Dorset is in the South West of England on the English Channel coast and is famous for the amazing stretches of fine, sandy beaches and varied shorelines that yield up such treasures as the Jurassic Coast!
There are wide chalk downs here as well as low valleys and beautiful coves and islands. Ports at Portland, Poole and Weymouth as well as an international airport, make it easy to reach and there is a wide variety of accommodation to suit every budget.
There are many historic houses, theatres, art galleries, shopping towns, festivals and events and 185 million years of earth's history in the ninety five miles of coastline making up the Jurassic Coast - a great spot for fossil hunting and beach combing!
If you love walking, Dorset is for you. In fact, cyclists, hikers, climbers, holiday makers, travellers, students, kite flyers, peace seekers, windsurfers, anglers, golf enthusiasts and horse riders rate Dorset as one the United Kingdom's best holiday spots!
Why not check beaches nearby as we have 56 beaches in Dorset, or have a look at our list of Dorset dog friendly beaches, or even our United Kingdom Blue Flag beach list.
Dorset Coast Search Bar
Where would you like to go? Use our search bar to search across all our local listings, ideal for finding that nearest spot to visit:
Want some ideas on where to visit?
Every favourite location must be visited for the first time. Want some ideas, why not check out the below small selection of coastal locations, including beaches, activities, things to see and do, places to stay and eat:
- 20th August 2020-23rd August 2020The Bournemouth Air Festival is 4 days of varied flying programme, entertainment, live music and evening fireworks.
- 5th September 2020-6th September 2020The Food Rocks festival was started by top chef Mark Hix with the main aim of promoting the produce of the local area around Lyme Regis on the Dorset coast. The festival welcomes top chefs, exhibitors, locals and visitors to Lyme Regis, the main stage showcase offers a mix of interactive cookery demonstrations, talks and tastings across the 2 days. The money raised goes to good causes split between the RNLI and the Fishermen’s Mission.
- The Cobb is a curving sea wall built at the end of the 13th Century to provide safe anchorage. The Cobb is a must to visit on foot with a great view from the end of Lyme Regis and the surrounding coast. Most people picture The Cobb as seen in The French Lieutenant’s Woman with waves crashing over the wall. It was also featured in Jane Austen’s Persuasion.
- Swanage bay has a gentle shelving beach that runs the length of the town and is backed by a promenade lined with amusements and attractions. On a clear day it is possible to see all the way over to the Isle of Wight. Swanage beach is home to many water sports. Swanage pier is one of the best diving locations in the country with diving training programmes and excursions running regularly from Swanage, the shallow bay and clear waters offer excellent training grounds for this sport. Other water sports include sailing, water-skiing and windsurfing. Swanage beach is part of the South West Coast Path with superb views over the Jurassic coast. Facilities include restaurants, cafes, shops, supermarkets, theatre/cinema, amusement arcades, car parking and marker buoys cordon off a swimmers-only area in Swanage Bay.
- Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens was established in 1765 as a kitchen garden for the nearby castle. Today the 20 acre garden is filled with rare and exotic plants from all over the world. The garden has stunning views of the Dorset Jurassic coastline, a gift shop, the Old Colonial tea-house and a specialist plant nursery.
- Bournemouth Pier is at the heart of the Bournemouth sea front with various attractions, amusements, boat trips, restaurant, cafe, bar and fishing decks. Originally built in 1856 as wood, rebuilt with iron and then as concrete this has been around for generations. Small charge applies for access to help with the upkeep. Dogs are allowed on to the pier but not allowed in some of the attractions.
- Nothe Fort is at the entrance to Weymouth Harbour, constructed on three levels, with lift access, the Fort is filled with displays, guns and display areas that describe the history of this Victorian Fort. The Fort is a labyrinth of underground passageways and outdoor areas with stunning views of the coast.
- Abbotsbury Swannery is unique, the only place in the world where you are able to walk through the heart of a colony of nesting Mute Swans. The Swannery was established by Benedictine Monks who built a monastery at Abbotsbury during the 1040’s. The monks farmed the swans to produce food for their lavish banquets. St Peter’s monastery was destroyed in 1539 during the dissolution. Some of the ruins are still visible around St Nicholas’ Church in the village. Since that time the Swannery has been under the stewardship of the Ilchester Estates.
- Avon Beach is situated at Mudeford to the east side of the Christchurch Harbour entrance, near Bournemouth and is a 1/4 mile of sandy beach with views of the Isle of Wight and the Needles Lighthouse. Avon beach is a great family beach providing a great place for beach games, a safe gentle slope into the sea and sand bars to play on. Watersports has its own designated area in front of the car park and is great location for surfing, SUP, canoeing, windsurfing and kitesurfing. Due to the sand banks the beach provides a good place for kitesurfing and windsurfing beginners. Facilities include car park, toilets, shop, cafe/restaurant and hire of beach huts, deck chairs, sun loungers, wind breaks and canoes. Lifeguards in the summer and free identity wristbands to parents with children to enhance child safety on our beach.
- Lyme Regis lifeboat station was established in 1853 and now operates an inshore lifeboat from the famous Lyme Regis Cobb harbour. Station and shop open daily.
- Lulworth castle, built in the early 17th Century as a hunting lodge, became a country house with a large estate. Part of this estate being the spectacular Lulworth Cove. Thomas Howard, 3rd Lord Bindon, built the Castle in order to entertain hunting parties for the King and Court. The Howards owned it until 1641 when it was purchased by Humphrey Weld, the direct ancestor of the present owners.
- Manor Steps beach is a sandy beach to the East of Boscombe Pier. Named after the zig-zag path and steps leading down from the cliff above. Facilities include lifeguard in summer months, car parks, toilets, cafe/shops, beach huts.
- Sorted Surf School is located at the award winning Boscombe beach in Bournemouth directly in front of some of Bournemouth’s best surf spots.
- Burton beach also is known as Hive beach is a coarse long sandy beach overlooked by cliffs, with this beach and coast spot being one of the main gateways to the Jurassic Coast and the South West Coast Path. The beach is good swimming although tides can be strong and is a popular diving location. There are also some great walks to enjoy after a full breakfast or just before a late lunch that start close to the café making it a good day out even in the colder months. Facilities include grassy area behinds the beach, parking managed by the National Trust, cafe and toilets. A superb beach café is situated right on the Chesil Bank offering superb views of Lyme Bay while you relax and enjoy fantastic food. There’s lots of inside space and a large deck to enjoy in the warmer weather. This eatery is family friendly and very welcoming to all, dogs included.
