This panorama was taken near the entrance to Poole Harbour in Dorset. The images were shot from a small speed-boat one moderately calm afternoon as a sailing yacht was powering back into the harbour. You can also see Brownsea Island, the Sandbanks Ferry and Sandbanks.

Poole Harbour - Poole visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Poole Harbour' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Dorset.

Poole Harbour in Dorset is one of the largest natural harbours on earth, formed by flooding of a valley at the end of the last Ice Age, leaving several islands. It has been an important harbour since pre-Roman times providing livings and trade routes to both Poole and Wareham in the past. Today Poole Harbour is a major tourist attraction in the area, attracting thousands of tourists. Some of the popular attractions include:

• Brownsea Island - the largest island in Poole Harbour, owned by the National Trust with campsites, peacocks and a castle.
• Wind Surfing and Kite Surfing - especially in the Whitely Lake / Blackpool part of the harbour where the waters are very shallow.
• RNLI Headquarters - Royal National Lifeboat Institute HQ near to the center of Poole, often having displays and exhibitions.
• Night Diving - in the entrance to the harbour at slack tide before the ferry starts in the morning.
• Arne Peninsula - nature reserve with various walking trails to Patchins Point and other sites.
• Bramble Bush Bay Beach - on the western side of Sandbanks Peninsula near the harbour entrance.
• Poole Harbour Ferry - car ferry offering good views over the harbour as it runs between Sandbanks and Shell Bay.
• Harbour Tours - offered by Blue Line Cruises Ltd and others, often leaving from Poole Quay providing tours around Poole Harbour and out to Old Harry Rocks.
• Poole Museum - for archaeology and history of Poole Harbour and surrounding, including the Poole Logboat, which is over 2,000 years old.
• Poole Quay - restaurants, boat cruises, bars, shops, hotels and holiday apartments.

Poole Harbour is managed by the Poole Harbour Commissioners:
Poole Harbour Commissioners
20 New Quay Road
Hamworthy
Poole BH15 4AF
Phone: +44 (0)1202 440200

Boat: Poole Harbour contains longstay moorings both within several marinas and within the wider harbour.
Car: The entrance to Poole Harbour is at the end of Ferry Road on Shell Bay and the B3369 on Sandbanks.