England

Jurassic Coast beaches

What our guide lists, with the official pages for water quality, lifeguards and safety. Check them on the day you go.

Studland Beach, Swanage, Studland & PurbeckPhoto: Malc McDonald, CC BY-SA 2.0

Kimmeridge Bay, Swanage, Studland & PurbeckPhoto: David Martin, CC BY-SA 2.0

Chapman’s Pool, Swanage, Studland & PurbeckPhoto: Tanya Hart, CC BY-SA 2.0

Beaches listed on this page.

Before you go

Water quality

Official classifications and any pollution warnings are published by the environment agency. We do not copy them because they change.

Environment Agency: find a bathing water (opens in new tab)

Tides, cliffs and currents

Red and yellow flags mark the lifeguarded zone, the safest place to swim or bodyboard. A red flag means nobody should enter the water, and black and white chequered flags are for craft such as paddleboards and kayaks, not swimmers. Met Office: 10 beach safety tips (opens in new tab)
An orange windsock means offshore wind. Do not use inflatables, because they can carry you out to sea. HM Coastguard: On the beach (opens in new tab)
A rip current is a channel of churning, choppy water or drifting debris running out to sea. If caught, do not fight it: wade if you can stand, otherwise swim parallel to the beach, raise a hand and call for help. Met Office: Understanding rip currents (opens in new tab)
Rising tides can trap people in bays, coves and on sandbars with little warning. Check tide times and the weather, go exploring as the tide falls, and learn the exit points. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

All safety notes

More official pages

Dorset Council: walking dogs on beaches (opens in new tab) Dog rules for Dorset beaches. Devon beaches are covered by East Devon District Council.

17 beaches

Each entry links to the official pages we could read. A missing line means we found no official statement, not that the answer is no.

Beach

Weymouth Beach

Wide, gently sloping sandy beach along Weymouth Bay beside the Esplanade.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water in England (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
Dogs: Dorset Council says dogs are allowed on the Greenhill Groyne to Overcombe stretch and at the dog exercise area by the Pavilion all year, and on the main sandy beach between them from 1 October to 30 April. Source (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Jurassic Coast guide

Cove

Church Ope Cove

Small secluded pebble cove on Portland’s east side, overlooked by the cliff-top ruin of Rufus Castle.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water in England (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
Dogs: Dorset Council lists Church Ope Cove as open to dogs all year round. Source (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Jurassic Coast guide

Beach

Studland Beach

Long sandy beach on Studland Bay at the eastern end of the Jurassic Coast, backed by dunes and heath.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water in England (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
Dogs: Dorset Council says dogs must be on a lead on Shell, South and Middle beaches and the southern part of Knoll beach from 1 May to 30 September. Source (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Jurassic Coast guide

Bay

Kimmeridge Bay

Bay on the Isle of Purbeck known for its fossils and its cliffs of Kimmeridge Clay.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water in England (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
Dogs: Dorset Council lists Kimmeridge as open to dogs all year round. Source (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Jurassic Coast guide

Cove

Lulworth Cove

Cove on the Lulworth Estate, owned by the Weld family, next to West Lulworth on the Jurassic Coast.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water in England (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
Dogs: Dorset Council lists Lulworth Cove as open to dogs all year round. Source (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Jurassic Coast guide

Beach

Charmouth Beach

Pebble and sand beach below crumbling clay cliffs, well known for loose fossils washed out of the cliffs.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water in England (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
Dogs: Dorset Council says East Beach has no dog restrictions, and dogs are allowed on West Beach from 1 October to 30 April. Source (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Jurassic Coast guide

Beach

Lyme Regis Beach

Sand and shingle beach beside Marine Parade, with the Cobb at its western end.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water in England (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
Dogs: Dorset Council says the Lyme Regis front beach is open to dogs from 1 October to 30 April. Source (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Jurassic Coast guide

Beach

Monmouth Beach

Beach west of the Cobb; the Ammonite Pavement at its far end is reachable only at low tide, per Visit Dorset.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water in England (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
Dogs: Dorset Council lists Monmouth Beach as open to dogs all year. Source (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Jurassic Coast guide

Beach and cove

Seatown

Small shingle cove below Golden Cap with a pub, reached by a lane from Chideock.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water in England (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
Dogs: Dorset Council says dogs are allowed on Seatown beach from 1 October to 30 April. Source (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Jurassic Coast guide

