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Mudeford Beach Huts

UK England South West England Dorset Christchurch

The Spit, Mudeford, Dorset BH23 9ND

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Staying on, and waking up to, the beach. Fresh sea air and sand between your toes

Mudeford sand spit is, in fact, a sort of shed shanty town: 365 beach huts (one for every day of the year, maybe?) crammed into quite a small space. These huts were originally intended to be sweet little places to change into your swimsuit or make a cup of tea of an afternoon – and now they’re stuffed full of families of overnighters. A peaceful haven this is not, but it’s a loveable one all the same. The huts either overlook the Isle of Wight or Mudeford Harbour so, weather permitting, you’re ideally placed for some great sunsets and rises. Only a small number of the huts are for hire and what they offer can vary, so do your research before plumping for a particular one. Some are extremely chic, while others are decidedly shabby, but the variety of colours is fabulous. Younger kids love the Wendy-house experience and you may witness doors and windows being flung open to invite new friends in for (play) food and pots of tea. Highseason can be frenetic. The place kicks back at night, with candles glowing in windows to supplement the starlight. There’s a touch of Toytown about the place and while it’s not everyone’s cone of winkles, for novelty factor it scores an easy 10 out of 10.

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The Owner Says

All the fun of the beach: swimming in the sea, building sand-huts and castles, playing hide-and-seek, messing about in boats, nosing at your neighbour’s beach hut! Great place to watch the world go by: the Isle of Wight Needles are just across the bay and there are always fishing nets and lobster pots being unloaded on the quay.

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Pitches

Several, individually-owned private beach huts for rent. Contact details available by clicking the 'visit website' button.

Facilities

The huts vary in facilities. They sleep 4 on average and some have a tiny mezzanine floor; perfect for squeezing in a couple of kids. Some run on solar power, some on gas, some have no electricity at all. Most have a little galley kitchen, with some sort of cooker – and some even have a TV. Water is available from standpipes along the spit and there are 5 loo and shower blocks. You have to bring your own bedding. The huts vary in facilities. They sleep 4 on average and some have a tiny mezzanine floor; perfect for squeezing in a couple of kids. Some run on solar power, some on gas, some have no electricity at all. Most have a little galley kitchen, with some sort of cooker – and some even have a TV. Water is available from standpipes along the spit and there are 5 loo and shower blocks. You have to bring your own bedding.

If it rains

Snuggling in the beach hut and peering out through the condensation is fun, as there are always plenty of boats on the water and people to watch. Bournemouth Oceanarium (01202 311993) and the American-style Tower Park (01202 723671), with swimming, bowling and a cinema, in Poole are both about 20 minutes’ drive.

Family Friendly

The spit is on the mouth of a fairly sheltered estuary and the open sea is only seconds away, so non-swimmers be aware.

Nearby

There are several beaches within a drive or boat-ride. Highcliffe is popular with boogie-boarders and you can reach sandy Southborne on the open-top bus. Take a fishing trip (07979 081934). You can even head just across the pond to the Isle of Wight for the day. Take the Wightlink from Lymington to Yarmouth.

Activities, sights & attractions to see and do in Dorset

Food & Drink

The laid-back Beach House Café (01202 423474) is sand-spit central – the hub of the community. Hang out on the sheltered terrace overlooking the marina and enjoy a huge variety of modern British grub, including a children’s menu. It also offers an amazingly well-stocked kiosk selling cereal, booze, toiletries, plus anything else that you might have forgotten. For a change of scenery, the Haven Café (01425 272609) on Mudeford Quay offers lattés, teas and standard tourist stuff. Fish fanatics will appreciate the stall on the quay. Buy locally caught turbot, whiting and skate in season to frazzle on the BBQ later, or some fresh snacks to nibble on there and then – polystyrene cup, plastic fork – you know the drill. For Sainsbury’s or Waitrose drive to Christchurch.

Click here for more pubs, restaurants and places to eat & drink in Dorset

Open

Early March – end October.

The Damage

Up to £450 per week for 4 people.

Getting There

From Mudeford Quay a boat ferries to and from the sand spit about every 15 minutes, taking 3 minutes and costing about £4 for an average family. Parking is extra. Younger kids prefer the Noddy train option. Park up at Hengistbury Head, paying £15 a day for this privilege, then hop on the brightly coloured train (01202 425517), which deposits you near the beach huts about every quarter of an hour.