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

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

Dorset Beaches

Search Things to Do

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.

Number of results:

Number of results: 37

, currently showing 1 to 20.

Sort By: A-Z Lowest A-Z Highest

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
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
1316 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
Lyme Regis Beaches

Type

Type:

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.
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
4005 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
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!
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…
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
4005 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
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…
Highcliffe Castle Beach

Type

Type:

Beach

HIGHCLIFFE, Christchurch

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

Free
Highcliffe Beach

Type

Type:

Beach

Highcliffe, CHRISTCHURCH

Highcliffe Beach is just a few minutes walk from the village centre and has excellent cliff top parking.

Free
Chesil Beach

Type

Type:

Natural Feature

WEYMOUTH

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…
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.
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
Seatown Beach

Type

Type:

Beach

Lyme Regis

The car park at Seatown is currently open. Seatown is a small coastal hamlet less than a mile from the neighbouring village of Chideock, 3 miles to the west of West Bay. The shingle shelving beach is privately owned and is a favourite amongst…
Hamworthy Park & Beach

Type

Type:

Parks & Gardens

Poole

Hamworthy Park beach offers an oasis of peace and tranquility from the busy town centre.
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…
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
Man O' War Beach

Type

Type:

Beach

WEST LULWORTH

*LATEST UPDATE* The steps down to Man O' War beach are currently closed, however you can stand at the top of the steps to enjoy the view.

Free
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
Fine Foundation Chesil Beach Centre

Type

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.

Free

Search Accommodation

Search What's On

Search Food & Drink

Follow Visit Dorset

thank you

Download our Guide

thank you

Know Before You Go - Covid-19 information We're Good To Go Dorset, Know before you go town centres, Repect, Protect and Enjoy Dorset,	Things To Do Family Friendly, The Jurassic Coast, Dorset Beaches, Dog Friendly, Beach Safety, Fossil Hunting, Be Coastwise, Harbours, Shopping, Active and Outdoor , Families & Children, Heritage & Culture, Animals & Farm Parks, Gardens & Parks, Tours & Boat Trips, Food & Drink Experiences, Entertainment & Arts, Nature and Wildlife,	Accommodation Hotels, Bed & Breakfast, Self Catering, Self Catering Agencies, Dorset Holiday Cottages, Caravan & Holiday Parks, Campsites, Glamping, Pubs & Inns, Farm Stays, Eco Friendly, Group Friendly, Pet Friendly, Accessible, Gradings & Awards,
Shopping Home delivery and online shopping, Keep it local, Markets, Antiques and vintage, Arts and crafts, Clothing and accessories, Food and drink, Shopping areas and retail parks,	Food & Drink Restaurants, Pubs & Bars, Cafes & Coffee Shops, Afternoon Tea, Farmers' Markets, Local Produce, Celebrity Chefs, Food Events, Food & Drink Experiences,	Ideas & Inspiration Special Offers, Visit Dorset Blog, Top 10 Ideas, Dog Friendly, Eco-friendly, Short Break Ideas, Film & TV, History & Heritage, Dorset Weddings, Dorset Videos,
Explore Jurassic Coast, Areas To Visit, Villages, Coast and Beaches, Countryside, Areas Of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB),	What's On Festivals, Food & Drink Events, Art Events, Music Events, Nature Events, Sporting Events, Submit Event,	Visitor Information Maps, Brochures & Guides, Tourist Information Centres, Travel Information, Group Travel, Litter Free Dorset, Accessibility, Social Media, Contact Us,
Home

Industry

Dorset Beaches

Accommodation

Things To Do

What's On

Food & Drink

Search Things to Do

Highlights

Fabulous beaches

Family friendly

Discover Dorset's less visited beaches

Have fun & stay safe

Book a beach hut

Number of results:

Type

Type:

Type

Type:

Type

Type:

Type

Type:

Type

Type:

Type

Type:

Type

Type:

Type

Type:

Type

Type:

Type

Type:

Type

Type:

Type

Type:

Type

Type:

Type

Type:

Type

Type:

Type

Type:

Type

Type:

Type

Type:

Type

Type:

Type

Type:

Search Accommodation

Search What's On

Search Food & Drink

Follow Visit Dorset