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Dorset Beaches

Dorset Beaches

Whether you’re planning a staycation or a day trip with the kids. Use our coastal holiday guide to discover beautiful Dorset beaches.

Find your favourite Beaches in Dorset

Explore stunning Dorset Beaches on the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site and the UK’s most popular fossil hunting area. The beautiful coast of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole has sandy award-winning blue flag beaches and perfect for a holiday by the sea. Weymouth for watersports and Lyme Regis for fossils

Full List of Dorset Beaches

Do you know the name of the beach you are looking for? From Bournemouth to Lyme Regis, see our full list of beaches in Dorset in alphabetical order.

Alum Chine Beach

Alum Chine Beach in Bournemouth is a popular family summer holiday destination on the Dorset Coast.

Avon Beach

Avon Beach in Christchurch, on the Dorset coast overlooks the Needles and Isle of Wight.

Boscombe Beach

Boscombe Beach, from Bournemouth Beach towards Hengistbury Head, is a beautiful stretch of coastline.

Boscombe Pier

Boscombe Pier is a popular destination on the Dorset coast. A surfing hotspot!

Bournemouth Central Beach

Award winning Bournemouth Central Beach on the Dorset coast is a traditional favourite for the whole family.

Bournemouth Pier

Popular Bournemouth Central Beach on the Dorset coast is a traditional favourite for the whole family.

Bowleaze Cove

Bowleaze Cove is a great family beach also popular with swimmers and watersports enthusiasts.

Branksome Chine Beach

Branksome Chine is another of Bournemouth’s famous beaches. It is a popular family destination that can get busy.

Canford Cliffs Beach

Award winning Canford Cliffs beach is a great spot for a day out.

Chapman’s Pool

Chapman’s Pool is a wild beach off the beaten track on the Dorset coast.

Charmouth East Beach

Charmouth East Beach with fantastic views of Golden Cap, is an ideal location for a day out.

Charmouth West Beach

Charmouth West Beach is a long stretch of sandy beach on the Dorset Jurassic Coast.

Chesil Beach

Chesil Beach is an eighteen mile long pebble beach, stretching from Portland to West Bay.

Chesil Cove

Chesil Cove at the most southerly tip of Chesil Beach on the isle of Portland.

Chippel Bay

Chippel Bay is a small pebble beach at the end of Monmouth Beach in Lyme Regis. Great for walks and fossil hunting.

Cobb Harbour

Iconic Cobb Harbour in Lyme Regis once an important port, is a great place to spend the day.

Cogden Beach

Cogden Beach is a natural, secluded beach near Bridport, Dorset, known for its unspoiled environment a popular for fishing.

Church Ope Cove

Church Ope Cove is a small secluded beach on the eastern side of the Isle of Portland, popular with divers and snorkellers.

Durdle Door

Visit Durdle Door One of the Dorset’s most popluar beaches. A stunning geological rock arch overlooking a small beach.

Durley Chine Beach

Popular Durley Chine Beach between Bournemouth Pier and Alum Chine is a popular family summer holiday destination on the Dorset Coast.

Durlston Bay

Durlston Bay on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, is a rocky beach backed by cliffs, popular with experienced fossil hunters.

Eype Beach

Eype Beach, (pronounced eep), just Southeast of Golden Cap, is an unspoilt stretch of sand and shingle with amazing coastal views.

Fisherman’s Walk Beach

Award winning Fisherman’s Walk has a large stretch of sandy beach and lift down the cliff to the sea front.

Flaghead Chine Beach

Flaghead Chine Beach

Freshwater Beach

Freshwater Beach between West Bay and Burton Bradstock has a popular campsite with a private beach.

Friars Cliff Beach

Friars Cliff is a sand and shingle beach with a cafe for refreshments, amenities including shower.

Greenhill Beach

Greenhill Beach is a charming spot in Weymouth on the Dorset coast.

Hamm Beach

Hamm Beach is a shingle beach looking across to Portland Harbour on the eastern side of the…

Hengistbury Head Beach

Take a long walk along the beach toward Hengistbury Head. This is a beautiful part of the coast.

Highcliffe Castle Beach

Highcliffe Castle Beach is a popular sandy beach with wooded cliffs leading to the Steamer Point.

Highcliffe Beach

Award winning Highcliffe Beach is accessible from the clifftop car park, known locally as the Crow’s Nest.

Hive Beach

Hive Beach is a sandy beach at Burton Bradstock The beach is dog friendly but must be…

Kimmeridge Bay

Kimmeridge Bay, part of the Jurassic Coast in the Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve is a great destination for nature lovers.

