Brownsea Island
Poole Harbour
This beautiful island in Poole harbour was the model for Enid Blyton’s ‘Whispering Island’ and is nowadays home to a good selection of wildlife including peacocks, rare red squirrels and any number of wading birds. It’s a magical place to take a picnic and explore its wooded coves and inlets. The ferry journey there is half the fun, but the island itself is a wonderful (car-free) place for children to run free, climb trees and swim from its beaches. Boats run from Sandbanks or Poole Quay