Dorset's famous Jurassic Coast begins at Lyme Regis near the Devon border - the beaches here consisting mostly of small shingle with little sand. Beyond West Bay it's almost entirely flint shingle until Portland. Weymouth has a good sandy beach and a few miles east, the chalk cliffs rise to about 300 feet at White Nothe. Beaches along here are mostly steeply shelving shingle backed by high cliffs. The MoD Tyneham ranges are just east of Lulworth Cove, and access is restricted - usually to weekends and school holidays. Further east are high cliffs of limestone with very few places where the shore is accessible until Swanage. Swanage, Studland Bay and Shell Bay are long sandy beaches. A vehicle ferry operates across the mouth of Poole harbour to Sandbanks and Bournemouth. Many of the car parks for the smaller beaches are run by the National Trust, and are free to members, but can be expensive to non-members. If you're planning a day out, it's well worth either taking your own food and drink, or buying these from a supermarket along the way. Food and drink can be very expensive if bought from beach shops and cafes.
Click on the boxes below for more details.
