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Welcome to the Itinerary Planner. Use this tool to build your own journey or choose from an exciting range of specially selected tours.

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  1. Enjoy a walk along Sandbanks Beach at any time of year
    Enjoy a walk along Sandbanks Beach at any time of year
  2. Views from Friars Cliff Beach towards Mudeford Quay
    Views from Friars Cliff Beach towards Mudeford Quay
  3. Studland Bay and beaches
    Studland Bay and beaches

You are here: Explore > Coast and Beaches > Dorset Beaches

Dorset Beaches

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Highlights

Looking for a fantastic beach break but feel your only option is to go abroad? Think again, because Dorset has many beautiful beaches along our 100 miles of coastline. So it won’t cost the earth (or break the bank) to feel soft sand and clear blue sea gently lap over your feet.

The huge variety of beaches makes Dorset’s coastline one of the most inspiring and spectacular stretches of coast found anywhere in the UK.

Fabulous beaches

Every beach has its own unique charm and character to explore - from miles of sweeping golden sand to secluded private coves and everything in between.

Build sandcastles, take a swim, walk the stunning coast path or just sit back and enjoy the views - we know you'll have a great day out.

Lyme Regis lies on the Dorset and Devon border and continues to be enjoyed by all ages. Home to glorious golden sand, stunning scenery and safe bathing waters protected by the famous Cobb, Lyme Regis makes for a wonderful day at the seaside.

Eagle eyed visitors to West Bay may recognise it as the setting for ITV’s award winning drama Broadchurch. With its iconic cliffs, West Bay provides a breath-taking backdrop for a wonderful day at the beach.

View our fantastic Dorset Beach & Coast video - we’re sure you’ll be inspired to visit.

Family friendly

Dorset is the place to come for award winning beaches. The county boasts 25 Blue Flag and Seaside Award beaches.

Soft golden sands and safe bathing waters make Weymouth a fabulous family holiday destination. With a number of beaches to choose from, Weymouth with its Georgian architecture along the esplanade really is a slice of the traditional British seaside. Enjoy a stroll along the promenade, donkey rides on the beach or watch a Punch and Judy show to entertain young and old.

Swanage beach with its large stretches of golden sand and sheltered bay is known for its clear water and family-friendly designated swimming areas. This traditional seaside resort has been enjoyed by families since Victorian times and features a beautifully restored pier and promenade.

In the east of the county, the famous sandy beaches of Poole and Bournemouth are nestled beneath a magnificent cliff line. Stretching along the coastline for 10 golden miles, all the way from Sandbanks to Hengistbury Head. From the headland, you can hop on a foot passenger ferry across Christchurch Harbour to Mudeford and Highcliffe beaches or travel on one of the land trains or boat trips and enjoy the views.

Discover Dorset's less visited beaches

If you are looking to avoid the crowds, there are many lesser known beaches to visit along our coastline. Because they are more secluded, you won't find beachside cafes, shops or showers and you may need to walk a little further to get there, but it will definitely be worth the effort.

Check out our blog with 6 beautiful beaches to discover.

Have fun & stay safe

We encourage everyone to enjoy the spectacular coastline and beaches in Dorset safely.

We have has teamed up with the wonderful SafeWise charity and the Dorset Coast Forum who have created an animation to promote coastal safety in a fun way to children called CoastWise - check it out and remember to share these helpful tips with your family and friends.

Book a beach hut

What is more traditional than a beach hut at the British seaside. Did you know some of the earliest beach huts to be built in the UK were at Bournemouth - built either side of Bournemouth Pier in 1909?

Beach huts can be hired by the day or for the duration of your stay.

Dorset beach hut locations include: Swanage, Lyme Regis, Avon Beach, Mudeford, Poole, Bournemouth, Boscombe and Southbourne.

Luxury beach huts where you can stay overnight are located in Bournemouth and Mudeford.

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Number of results: 37

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  1. Durdle Door beach, Dorset

    Add Durdle Door to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 4005 reviews4005 reviews

    Durdle Door

    Type

    Type:

    Beach

    WEST LULWORTH

    Durdle Door is one of Dorset’s most photographed and iconic landmarks. It is part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and is an extremely popular beauty spot.

    Free
  2. Knoll Beach and Studland Bay

    Add Studland Bay to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 1315 reviews1315 reviews

    Studland Bay

    Type

    Type:

    Beach

    STUDLAND

    The National Trust car parks are open at Shell Bay, Knoll Beach, Middle Beach and South Beach from 9am to 5pm. Toilets are open at Shell Bay, Knoll Beach and Middle Beach. There are limited spaces, so if the car park is full please come back another…

    Free
  3. Family fun, Weymouth Beach

    Add Weymouth Beach to your Itinerary

    Weymouth Beach

    Type

    Type:

    Beach

    WEYMOUTH

    Weymouth’s sheltered bay, gradual sloping seabed and exquisite waters offer swimmers, bathers and water sports enthusiast’s idyllic and safe conditions to enjoy. The internationally recognised beach is a frequent host to festivals, sporting…

  4. Swanage Beach Huts

    Add Swanage Beach Huts to your Itinerary

    Swanage Beach Huts

    Type

    Type:

    Beach

    SWANAGE

    Swanage Beach huts are let daily, weekly or longer term. Hire a beach hut, and your trips to the beach are made easier without having to take all your towels, swimwear and children’s toys down to the beach every day!

