Some posts on this site contain affiliate links. If you book or buy something through these links, I earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). Take a look at my privacy policy for more information.
Your guide to the best beaches in Dorset for a seaside trip with a beautiful backdrop!
From remote rocky coves to stunning stretches of white sand, Dorset’s coastline has no shortage of beauty spots. Whether it’s an epic backdrop of cliffs you’re after, or an idyllic sandy seaside, there are some truly beautiful beaches along this part of the south coast. As a local born and raised on the Dorset coast, I know all the prettiest spots – so here’s my pick of the very best…
10 Most Beautiful Beaches in Dorset
Some of the beaches listed below are a little more remote. These have limited or no facilities and may be a fair walk from the nearest car park. Most have no lifeguards on duty, so please take extra care if you decide to swim.
Please note: I’ve done my best to give accurate car parking charges, but they may change.
Durdle Door
Beach Type: Shingle
Nearest Parking: Durdle Door Car Park (£20 a day, read more here)
Lifeguards on Duty: No
Toilets: In car park.
Popularity: Very busy in summer.
Dogs Allowed: Yes (all year, off lead)
Facilities: Refreshment kiosk in car park. Shop and cafe in adjacent holiday park.
Durdle Door is one of the most famous sights on the Jurassic Coast: a rock arch over the sea, facing a beautiful shingle beach backed by chalky cliffs. It’s a stunning spot, but it gets incredibly busy in high season. If you walk a little further west, it usually becomes much quieter. Be aware that the water isn’t always safe for swimming, and it’s very dangerous to climb on (or jump off) the rock arch.
FYI: This beach can only be reached by a 15-minute walk down a steep cliff path from the car park. There are no facilities on the beach itself. Good walking shoes are recommended.
Lulworth Cove
Beach Type: Pebble
Nearest Parking: Lulworth Cove Car Park (£20 a day, read more here)
Lifeguards on Duty: No.
Toilets: Near the cove and at the Visitor Centre.
Popularity: Usually not too busy.
Dogs: Permitted on the left-hand side of the slipway.
Facilities: Cafes and refreshment kiosks near beach entrance.
Lulworth Cove is an almost-perfectly semi-circular cove with a long pebble beach backed by white chalk cliffs. The sea here is usually very calm thanks to the protective “arms” of the cove, but there are no lifeguards on duty, so extra care is advised. Stay away from the base of the cliffs in case of rockfalls.
West Bay (East Beach)
Beach Type: Shingle
Nearest Parking: East Beach Car Park, West Bay Road Car Park (£9 for 10 hours)
Lifeguards on Duty: From mid-July to early September
Toilets: In West Bay Road Car Park
Popularity: Usually not too busy.
Dogs: Designated dog area on West Beach.
Facilities: Shops, cafes and restaurants within walking distance.
A long stretch of golden shingle overlooked by towering sandstone cliffs, West Bay’s East Beach is an impressive seaside spot. When the sea is calm, it’s a popular spot for bathing – but be aware that the waves can get big on windy days. The beach shelves quite steeply, so nearby West Beach might be a better option if you have small children.
Studland Bay Beaches
Beach Type: Sandy
Nearest Parking: National Trust Car Parks at Shell Bay, Knoll Beach, Middle Beach, and South Beach (£12 a day, free for NT members)
Lifeguards on Duty: No
Toilets: In all car parks except South Beach, and at the end of Manor Road.
Popularity: Can be busy near the car parks – but there are usually quiet spots.
Dogs: Yes (but must be kept on a lead from 1 May – 30 September)
Facilities: Cafe, shop, and visitor centre at Knoll Beach.
Skirting the tip of a peninsula on the Isle of Purbeck, Studland Bay is home to a long stretch of white sandy beach with softly undulating sand dunes and backed by a lowland heath nature reserve. It’s divided into four beaches, each with its own carpark. Shell Bay is at the tip of the peninsula (nearest the ferry), then there’s Knoll Beach, Middle Beach, and finally, South Beach is (you guessed it) the southernmost!
FYI: You can reach Studland by car & passenger ferry from Poole, or by driving via Wareham.
Kimmeridge Bay
Beach Type: Rock
Nearest Parking: Kimmeridge Bay Car Park (£6 a day)
Lifeguards on Duty: No
Toilets: Near Wild Seas Centre
Popularity: Usually fairly quiet
Dogs Allowed: Yes (all year, off lead)
Facilities: None nearby
Kimmeridge Bay is a pretty dramatic location for a beach day. The “beach” here is made up of rocky shelves which are great for rockpooling at low tide. Although it’s not really a sunbathing or buckets-and-spades spot, the bay is usually quite sheltered on calm days. The calm water and abundance of underwater marine life make it a prime location for snorkelling. The nearby Fine Foundation Wild Seas Centre has an underwater nature trail for snorkellers.
