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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.

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Number of items: 32

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  1. 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...

  2. 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....

  3. Man'O War Beach

    Add Man O' War Beach to your Itinerary

    Man O' War Beach

    Type

    Beach

    WEST LULWORTH

    A very popular beach of sand and fine pebbles on the east side of Durdle Door. The Man O' War and the Door shelter the beach providing safe bathing in shallow water. Parking available at Durdle Door.

  4. Highcliffe Castle

    Add Highcliffe Castle to your Itinerary

    Highcliffe Castle

    Type

    Viewpoint

    Highcliffe, CHRISTCHURCH

    Highcliffe Castle is a magnificent Grade 1 Listed 1830s mansion built by Lord Stuart de Rothesay and is situated just four miles east of Christchurch. The cliff-top grounds, with wonderful views of the Dorset coastline and the Isle of Wight, provide access to the beach and to the Christchurch...

  5. Hive Beach

    Add Burton Bradstock (Hive Beach) to your Itinerary

    Burton Bradstock (Hive Beach)

    Type

    Beach

    Bridport

    A shelving shingle beach, close to the village of Burton Bradstock.

    On a clear day, visitors can enjoy breath taking views round to Portland and right the way round to the East Devon Coast.

  6. A Dorset beach

    Add Cogden Beach to your Itinerary

    Cogden Beach

    Type

    Beach

    Bridport

    Owned by the National Trust, this steep shelving, single beach is located on the coast road between Burton Bradstock and Abbotsbury (B3157). car parking is free with direct access to the beach via a footpath across a field.

    Dogs accepted all year round.

  7. 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...

  8. 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...

  9. Swanage Beach Huts Shore Road

    Add Swanage Beach Huts Shore Road to your Itinerary

    Swanage Beach Huts Shore Road

    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...

  10. Charmouth Beach

    Add Charmouth Beach to your Itinerary

    Charmouth Beach

    Type

    Beach

    Lyme Regis

    This beach is slightly shelving and is made up of pebbles and sand.

    Charmouth is famous, along with Lyme Regis, for its fossils, especially in winter months due to the rough seas. Charmouth is located 2 miles from Lyme Regis and 6 miles from Bridport.

    At the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre...