Brownsea Island Island

Address: Brownsea Island, Poole Harbour, Dorset BH13 6QS, United Kingdom

Website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/brownsea-island

Hours: Ferry schedules vary seasonally; island open during daylight hours; check National Trust site for ferry times

Admission: National Trust day tickets for Brownsea Island vary (approx £12 adult, family and concession rates available); boat crossings extra

Brownsea Island lies in Poole Harbour off the Dorset coast and is managed as a nature reserve and visitor property by the National Trust. The island is historically significant as the location of Robert Baden-Powell’s first Scout camp in 1907 and is important for wildlife, especially red squirrels and seabird colonies.

Visitors travel by ferry from Poole to explore waymarked trails, bird hides and small beaches, and to visit the historic Brownsea Castle. Conservation work on the island focuses on protecting native habitats and species while providing limited visitor facilities.

The island’s mix of heathland, woodland and shoreline makes it a compact but ecologically varied destination within Poole Harbour. Access is controlled by scheduled boat services and National Trust arrangements.

• Scouting history: Site of Robert Baden-Powell’s first Scout camp in 1907, an event central to the founding of the Scouting movement.
• Ownership and conservation: Owned and managed by the National Trust, the island is a protected nature reserve with active conservation programmes for red squirrels and seabirds.

What to See#

• Brownsea Castle: A small coastal castle originally built for harbour defence, later modified and associated with the island’s various private owners.
• Nature reserve and wildlife areas: The island’s nature reserve zones support breeding seabirds and a resident population of red squirrels, with marked paths and hides for wildlife observation.
• Visitor access: Visitor facilities include a small visitor centre and waymarked trails; access is by scheduled ferry services from Poole Harbour.

Ferries run from Sandbanks or Poole Quay to Brownsea Island; crossings are short (10-20 minutes). Ferries operate more frequently in summer and require advance booking for busy days.

• Book ferry crossings in advance during summer - boats from Sandbanks (Poole) sell out.
• Walk clockwise around the island to catch bird hides and the main red‑squirrel habitats early in the day.
• Bring small change for the National Trust kiosk - the café and small shop sell locally produced goods.