Man O’War Bay
Beach Type: Shingle
Nearest Parking: Durdle Door Car Park (£20 a day)
Lifeguards on Duty: No
Toilets: In car park
Popularity: Busy in summer (though usually less so than Durdle Door)
Dogs Allowed: Yes (all year, off lead)
Facilities: Refreshment kiosk in car park. Cafe and shop in adjacent holiday park.
Just next to Durdle Door, on the other side of the rocky arch, Man O’ War Bay is the less-visited – but perhaps much nicer – beach. This beautiful, semi-circular cove has stunningly clear water. It’s also better for swimming, as the bay is protected by a string of rocks which keep the water calm.
Sandbanks Beach, Poole
Beach Type: Sandy
Nearest Parking: Sandbanks Surface Car Park (£12.90 for 4 hours in summer)
Lifeguards on Duty: From early April to late September.
Toilets: Next to the car park and behind the beach office.
Popularity: Very busy in summer.
Dogs: Designated dog area at western end (near chain ferry)
Facilities: Shops and restaurants nearby. Beach hut hire available. Deck chairs, sun umbrellas, and watersports equipment for hire.
Sandbanks Beach is a long, white sand beach on a small peninsula in Poole Harbour. It’s often called the most beautiful beach in Dorset, and sometimes touted as the best in Britain! Sandbanks also has more Blue Flag Awards than any other beach in the UK, having won it every year since the scheme began in 1987!
Swanage Beach
Beach Type: Sandy
Nearest Parking: Main Beach (Victoria Avenue), North Beach (De Moulham Road), Broad Road (£8 for a day pass)
Lifeguards on Duty: From late May to early September.
Toilets: Plenty of public toilets along the seafront.
Popularity: Generally busy in summer.
Dogs: Designated dog area at Monkey Beach.
Facilities: Plenty of shops, restaurants and refreshment kiosks. Beach huts for hire. Rent deck chairs, sun beds, pedaloes, and kayaks.
With its colourful beach huts, white sands, and sheltered bay that’s perfect for swimming and paddleboarding, Swanage is a fantastic spot for a beach day. It’s another award-winner, having received both the Blue Flag and Seaside Award in 2025.
Mudeford Sandbank
Nearest Parking: Mudeford Quay (you’ll need to take the passenger ferry) or Hengistbury Head Car Park (£13.50 for 6 hours)
Lifeguards on Duty: No
Toilets: Public toilets between the beach huts.
Popularity: Generally not too busy.
Facilities: Cafe & takeaway. Land Train (in summer).
Mudeford Sandbank (aka Mudeford Spit) is pretty much all beach: a narrow strip of white sand with water on both sides, stretching across the mouth of Christchurch Harbour. With views of the Needles on the Isle of Wight and a string of pastel-painted beach huts lining the sandbank, it’s a very pretty spot to spend a beach day!
FYI: The beach can only be reached by walking about one mile from Hengistbury Head (or there’s a land train in summer) – or you can take a passenger ferry across the harbour from Mudeford Quay.
Worbarrow Bay
Beach Type: Shingle
Nearest Parking: Tyneham Village Car Park (1 mile walk – £4 cash-only donation)
Lifeguards on Duty: No
Toilets: In car park
Popularity: Usually fairly quiet
Dogs Allowed: Yes (all year, off lead)
Facilities: None on beach. Local cafe Salt Pig has a pop-up kiosk in Tyneham village.
It’s not uncommon to have Worbarrow Bay almost all to yourself, even in summer. This stunning bay, surrounded by tall white cliffs, can only be reached by a pleasant, one-mile stroll from the ruined village of Tyneham. It’s mostly flat and very easy, but it still seems to be enough to deter most beachgoers, meaning much more space for those of us in the know!
Beautiful Beaches in Dorset: Map
- Durdle Door
- Lulworth Cove
- East Beach in West Bay
- Studland Bay’s Beaches: Shell Bay, Knoll Beach, Middle Beach, South Beach
- Kimmeridge Bay Beach
- Man O’War Bay (next to Durdle Door)
- Sandbanks Beach, Poole
- Swanage Beach
- Mudeford Sandbank, Christchurch
- Worbarrow Bay
What do you think are the most beautiful beaches in Dorset to visit? Scroll down to leave a comment!
