10 of the Most Quiet Dorset Beaches

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Want to escape the crowds? These Dorset beaches are usually a little quieter than most…

Dorset has no shortage of beautiful beaches, but some are more well-known than others. If you want to escape the crowds of top spots like Bournemouth and Weymouth, there are some much more peaceful options along the coast.

These aren’t top-secret, remote beaches that no one knows about, so chances are you’ll still be sharing them with a fair few others. But they’re usually significantly quieter than the more famous beaches. Perfect if you want a peaceful beach day…

Quiet Beaches in Dorset

WARNING: There are no lifeguards on duty at any of these beaches. Do not enter the water if you’re unsure of conditions. If you do swim, stay near the shoreline and know how to spot rip currents, so you can avoid them. Read more in the RNLI’s guide to open water swimming.

Ringstead Bay, near Weymouth

This shingle beach on a quiet stretch of coast near Weymouth is much-loved by locals, but rarely very busy. The calm waters in the bay are usually safe for swimming and paddleboarding. With a large car park, toilets, and a cafe nearby, it’s a good spot for families. It’s also a good beach for finding fossils, especially along the foreshore.

Highcliffe Beach, Christchurch

The long stretch of beach below the cliffs at Highcliffe, near Christchurch, is a bit of a hidden gem. The section below Highcliffe Castle (also known as Steamer Point Beach) is mostly sand; further east, the beach is mainly shingle. Although popular with local families, the beach is large enough that it rarely gets crowded.

Hengistbury Head, Bournemouth

Far from the crowds of Bournemouth Beach, at the easternmost end of the bay, Hengistbury Head is the perfect escape. The beach here is tucked beneath a grassy, heather-clad headland (also a nature reserve). Nearby Mudeford Sandbank is another beautiful spot; a narrow strip of white sand with water on both sides.

Sandsfoot and Castle Cove Beaches, Weymouth

These two small coves tucked beneath a ruined clifftop castle in Weymouth are popular with local families, and can get busy in summer – but they’re rarely crowded. They’re protected by the long arm of Portland’s harbour wall, and often have ideal conditions for swimming and paddleboarding.

Top Tip: Bring cash. On busy summer days, the beaches are sometimes visited by a boat selling ice creams.

Hamworthy Park Beach, Poole

The small beach on the edge of Hamworthy Park, near Poole, is popular with local families but little-known and often quiet. It’s tucked onto the northern edge of Poole’s vast natural harbour, where the water is reasonably sheltered. These calm swimming waters, along with the nearby play park, make this a popular spot with local families.

Kimmeridge Bay

With rocky shelves backed by dramatic, low cliffs, Kimmeridge Bay is great for rockpooling and fossil hunting. Although it’s not much of a sunbathing spot, the bay is usually quite sheltered on calm days. It’s also a prime snorkelling location thanks to the clear, calm waters and abundance of marine life.

Top Tip: The nearby Fine Foundation Wild Seas Centre has an underwater nature trail for snorkellers.

Chesil Beach, Portland

Chesil Beach stretches for around 18 miles, and most parts of it are usually fairly quiet. The easternmost end has the sea on both sides, forming a shingle “bridge” that connects the Isle of Portland with the mainland. The western side faces onto the English Channel and is often quite rough, but the eastern side enjoys the protection of Portland’s large walled harbour. This side is popular with paddleboarders (on calm days) and kitesurfers (on windy days).

Chesil Cove: At the very eastern end is Chesil Cove, near the village of Fortuneswell. Depending on conditions, this can also be a good swimming spot – and the beloved Quiddles Cafe on the sea wall is a great spot for refreshments.

Chesil Beach West, Abbotsbury (and surrounds)

Further west along Chesil Beach, the coastline is usually very quiet. Abbotsbury Beach is one of the best spots for solitude: there’s a car park and cafe nearby, but the beach is rarely very busy. Nearby Fleet Lagoon is a great spot for bird watching.

West Bexington Beach

West Bexington is another good spot on western Chesil Beach, with a large car park and the Club House restaurant nearby. The shingle here is dotted with wildflowers, including bright yellow sea poppies. Even if the area closest to the car park is busy, it only takes a short walk along the beach to find a quieter spot!

East Cliff Beach (aka Back Beach), Lyme Regis

East Beach in Lyme Regis is by far the best beach in Dorset for fossils. They’re common all along the shoreline, and easy to spot, so you don’t need any tools or prior knowledge to find them (read more here). The beach itself is remote and has few facilities, so it’s usually very quiet.

FYI: Stay away from the base of the cliffs, as there are active mudslides here and they are very unstable.

Quiet Dorset Beaches: Map

• Ringstead Bay, near Weymouth
• Highcliffe Beach, Christchurch
• Hengistbury Head, Bournemouth
• Sandsfoot and Castle Cove Beaches, Weymouth
• Hamworthy Park Beach, Poole
• Kimmeridge Bay
• Chesil Beach, Portland
• Chesil Beach West, Abbotsbury (and surrounds)
• West Bexington Beach
• East Cliff Beach (aka Back Beach), Lyme Regis

Do you know any other peaceful and quiet beaches in Dorset? Scroll down to leave a comment!