Beach

Eype Mouth

Beach at Eype, a village 2 km south-west of Bridport on the Jurassic Coast.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water in England (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
Dogs: Dorset Council lists Eype as open to dogs all year round. Source (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Jurassic Coast guide

Beach

Seaton Beach

Mile of mostly shingle beach backed by a sea wall at Seaton on Lyme Bay.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water in England (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
Safety: East Devon District Council: Seaton beach (lifeguard and cliff information) (opens in new tab)
Lifeguards: The council page says the beach is not lifeguarded. Source (opens in new tab)
Dogs: East Devon District Council says dogs are allowed on East Walk and West Walk on a lead, and are banned from the middle section from 1 May to 30 September. Source (opens in new tab)
Access: The council says access matting for wheelchair users is laid on the beach each year from May until September, and that East Walk and West Walk are flat, level, hard surfaces. A disabled toilet is at Fisherman's Gap. Source (opens in new tab)
The council warns of cliff falls at the western end and asks visitors to stay away from the base of the cliffs there. East Devon District Council: Seaton beach (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Jurassic Coast guide

Beach

Beer Beach

Pebble beach in a cove below chalk cliffs at Beer, where fishing boats are drawn up on the shingle.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water in England (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
Safety: East Devon District Council: Beer beach (lifeguard and cliff information) (opens in new tab)
Lifeguards: The council page says the beach is not lifeguarded. Source (opens in new tab)
Dogs: East Devon District Council says dogs are allowed on the eastern half of the beach all year, and banned from the western half from 1 May to 30 September. Source (opens in new tab)
Access: The council says access matting has been laid to the cafes on the east side and to the boat trip area. A disabled toilet is at Jubilee Gardens. Source (opens in new tab)
The council warns of cliff falls and asks visitors to stay away from the bottom of the cliffs. East Devon District Council: Beer beach (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Jurassic Coast guide

Beach

Sidmouth Beach

Pebble beach along the Esplanade of Sidmouth, backed by red sandstone cliffs.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water in England (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
Safety: East Devon District Council: Sidmouth beach (lifeguard and cliff information) (opens in new tab)
Lifeguards: The council page says the beach is lifeguarded for the school summer holiday only. Source (opens in new tab)
Dogs: East Devon District Council says dogs are allowed all year on Port Royal beach at the eastern end of the prom, and banned from the main town beach from 1 May to 30 September. Source (opens in new tab)
The council says access to East Beach, across the River Sid, is closed for public safety because of frequent cliff falls, and asks people not to climb on the wet, slippery rock groynes. East Devon District Council: Sidmouth beach (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Jurassic Coast guide

Cove

Chapman’s Pool

Small cove west of Worth Matravers on the Isle of Purbeck.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Jurassic Coast guide

Cove and rock folds

Stair Hole

Small cove just west of Lulworth Cove where folded limestone strata, the Lulworth Crumple, are easy to see.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Jurassic Coast guide

Beach

Hive Beach

Shingle beach at Burton Bradstock on Chesil Beach, run by the National Trust.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Jurassic Coast guide

Beach

Branscombe Beach

Long shingle beach below the village of Branscombe, within East Devon’s protected landscape.

Water quality: Environment Agency: find a bathing water (check whether this beach is designated) (opens in new tab)
General coastal advice from HM Coastguard: check tide times before you go, learn the exit points, watch which way the tide is moving, and keep well back from cliff edges and cliff bases. HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (opens in new tab)

In our Jurassic Coast guide

Sources

Environment Agency: find a bathing water (opens in new tab). National lookup for designated bathing waters; used as the pointer for water quality, no beach-specific claim. Checked on 2026-10-25.
HM Coastguard: Coastal safety (cliffs and tide cut-off) (opens in new tab). General cliff and tide cut-off advice. Checked on 2026-10-25.
Dorset Council: Walking dogs on beaches (opens in new tab). Dog rules for Eype Mouth. Checked on 2026-10-25.
East Devon District Council: Seaton beach (opens in new tab). Dog rules, no lifeguard, access matting, cliff-fall warning. Checked on 2026-10-25.
East Devon District Council: Beer beach (opens in new tab). Dog rules, no lifeguard, access matting, cliff-fall warning. Checked on 2026-10-25.
East Devon District Council: Sidmouth beach (opens in new tab). Dog rules, lifeguard cover, East Beach closure. Checked on 2026-10-25.

Walks nearby: South West Coast Path: Durdle Door to Lulworth Cove, Swanage to Studland over Ballard Down.

All beaches · Parks and gardens · Jurassic Coast guide