A waterfront bungalow, one of only three homes in the whole of Purbeck on the shores of Poole Harbour in Dorset, has just gone up for sale for the first time ever for a cool £4 million.
Shipstal, which has its own slipway, boathouse and mooring, is right next to a ‘secret’ beach which has been named amongst the best in the country and looks like it would not be out of place in the Caribbean.
Shipstal Point’s secret beach, which is reached via a 30 minute walk from RSPB Arne
Spoonbills nest just north of the property and can often be seen from the garden
Nesting site for exotic spoonbills
The single storey, three bedroom home has a large terrace to make the most of its spectacular vista across the harbour with views out to Brownsea Island, Round Island and a protected nesting site for exotic spoonbills across the waters of Arne Bay.
Shipstal Point, right alongside the property, is a natural white sand beach with shady oak woodland behind which is home to owls and woodpeckers and where it is common to see deer wandering unafraid in heathland.
Although it can be reached on foot through beautiful heathland in about half an hour from the car park at RSPB Arne, it is more often than not deserted except for occasional bird watchers who use nearby bird hides to study and photograph the rare breeds which flock to the harbour.
Arne Bay is famous for its white tailed sea eagles and ospreys, but is also home to avocets and egrets, waders and wildfowl, while nightjars, stonechats and the rare Dartford warbler can be heard, if not always seen, in the heathland around Shipstal Point.
Shipstal bungalow was built on the site of two fishermen’s cottages in the 1960s
The private, no through road leading down to Shipstal Point on the edge of Poole Harbour
“A beautiful and unique setting”
Jamie Morten of Savills estate agency, said:
“Shipstal is a very special property in an amazing location, which is on the open market for the first time since being built in the 1960s.
“It is an incredibly rare opportunity to buy a home in such a beautiful and unique setting with truly spectacular views which change with the seasons, and surrounded by such a wealth of wildlife.
“The home was built to make the most of the views from its reception rooms, with terraces, a log cabin studio and outside seating area to make the most of the sun throughout the day.
“Sunrises at Shipstal are absolutely glorious, with the sun rising up across the harbour and setting behind the house – it’s the perfect place for entertaining and as you can imagine, there have been many birthdays, weddings and other family celebrations held here over the years.”
Established gardens and a sweeping driveway lead to the £4 million bungalow
The bungalow’s conservatory with its outstanding views of Poole Harbour
“Magical place for children to grow up”
Jamie added:
“It really is such a privilege to bring this stunning waterfront home to the market for the first time ever – it is one of only three private homes which have a direct frontage to the western shore of Poole Harbour as opposed to the eastern side where, of course, you have Sandbanks.
“Shipstal was built in the 1960s on the site of two fishermen’s cottages and has been owned by the same family for more than 60 years, a magical place for their children and grandchildren to grow up. Only now is it coming to the market for the first time.
“The waterfront home is sheltered by the inner harbour, looks out across the water to Brownsea and other islands, and has both a slipway and the availability of a deep water mooring just off shore from the house – that’s a rare combination.
“And while Shipstal is in a very private setting, at the end of a no through road leading through Arne nature reserve and behind high, electronic gates, it is within easy reach of Swanage, Wareham and, importantly, a mainline railway station with London Waterloo just over two hours away.”
Shipstal’s boat house has direct access to the slipway into the harbour
The bungalow also has a deep water mooring just off shore
Boat house beneath the bungalow
Shipstal’s front door opens into the wooden floored entrance hall, with double doors into the sitting room with wide picture windows on two sides to provide spectacular views onto the harbour. There is a feature stone fireplace and a full height chimney breast with log burner.
A wide archway leads through to the dining room and conservatory, also with harbour views, and there is also a kitchen breakfast room, and access to a wide covered veranda at the rear, which the owners have long used for early evening drinks.
Three double bedrooms, each with its own shower room, are in a separate wing of the bungalow, the master bedroom enjoying garden views through large double windows, while the second bedroom has a fantastic harbour view.
Outside, a long driveway has a turning circle with parking for several cars and leads down to a boat house or garage built on the lower ground floor beneath the bungalow. Its rear doors open straight onto the garden and a private slipway into Poole Harbour.
An original 1960s Finnish sauna is housed in the property’s log cabin
The garden cabin itself has been used as both a home office and an occasional bedroom
Original 1960s Finnish sauna cabin
At the end of the garden is a log cabin garden studio, which has been used both as an inspirational home office and an occasional bedroom, which also has an original 1960s Finnish sauna cabin imported by the owner directly from Finland.
The mature gardens extend to more than three quarters of an acre and include azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias which thrive in the acid soil, along with a number of specimen trees including a Mediterranean maritime pine tree which helps to frame the view.
Shipstal has oil fired central heating with solar panels on the roof and a petrol powered generator which can provide electricity in the event of a power cut.
There is mains electricity and water, although the property also has a private well which is used to water the garden. Private drainage is via a septic tank.
The kitchen is well equipped and also serves as a breakfast room
Shipstal’s main living room makes the most of its stunning views
Home to Springwatch for two years
RSPB Arne, which was home to the BBC’s Winterwatch and Springwatch programmes for two years until 2025, has almost 1,500 acres of nature reserve on rare lowland heath, ancient oak woodland and saltmarsh.
It has become famous for the rare birds which live on and visit the reserve, and is renowned for its thriving population of rare birds, becoming a haven for thousands of wildfowl and waders including avocets, black tailed godwits and curlews every winter.
White tailed sea eagles and osprey have returned to hunt in Poole Harbour in recent years, with Britain’s most watched ospreys, CJ7 and 022, setting up home at Carey’s Secret Garden in Wareham where they have successfully hatched a record four chicks in both 2024 and 2025.
RSPB Arne is also one of the very few places where all six native species of British reptiles live, including smooth snakes, sand lizards, and slow worms.
An aerial view of the property looks out to Round Island and Brownsea Island
The dining room at Shipstal has seen many family feasts over the years
The master bedroom has gorgeous garden views
The en suite, double shower room of the master bedroom
The property is well screened, with its garden coming right down to Shipstal Point beach
