of your booking, you can collect the key from the key safe:
- Sandbanks – on the wall to the side of the beach hut doors
- Alum Chine and Boscombe – on the beach hut itself
- Avon Beach – access is through a combination padlock on the beach hut
We’ll give you the key safe or padlock code and explain how to use it when we confirm your booking.
Please return the key to the key safe at the end of the day, or replace the coded padlock on the doors.
Getting to the beach huts
Alum Chine:
- Bus services stop at Alum Chine. Visit MoreBus to learn more.
- Car park with six disabled bays
- Land train (when running) connects to Alum Chine
Sandbanks:
- Bus services stop at Sandbanks. Visit MoreBus to learn more.
- There is a short walk from the bus stop to the hut
- if you use a disabled Blue Badge and are tax exempt, make sure you have a Disabled Tax Exempt Permit BCP Council.
Boscombe:
- Pay and display parking along the Undercliff (most of the year)
- Parking restrictions may apply during major events like the Air Festival
Avon Beach:
- Bus services stop at Sandbanks. Visit MoreBus to learn more.
- There is a short walk from the bus stop to Avon Beach.
- Pay and display parking at Avon Beach Car Park or Avon Run Car Park (open 9am–9pm daily)