Knoll Beach

Studland’s Knoll Beach is a popular choice for families with plenty of activities as well as family-friendly events during the holidays

Lulworth Cove

Picture perfect Lulworth Cove, close to the village of West Lulworth, is the perfect spot for a summers day.

Lyme Regis Town Beach

Popular Lyme Regis Town Beach in the heart of the Jurassic Coast is perfect for families with activities for both young and old.

Man of War Bay Beach

Stunning Man of War Bay on the Lulworth Coast is a great place for a…

Monmouth Beach

Monmouth Beach just to the West of Lyme Regis and the famous Cobb Harbour running towards Pinhay Bay.

Mudeford Beach

Sandy Mudeford Beach is one Dorset’s popular family beaches.

Mupe Bay

Mupe Bay is a pebble beach which is reached by boat or by walking along the coastal path.

Osmington Mills Beach

Beach Osmington Mills beach is a lovely spot on Dorset’s famous Jurassic Coast.

Overcombe Beach

One of the best paddleboarding spots in Weymouth is Overcombe Beach.

Pinhay Bay

Pinhay Bay on the border of Dorset and Devon is backed by crumbling cliffs, The Ware cliffs and the Pinhay Cliffs.

Preston Beach

Preston Beach in Weymouth, is mainly a sea defence, but is backed by the RSPB reserve a haven for wildlife.

Ringstead Bay

Ringstead Bay just east of Weymouth has a shingle beach with sand at low tide.

Sandbanks Beach

One of the top UK seaside destinations, famous Sandbanks is an award winning sandy beach and home…

Seatown Beach

Seatown Beach is a shingle beach which sits below the famous Golden Cap, which is the highest…

Shore Road Beach

Shore Road Beach in Poole is a stunning golden sandy beach and firm family favourite.

Southbourne Beach

Award winning Southbourne Beach on the Dorset Coast is a great place to spend the day. Family friendly with plenty of amenities Southbourne is one of Bournemouth’s Blue Flag Beaches.

St Gabriels Mouth

St Gabriels Mouth is a quiet secluded beach with great views of Golden Cap.

Studland Middle Beach

Studland’s Middle Beach a lovely white pristine sandy beach relaxing and unspoilt is the perfect place to spend the day.

Studland Shell Beach

Shell Bay is the most northerly of of Studland’s beaches with views over Sandbanks and Poole Habour, on the Isle of Purbeck.

Studland South Beach

Studland South Beach is a lovely sandy beach popular with families as the clear shallow waters are great for children and family days out.

Swanage Central Beach

Swanage Central Beach is an award winning sandy beach perfect for swimming and a day out.

West Bay

West Bay is a popular beach and seaside resort at the mouth of the River Brit on the Jurassic Coast, backed by the Bridport & West Dorset Golf Club.

Weymouth Beach

Popular Weymouth Beach in Dorset with its arc of golden sand is a hotspot for water sports and families during the summer time.

Worbarrow Bay

Beautiful Worbarrow Bay on the Dorset coast is a shingle beach with sweeping views along the South coast.

What’s On

Coastal events in Dorset for your diary

Annual events taking place for 2024.

  • Food Festivals
  • Sailing
  • Sporting Events
read more

Dorset is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Dorset, a favourite with fossil hunters is home to the stunning Jurassic coast which is designated a UNESCO World heritage site. The Jurassic Coast is England’s only natural World Heritage Site.

Natural Features

Some the most photgraphed, iconic natural features

  • Durdle Door
  • Lulworth Cove
  • Orcombe Point
  • Old Harry Rocks

Top Dorset Beaches

Looking for top Dorset Coast destinations? Miles of sandy beaches, traditional seaside towns and family attractions. Walk the coastal path or find family friendly Blue Flag beaches. There are sandy beaches in Dorset which are safe for swimming as well as dog friendly beaches for long walks with our four legged friends.

Blue Flag

Family Friendly award winning beaches

Dog friendly

For long walks with our four legged friends.

What’s On

Find out What’s On – from festivals to cultural events along the coast

Explore other areas near Dorset

Explore the miles of UK coastline with popular seaside destinations, coastal walks and water sports. Find more beaches in the southwest coast of England, covering the counties of North Cornwall, North Devon, South Devon, South East Cornwall, South West Cornwall and South Cornwall. Stop off at a beach for the day or walk or cycle the coastal trails.

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