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Rainy day adventures on Brownsea Island

Picture shows children in wellies climbing a tree.
Welly wandering on Brownsea Island, Dorset | © National Trust Images / Annapurna Mellor

In this article, we'll share how to make the most of quieter rainy days on Brownsea Island throughout the year, when you've got a really good chance of seeing a red squirrel in the wild.

With hard paths and wooden walkways across the island, you can get around whatever the weather. On rainy days, there are puddles to jump in and a range of habitats to explore.

The wooded areas offer shelter from the elements and are home to lots of red squirrels, which are much more visible on quieter days.

Rain shelter

Our indoor spaces like the Visitor Centre, Visitor Reception and the island's church are available for you to shelter in should the weather take an unexpected turn.

'50 things...'

There are a few challenges to tick off from your '50 Things to do before you're 11 3/4' list which lend themselves to rainy days too. You can Go Welly wandering, build a den, make a mud creation or discover wild animal clues.

For more information or to see the full list, click here.

Travelling on the ferries

We can't guarantee everyone a space indoors to travel to and from the island. Seating is provided on a first-come, first-served basis so it's best to be prepared for wet weather using our checklist:

  • Waterproof jacket and trousers

  • Wellies or waterproof shoes

  • A change of clothes for little ones

  • Warm jumpers and hats

  • A map of the island so you can navigate to the nearest rain shelter