Brownsea Island / Castle (Poole, Dorset)

[RedSquirrelsAreAwesome]

Hello,

On a whim we have booked to stay at Brownsea Castle on Brownsea Island for 4 nights in July. It looks lovely and the red squirrels really swung it for me! We have a newborn baby and after thinking again DH is saying we need to cancel it because of the hassle of the ferry and maybe needing to take two trips there and back to bring over the stuff we need. He’s worried about leaving his van in the car park. Then he’s saying about Covid even though they are running at reduced capacity and dining areas are all separated and all the safety measures are in place. I have been really looking forward to this trip. It will be lovely to go out and about with the baby on nature walks and I would be so disappointed to cancel it.

Have you been before?
Did you enjoy it?
Is the ferry easy enough to use?
Is it worth me trying to persuade DH to go or will I regret the earache if he finds something about it he doesn’t like?! DH has form for changing his mind about things just after he’s agreed to it!

[RedSquirrelsAreAwesome]

Thanks everyone I’m finding this really interesting, we’ll get there one day I hope!

@SinkGirl - It was really easy to book on the partner choice website!

[HappyHappyHippocampus]

@secretburper

Not stayed but we visited brown sea island , really enjoyed a walk around it . The squirrels are great I'm not sure I would like to stay there as after once or twice around to look I'm not sure what I would want to do next , sounds like quite an expensive 4 nights with nothing to do ( and I'm an outdoorsy type )
As previous people say it's a boat not a ferry , easy to use but we didn't have a baby , I'm sure if an emergency happened you wouldn't be stranded , someone would pick you up (coastguard )

They have a private beach at the castle and parkland with games and all sorts. I think we did a frisbee golf course!

[secretburper]

A few photos

[SinkGirl]

But if you’re bored by the island you could just get the boat over to sandbanks or to Poole for the day and then there’s so many options! It’s not like you’re stuck there except for overnight. I dream of staying there, maybe one day!

How difficult was it to book if you work for Waitrose OP? Wondering if my locals have any part time jobs... would be worth it 😬

[secretburper]

Not stayed but we visited brown sea island , really enjoyed a walk around it . The squirrels are great I'm not sure I would like to stay there as after once or twice around to look I'm not sure what I would want to do next , sounds like quite an expensive 4 nights with nothing to do ( and I'm an outdoorsy type )
As previous people say it's a boat not a ferry , easy to use but we didn't have a baby , I'm sure if an emergency happened you wouldn't be stranded , someone would pick you up (coastguard )

[SinkGirl]

For future reference, have a look at the Deryan pop up travel cots. They are absolutely amazing and make life much easier when travelling. They fold down into a very small bag. I’m sure you wouldn’t have had to do two trips (the boats aren’t tiny!). Definitely book for another time - I am so jealous!

[RedSquirrelsAreAwesome]

Hi everyone,

Thank you all for your posts. Brownsea sounds absolutely lovely and I’m determined we will get there one day! In the meantime I’m going to look at the wildlife cam!
Please don’t worry about putting me off
Ilovemaisie it was for the best in the end. DH was already having second thoughts and when he knew it was a boat that really put the tin hat on it! Luggage wise we weren’t going to be packing huge amounts but it was the baby’s wheely crib (she sleeps really well in it) we wanted to take along too and with the pram and the suitcase it would take 2 trips so any type of inconvenience really puts DH’s back up!

I am a Waitrose partner and luckily am entitled to the benefits, it was the first partner hotel I’d booked but it won’t be the last!

[Emelene]

I love Brownsea so much. Wish I could stay in the castle. I wouldn’t cancel, people live on the island all year. It’s a magical place. I’m not part of John Lewis but I have a dream to stay in one of the cottages for one of our wedding anniversaries. We do go on day trips there quite regularly.

