Canford Cliffs
Area guide: Alum Chine
Alum Chine as the name suggests, is defined by the winding, natural chine that flows downwards towards the beach from the perimeter of Westbourne village. This beautiful chine is shrouded in tall pine trees and has three bridges, one a noteworthy, ‘wobbly’ suspension bridge built in the early 1900s.
The sandy blue flag beaches of Alum Chine are extremely popular in summer where intense competition for the local beach huts is common. Today the area has its very own beachfront pizzeria, Vesuvio, and an outdoor playground which acts as a popular meeting point for local families and friends, come rain or shine. The cleverly regenerated tropical gardens on the cliffside add colour and interest to this appealing residential area.
For families, nearby Bournemouth schools include the Bournemouth grammar schools and Talbot Heath and Talbot School. The Bournemouth Universities are also accessible by car or bus.
The area is well connected to Bournemouth, located just a short drive away. Bournemouth railway station offers good train services to Bournemouth, Winchester, Southampton Airport Parkway and London Waterloo.
Local Property
Alum Chine was once home to a plethora of guest houses and small hotels offering seaside breaks to plentiful holiday-makers. Today, only a handful of these hotels remain. Most buildings have been redeveloped into apartments and modern family homes.
The high number of modern flats near to shopping facilities, make this area popular with retirees. Priced across the £200,000 - £350,000 range, this is a ‘downsizers’ dream location.
Cliff-top roads with sea views, such as Sandbourne Road, have undergone considerable redevelopment of late. Luxury apartments located on these roads command premium prices and make extremely popular second homes.
Attractive tree-lined residential roads in Alum Chine, like Cassel Avenue, contain family houses with good sized gardens. It is important to consider off-road parking towards the coastal end of Alum Chine: residents compete with increased holiday traffic through-out the summer season.
To view current properties for sale in Alum Chine click here.
