To provide you with the best experience on this website, cookies are used. By using the site it's assumed that you're happy with our use of cookies. However, you can change your cookie settings at any time. More info on cookies.
Allow cookies

Search Things to Do

Type:
Location:
Keyword:

Itinerary Planner

Plan your visit to Dorset using the '+ Itinerary Planner' button. Add to Excursion

Select items throughout the site to build an itinerary of your choice.

Fun and games

Fun and games

Weymouth Beach.

Beaches in Dorset

If spending a day on the beach building sandcastles, swimming in the sea and lazing around with your family in the hot summer sun sounds like your idea of a fantastic holiday, Dorset is home to some of the best beaches in south England.

With sandy beaches aplenty, you can while away the hours and soak up the sunshine in the most stunning surroundings. Look at our superb video footage of the beautiful Dorset coastline and see just some of the breathtaking scenery you can enjoy. 

With so many fantastic family friendly beaches you'll have trouble deciding which one to visit first! We'll leave the deciding up to you.

 **Cliff Falls - Take Care!**
Recent heavy rainfall has made the cliffs along the Dorset coast far more unstable than normal. When visiting one of our beaches, please keep away from the base of the cliffs and take heed of any warning signs - they are there for your safety. Please visit our Beach Safety page for more information.

Please download our new Guide to West Dorset beaches and coastal activities.

Number of items:

Number of items: 32

, currently showing 1 to 10.

Sort By:
  1. Swanage Beach Bungalows

    Add Swanage Beach Bungalows to your Itinerary

    Swanage Beach Bungalows

    Type

    Beach

    Swanage

    Beach huts are let on a daily or weekly basis. They are a popular feature and are provided with a table, four chairs and an electricity power point enabling you to have some comforts whilst gazing out to sea. Hire a beach hut, and your trips to the beach are made easier without having to take all...

  2. Swanage Spa Beach Huts

    Add Swanage Spa Beach Huts to your Itinerary

    Swanage Spa Beach Huts

    Type

    Beach

    Swanage

    Beach huts are let on a daily or weekly basis. They are a popular feature and are provided with a table, four chairs and an electricity power point enabling you to have some comforts whilst gazing out to sea. Hire a beach hut, and your trips to the beach are made easier without having to take all...

  3. None

    Add Chesil Beach to your Itinerary

    Chesil Beach

    Type

    Natural Feature

    Chesil Beach is 18 miles (28 kilometres) long and, on average, 160 metres wide and rises to 12 metres in height. It is a pebble and shingle tombolo connecting Portland to Abbotsbury and then continuing north-westwards to West Bay near Bridport. It is the largest tombolo in the UK.

    The pebbles...

  4. None

    Add Friars Cliff Beach to your Itinerary

    Friars Cliff Beach

    Type

    Beach

    Friars Cliff, CHRISTCHURCH

    Location- Located in the area known as Friars Cliff, between Avon Beach and Steamer Point Beach, just East of Mudeford Village.
    Best Features- Clean sandy beaches, safe swimming and magnificent views of Isle of Wight and Christchurch Bay.
    Watersports- Canoeing, boardsailing and dinghies
    Disabled...

  5. Fine Foundation Chesil Beach Centre

    Add Fine Foundation Chesil Beach Centre to your Itinerary

    Fine Foundation Chesil Beach Centre

    Type

    Country Park/Nature Reserve

    Portland

    Managed by Dorset Wildlife Trust, the centre's exciting displays and programme of activities will help you make the most of your visit to Chesil Beach and Portland.

    The Centre has a shop, wildlife events and activities, a bridge across the Fleet Lagoon to the Chesil Beach plus amazing views of...

  6. Brownsea Island

    Add Brownsea Island to your Itinerary

    Brownsea Island

    Type

    Country Park/Nature Reserve

    POOLE

    Brownsea Island is located at the centre of Poole Harbour offering spectacular views across to Studland and the Purbeck Hills. Habitats include pinewoods (home to the increasingly rare red squirrel), heathland and a lagoon with important populations of wading and sea birds. It’s varied and...

  7. Shell Bay

    Add Studland Beach and Nature Reserve to your Itinerary

    Studland Beach and Nature Reserve

    Type

    Beach

    Studland

    Fine sandy beaches stretch continuously for 3 miles from South Haven Point to the chalk cliffs of Handfast Point and Old Harry Rocks and include Shell Bay. A designated section of naturist beach is at Knoll beach. The heathland behind the beach is a National Nature Reserve with many rare birds....

  8. Seatown beach

    Add Seatown Beach to your Itinerary

    Seatown Beach

    Type

    Beach

    Lyme Regis

    A steep shelving beach with pebbles and shingle.

  9. Lyme Regis beach

    Add Lyme Regis Beaches to your Itinerary

    Lyme Regis Beaches

    Type

    Beach

    Lyme Regis

    Lyme regis is a picturesque and historic seaside town set in an area of outstanding natural beauty. A town of steep streets, its most outstanding feature is a delightful 13th century harbour known as the Cobb.

    The beaches in Lyme regis are a mixture of sand and pebbles. Monmouth beach is very...

  10. None

    Add Mudeford Sandbank to your Itinerary

    Mudeford Sandbank

    Type

    Beach

    Mudeford, CHRISTCHURCH

    Location- A spit of land which adjoins Hengistbury Head
    Best Feature- A unique spit of land which adjoins Hengistbury Head and forms a natural barrier between Christchurch Harbour and the open sea. Fantastic ciews of the Isle of Wight.
    Disabled access- The Sandbank is accessible by land train...