[SappysCurry]

@Mugsen
I know ❤️was watching them quite late last night ❤️ looked like the one in the hut just wanted to chill and the others were disturbing him wanting a rave

Do you remember the deer that swam across from the island and was on the beach at Shore Road?
Up until then I had no idea deer could swim

[SappysCurry]

@Ellmau

The best squirrel spotting is in the little nature reserve that you pay a bit more to go into.

If you’re a Dorset wildlife trust member that is an allowed you can go Into The hide and watch them at the feeding stations it’s brilliant 🐿 They’re crazy and so tiny ❤️
I love the way squirrels always look like they have been busted doing something naughty (which generally they have 😂) they have a permanent ‘guilty’ expression

[Ilovemaisie]

I feel really bad that I put you off the idea OP.
Please accept my apologies and if you get there say hello to the peacocks from me.

[HappyHappyHippocampus]

Have we managed to find out of you can stay there without being a JL partner yet? If so, I’m on the next boat over.

Like you @SinkGirl I have very fond memories of being there with my late Mum. There’s nothing I wouldn’t give to stay there again.

[CornishGem1975]

Shame you've cancelled. As others have said, it's literally a 10 min boat trip. Right next to where the boat docks is a Tesco store where you could get all baby essentials. No big drama. It's a lovely place.

[Ellmau]

The best squirrel spotting is in the little nature reserve that you pay a bit more to go into.

[CliftonGreenYork]

Such a fabulous place to stay. £60 a night including Dinner, Breakfast, Lunch and Afternoon Tea. The drinks are cost price and the rooms are amazing.

[Jijithecat]

I'd be there like a shot if I could. New born babies are so portable, if you're thinking you might need to do two trips for luggage you're packing too much.
Don't cancel!

[Mugsen]

Aw how lovely are those webcams!

[SmithfamilyRobinson]

Yes also married to an (ex/retired) John Lewis partner. John Lewis provided two ferries; one to Poole and the other shorter one to Sandbanks. We parked at the latter. We saw red squirrels in the garden in May/June. The island is magical. Probably the nicest in the partnership- although Bala in Wales was fab!

[SappysCurry]

@SinkGirl
💐 that’s lovely, sorry for your loss

[SappysCurry]

www.dorsetaonb.org.uk/park-event/brownsea-island-wildlife-webcams/


This might do us all for now….

Aaaw the birds getting ready for the night ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[SinkGirl]

I haven’t actually been over there for years. We have twins, both autistic, haven’t dared take them on a boat! Been almost six years since my mum died and I haven’t actually been there since. Maybe this summer we will take them. It’s so beautiful there. Probably not right now though (weather is bloody miserable).

And I can’t believe people have been without seeing any wildlife. The main thing I remember about it is the peacocks - usually shagging loudly. And the squirrels.

(Also vicious mosquitos - be warned!)

[Ilovemaisie]

I really want to go to Brownsea now.
And I mean now . So what if it's half 9 at night, cold, rainy and I live 3 and a half hours away....
If the ferry/boat isn't running I will belly flop my way there.

[SinkGirl]

Wait, can you stay there now if you don’t work for John Lewis?!

I am in love with Brownsea. It’s one of my favourite places on Earth. When I was little my mum used to be in the Shakespeare play there every year so I spent a lot of time there at rehearsals, building the sets, wandering round. I dreamt of getting married in the beautiful little church there, but you can’t unless you live there. Brownsea is stunning.

A friend of mine used to work in the cafe and live there - they used to row over to the quay to get pissed and then row back 😬

Yeah it’s really not a ferry like you might be imagining but please don’t cancel. Pack things like calpol, obviously if there was a medical emergency they could get to you!

When my mum died we hired a boat to go on a cruise, went to wareham and then came back and released her ashes in view of Brownsea.

It’s awesome, don’t miss out! I would love to stay there and I only live 10 mins away from Poole quay 😂

[Ilovemaisie]

Waveif I think he actually swam all the way around the island first and then to the island.

[SappysCurry]

Plus there is A LOT of boat traffic there isn’t there ? I’d be terrified 🥺