Brownsea Island is closed for winter and reopens on Saturday 13 March 2027. Ferries from Poole Quay, red squirrels, the no-dogs rule and what it costs.
Brownsea Island is closed for the winter. The National Trust shut the island at the end of the 2026 season on Sunday 1 November and says it will reopen on Saturday 13 March 2027. Until then there are no public ferries, the café is shut and you cannot land as a day visitor.
That makes now the time to plan rather than go. Brownsea sits in Poole Harbour, a short boat ride from Poole Quay, and is best known for its red squirrels, its lagoon full of wading birds and as the place Robert Baden-Powell ran the first Scout camp in 1907. This page covers when to visit, the ferry, what it costs, the dog rule and how to give yourself the best chance of seeing a squirrel. Everything was checked on the National Trust’s own Brownsea pages and its places data on 3 November 2026.
When Brownsea Island is open
In 2026 the island was open daily from Saturday 14 March to Sunday 1 November, 10am to 5pm, with the Villano Café open 10am to 4.45pm. The Trust has confirmed only the 2027 reopening date so far, 13 March; expect similar hours, but check the National Trust’s Brownsea page before you travel, especially early and late in the season.
There is no winter opening: from November to mid-March the island is closed to day visitors.
Getting there: the ferry from Poole Quay
The only way on is by boat. The Trust’s travel page directs visitors to the foot ferry from Poole Quay, run by Greenslade Pleasure Boats (the orange and white boats). In 2026:
- the crossing took about 20 minutes;
- boats left Poole Quay hourly from 10am, except at 1pm, with the last at 4pm;
- boats left Brownsea at half past each hour from 10.30am, with the last at 5pm;
- tickets were first come, first served, with no pre-booking except for groups of 15 or more;
- a ticket did not guarantee a place on a particular sailing.
The Trust warns that the 5pm boat back is often busy, so aim for an earlier one at weekends and in school holidays. If you bring a pushchair, you carry it on and off yourself; staff are not available to help. The 2027 timetable has not been published; Greenslade sets it.
Parking: the Trust points drivers to the Quay Visitors multi-storey car park (BH15 1SB). Vehicles 1.9m or taller should use the surface car parks at Baiter, about a 15-minute walk from the quay (BH15 1UX). Poole station is half a mile from the quay. Check our Dorset roadworks and travel page before you set off.
What it costs
Everyone pays the ferry fare, including National Trust members. Non-members also pay island admission at Visitor Reception when they land. The Trust’s 2026 prices (it has not yet published 2027 prices):
| Return ferry (Greenslade) | Island admission (non-members) | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | £14.50 | £12 |
| Child 5 to 17 | £6 | £6 |
| Family (2 adults, up to 3 children) | Adult and child fares | £30 |
| Under 5 | Free | Free |
So two non-member adults paid £53 for the day in 2026, and two National Trust members £29. Bring your membership card to show at Visitor Reception. Carers and companions get in free with the Trust’s Essential Companion card, but still pay the ferry. Gift Aid is not available on entry here.
No dogs on Brownsea
Dogs are not allowed on the island at all. The Trust says Brownsea is a nationally important nature reserve and home to endangered red squirrels, and the only exception is assistance dogs, which must be clearly identifiable. Older guides that mention dogs on the beach are out of date. If you are bringing a dog to Poole for the day, plan for someone to stay with it on the mainland.
Seeing the red squirrels
Brownsea is one of the few places in southern England where red squirrels still live wild, because grey squirrels never reached the island. A ranger quoted by Swanage News put the population at around 250.
Autumn is the favourite time to look, because the squirrels spend much of the day on the ground and in low branches gathering and burying food for winter. With the island shut from November, that means September and October. The National Trust also notes that quieter, rainy days give a good chance of a sighting, because there are fewer people about.
A few things help on any day:
- walk the woodland trails slowly and stop often, listening for scratching on bark;
- look on the ground and along low branches, not only high in the canopy;
- arrive on the first boat or stay for a later one, when paths are quieter;
- keep to the paths and never feed them.
The lagoon and the birds
Brownsea’s lagoon is one of the best places in Dorset to watch wading birds from a hide. The Trust lists dunlin, kingfishers, common and Sandwich terns and oystercatchers among the birds on the island. Part of the island, including the lagoon reserve, is managed by the Dorset Wildlife Trust, and visitors to the National Trust side can visit the Dorset Wildlife Trust area too. Take binoculars. If birds are your main interest, our page on Abbotsbury Swannery covers another of the county’s great bird sites, which also reopens in spring.
Planning a 2027 visit
- Pick a date from 13 March 2027 onwards and check the Trust’s page that morning for weather closures.
- Allow most of a day. Between the queue, the crossing and the trails, three to four hours on the island is comfortable.
- Bring a picnic or use the café. The Trust runs a “bin free” island: take your rubbish home.
- Wear proper shoes. Trails cross woodland and heath; some are uneven.
- Leave the dog at home.
For more ideas around the harbour and the coast, our guide to visiting Portland Bill covers another day out on the Dorset coast.
Frequently asked questions
Is Brownsea Island open now? No. Brownsea Island closed for the 2026 season on 1 November and the National Trust says it will reopen on Saturday 13 March 2027.
How do you get to Brownsea Island? By foot ferry from Poole Quay, run by Greenslade Pleasure Boats. In 2026 boats left hourly from 10am, except 1pm, and the crossing took about 20 minutes. There is no pre-booking for day visitors.
How much does it cost to visit Brownsea Island? In 2026 the return ferry was £14.50 for an adult and £6 for a child, and non-members also paid island admission of £12 an adult, £6 a child or £30 for a family. National Trust members pay the ferry only. Under 5s are free.
Can you take dogs to Brownsea Island? No. Dogs are not allowed anywhere on the island, except clearly identifiable assistance dogs.
When is the best time to see red squirrels on Brownsea? Autumn, when they are busy gathering food, so September and October before the island closes. Quiet and rainy days help, because there are fewer visitors on the trails.
How long do you need on Brownsea Island? Three to four hours is comfortable for the trails, the lagoon hides and lunch. The last boat back in 2026 left at 5pm, and it is often the busiest.
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