  5. Lulworth Cove, in Dorset

    Add Lulworth Cove to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 4005 reviews4005 reviews

    Lulworth Cove

    Type

    Type:

    Natural Feature

    WEST LULWORTH

    The pebble beach and blue waters of Lulworth Cove make it an extremely popular destination. The Cove and surrounding coastline are part of the world famous Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. Low tide reveals wonderful rock pools teeming with sea…

    Free
  6. West Bay East Beach credit James Loveridge

    Add West Bay Beach to your Itinerary

    West Bay Beach

    Type

    Type:

    Beach

    Bridport

    Featured in The Good Beach Guide, West Bay has two beaches, East Beach and West Beach. East Beach is a sloping, shingle beach backed by magnificent sandstone cliffs. West Beach is a smaller, quieter beach popular with young families, the protective…

  7. A Dorset beach

    Add Cogden Beach to your Itinerary

    Cogden Beach

    Type

    Type:

    Beach

    BRIDPORT

    The National Trust car parks at Cogden Beach and Hive Beach are now open. Spaces are limited, so if the car parks are full please come back another time.
    Owned by the National Trust, Cogden Beach, the steep shelving, single beach is located on the…

    Free
  8. Lyme Regis beach

    Add Lyme Regis Beaches to your Itinerary

    Lyme Regis Beaches

    Type

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    Beach

    Lyme Regis

    The beaches in Lyme Regis are a mixture of sand and pebbles. Monmouth beach is very pebbly and shelves. The Front beach is a flat, sandy beach, as is Cobb Gate.

  9. Southbourne beach with message overlay: #RespectProtectEnjoy #LeaveOnlyFootprints

    Add Southbourne Beach to your Itinerary

    Southbourne Beach

    Type

    Type:

    Beach

    Bournemouth

    Southbourne Beach is one of Bournemouth's favourite Blue Flag award winning beaches, particularly loved by the locals for its wide, exceptionally clean, sandy and shingle beaches situated further to the West of Bournemouth, away from the hustle and…

  10. Bournemouth beach with message overlay: #RespectProtectEnjoy #LeaveOnlyFootprints

    Add Boscombe Beach to your Itinerary

    Boscombe Beach

    Type

    Type:

    Beach

    Bournemouth

    Start your adventure on Boscombe exciting, activity packed stretch of award-winning Blue Flag beach - the perfect family playground.

  11. Worbarrow Bay, Tyneham, Dorset

    Add Worbarrow Bay to your Itinerary

    Worbarrow Bay

    Type

    Type:

    Beach

    Tyneham, EAST LULWORTH

    Worbarrow Bay is found 1 mile (walking) from Tyneham village. The Bay and village are now managed by the Ministry of Defence and access is limited.

    Free
  12. durleychine, derley chine, durlee chine,

    Add Durley Chine Beach to your Itinerary

    Durley Chine Beach

    Type

    Type:

    Beach

    Bournemouth

    Durley Chine Beach is one of Bournemouth's favourite Blue Flag award winning beaches, particularly loved by the locals for its wide, exceptionally clean, sandy and shingle beaches situated further to the West of Bournemouth, away from the hustle and…

  13. Chesil Beach fishing

    Add Abbotsbury Beach - Chesil Bank and Fleet Lagoon to your Itinerary

    Abbotsbury Beach - Chesil Bank and Fleet Lagoon

    Type

    Type:

    Beach

    Nr Weymouth

    A shelving beach made up of pebbles and shingle, popular with both local anglers and families for mackerel fishing.

  14. Steps in the cliff

    Add Hengistbury Head to your Itinerary

    Hengistbury Head

    Type

    Type:

    Natural Wildlife Site

    Bournemouth

    Hengistbury Head is a relatively unspoilt and south-facing pebble beach, with imposing clay and ironstone cliffs.

  15. Bournemouth beach with message overlay: #RespectProtectEnjoy #LeaveOnlyFootprints

    Add Bournemouth Beaches to your Itinerary

    Bournemouth Beaches

    Type

    Type:

    Beach

    BOURNEMOUTH

    The beaches at Bournemouth stretch for 7 miles between the coastal towns of Poole and Christchurch.

    All of the beaches are soft sand and very family friendly. They are some of the safest beaches in the UK with RNLI Lifeguards based there…

    Free
  16. Bournemouth beach with message overlay: #RespectProtectEnjoy #LeaveOnlyFootprints

    Add Alum Chine Beach to your Itinerary

    Alum Chine Beach

    Type

    Type:

    Beach

    Bournemouth

    Alum Chine Beach is probably one of Bournemouth's favourite Blue Flag award winning beaches, particularly loved by the locals for its wide, exceptionally clean, sandy and shingle beaches situated further to the West of Bournemouth, away from the…

  17. Friars Cliff Beach, Christchurch - photo courtesy of Phil Cobb

    Add Friars Cliff Beach to your Itinerary

    Friars Cliff Beach

    Type

    Type:

    Beach

    Friars Cliff, CHRISTCHURCH

    This shingle and sand beach is an ideal spot for a family trip to the seaside. Beach huts line the promenade which is accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs.

    Free
  18. Highcliffe Castle Beach

    Add Highcliffe Castle Beach to your Itinerary

    Highcliffe Castle Beach

    Type

    Type:

    Beach

    HIGHCLIFFE, Christchurch

    A beautiful, rural, shingle and sand beach set against tree-lined cliffs.

    Free
  19. View from flats to east side of Kimmeridge Bay

    Add Kimmeridge Bay to your Itinerary

    Kimmeridge Bay

    Type

    Type:

    Natural Feature

    Kimmeridge, WAREHAM

    Kimmeridge Bay lies within a marine Special Area of Conservation and boasts the best rockpooling and safest snorkelling site in Dorset.

    Free
  20. Swanage Beach Dorset

    Add Swanage Beach to your Itinerary

    Swanage Beach

    Type

    Type:

    Beach

    SWANAGE

    Swanage has a gently sloping white sand beach which is sheltered and generally calm. The award winning beach is well served by local businesses providing refreshments and services.

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