What it's actually like

Come down the woodland path through Branksome Dene Chine and the bay opens up in front of you. A chine, if you are not from round here, is our word for a steep-sided gorge a stream has cut through the soft cliffs to the sea, and there is a string of them along this bit of Dorset.

At the bottom is a long sandy beach split by rock groynes, with Bournemouth's cliffs running away to the east and the Purbeck hills on the horizon to the west. On a summer Sunday it is beach huts, a kiosk and buckets and spades. Give it a south-westerly and a grey winter sky and it becomes one of the sea spots Poole's windsurfers head for first, and that is the version of this beach I live for.

Branksome Chine, about 500 metres west, is the other launch, with its own car park, the seasonal beach office, a beach shop and a restaurant.

Your month

When it's good

12 kt+ for 3+ daylight hours · kite

January · 58%. 18 rideable days in 31, 6.2 hours a day over 12 kt. Bring a book.

At a glance

Is it for you?

Skill levelBring your A-game

WaterMixed bag

Wind · JanUsually turns up

Crowds · JanRoom to ride

Local vibeWelcoming

Water qualityUsually clean

NightlifeA bar or two

CostMid

Geek analysis

January in the record

58% of days clear 12 kt for three daylight hours or more.

Where the wind sits

Share of daylight hours in each speed band. Blue clears the bar.

4–710

8–1132

12–1536

16–1918

20–234

24–270

28–310

When in the day

The trades are a clock. A dawn session is a different spot.

8am

9

10

11

12pm

1pm

2

3

4

5

6pm

January on the record

The month's own figures, not the year's average.

Rideable days18 of 31Worst 10 in 1992, best 24 in 2007

Strongest gust65Kt

Air8.3°CMaximum

Record 1940 to 2026Normals 1991 to 2020Open-Meteo, CERRA

Take it with you

The full Branksome Dene Beach report

Eight sections over six to eight pages, built from the same record as this page. A PDF you can read on the plane.

01Hour-by-hour & month-by-month wind02The month's own records03Full stays, schools & kit04Per-launch tide windows05Groynes, currents & shorebreak06Getting there, packing & best months07Sources, and their limits

Three free reports with an account, then premium.

When it gets busy

Crowds

Jan · Low

Busy all summer, when Branksome Chine is lifeguarded and the bathing flags are up. From November to March it goes quiet, and the beach is back to the locals.

On the water

What January usually does

Wind directionSWSide-shore from the right and clean off the open bay. The one we wait for.

Wind strength15 to 25 ktPoole’s published range for September to November, and 18 to 30 kt from December to March. The record counts a day from 12 kt.

When it blowsWith the frontsWinter wind rides in on Atlantic weather, not by the clock. A falling tide is when the waves start to stand up.

Your playground

Launches & safety

Local intel

Getting there & on the ground

Nearest airportBournemouth (BOH)At Hurn, about four miles north-north-east of Bournemouth.

On the groundOctober to FebruaryThe months the Atlantic fronts bring the south-westerlies.

Getting aroundCar, bus or trainBranksome station is 1.2 miles away and Morebus buses serve the beach. Council pay and display at the chine.

Stay, schools & kit

Who works this beach

Easy RidersSchoolKite · WingKite, wing and foil lessons from the Sandbanks Beach Club on Shore Road.Photo: Carrie Fulker via Google

The Watersports AcademySchoolWindsurf · WingWindsurf and wing lessons in the shallow harbour, 15 Banks Road, Sandbanks.Photo: Imogene Meyer via Google

Poole Harbour WatersportsSchoolWindsurf · WingWindsurf and wing tuition from Sandbanks Road, Lilliput.Photo: Poole Harbour Watersports via Google

Shaka SurfSchoolSurf · SUPOn this beach. Surfing and paddleboarding, no wind sports.Photo: Shaka Surf Branksome via Google

Did I miss something out?Send it straight to me. I wrote this page.