Studland Bay Beach

Information
Studland Beach & Nature Reserve has three miles of beaches (Shell Bay, Knoll Beach, Middle Beach and South Beach) are owned by the National Trust. Wide sandy beaches great for swimming, watersports and diving. Water quality is good.
The beauty of Studland is its vast shoreline and varied landscape. The most popular stretch is that near to Knoll Beach Cafe, but if you take a little effort and move away from this piece you get more space and better scenery.
The heathland behind the beach is a haven for many wild flowers and rare birds and native wildlife and is a designated National Nature Reserve. Sand dunes and woodlands can be explored via a signposted National Trust trail and there is a woodland nature trail. Studland Study Centre at Knoll car park is open for pre-bookable events and visits all year round.
Click here for more details on the National Trust website
We have no current information on dog restrictions for Studland Bay Beach.
Why not check other beaches nearby as we have 8 beaches around Swanage, 56 beaches in Dorset, or check our list of Dorset Dog Friendly Beaches.
Beach Water Quality
Water samples are taken at regular intervals during the bathing season and at the end of the season the water quality is classified as:
- Excellent: the highest classification meaning the water is cleanest
- Good: generally good water quality
- Sufficient: meets minimum standards
- Poor: You are advised not to swim. The beach will stay open and an action plan should be in place to improve the water quality.
Tides
7 Day Weather Forecast
Our weather forecast for Swanage in Dorset is split into two widgets. The first shows a timeline containing temperature, wind, sunrise/sunset and chance of rain, whilst the second shows the forecast for the week ahead including severe weather alerts when available.
You may also like ...
In this 'you may also like' section we list by order of being the closest some more beaches, things to see and do, places to eat and upcoming events.
- Studland Bay Beach
  0 km
  
  No Reviews
  Favorite
  Studland Beach & Nature Reserve has three miles of beaches (Shell Bay, Knoll Beach, Middle Beach and South Beach) are owned by the National Trust. Wide sandy beaches great for swimming, watersports and diving. Water quality is good. The beauty of Studland is its vast shoreline and varied landscape. The most popular stretch is that near to Knoll Beach Cafe, but if you take a little effort and move away from this piece you get more space and better scenery. The heathland behind the beach is a haven for many wild flowers and rare birds and native wildlife and is a designated National Nature Reserve. Sand dunes and woodlands can be explored via a signposted National Trust trail and there is a woodland nature trail. Studland Study Centre at Knoll car park is open for pre-bookable events and visits all year round. Click here for more details on the National Trust website
- Shell Bay Beach
  2.23 km
  
  No Reviews
  Favorite
  Shell Bay beach is the first beach on the Studland Peninsula, Isle of Purbeck, at the mouth of Poole Harbour. From Shell Beach you have the wide sweeping Studland Bay and the Studland National Nature Reserve. You can also take a pedestrian ferry to Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour. There is a designated naturist area between Shell Bay and Knoll Beach. Facilities include parking, toilets, restaurant and Cafe.
- Swanage North Beach
  4.3 km
  
  No Reviews
  Favorite
  The North beach at Swanage is still part of the main Swanage Bay but you are a little further away from the main town and a little less crowded.
- Bull and Boat Beach Bar and Bistro
  4.45 km
  
  No Reviews
  Favorite
  Beach: Swanage Beach View: Situated right on Swanage seafront with views down the sandy beach and across the bay. What’s on the menu?: Serving light lunches, bistro dinner or a tapas menu using fresh local produce. Extensive menu for vegetarians.
- Swanage Bay Beach
  4.84 km
  
  No Reviews
  Favorite
  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.
- Swanage Central Beach
  4.99 km
  
  No Reviews
  Favorite
  The Central beach at Swanage is a great family beach set within a Victorian town with a pier. Swanage is a nice traditional family seaside resort whilst the beach is a sandy beach and is part of a larger stretch of sand that lasts for approximately 2km. Facilities include pier, promenade, cafes/restaurants, shops, children’s play area, beach huts, seasonal lifeguards, toilets with disabled facilities, showers and car parking.
- Swanage pier
  5.24 km
  
  No Reviews
  Favorite
  The original Swanage Pier was built between 1859 and 1860 for use primarily by the local stone quarrying industry, and included a tramway which ran the length of the pier and some way along the seafront. The old tracks can be seen to this day, inset into the seafront walkways.
- Swanage lifeboat station
  5.41 km
  
  No Reviews
  Favorite
  Swanage lifeboat station was established in 1875 and operates inshore and all weather lifeboats. Station open Mon-Fri, April – September.
- Durlstone Head Globe
  6.8 km
  
  No Reviews
  Favorite
  The Durlstone Head Globe is on the cliffs of Durlston Head and is often refered to as the “Large Globe” or the “Great Globe”. Erected 1891 the globe is constructed of Portland stone, weighs about 40 tonnes, is 3 metres (10 ft) in diameter and surrounded by a circle of cast iron railings. At the base is a tablet recording distances between stars and planets. To the rear are a series of panels with quotations from the Bible, Shakespeare, the Aeneid and Tennyson and further tables of distances.
- Anvil Point Lighthouse
  7.18 km
  
  No Reviews
  Favorite
  Built from local stone, Anvil Point Lighthouse was completed in 1881 and opened by Neville Chamberlain’s father, then Minister of Transport. The light is positioned to give a waypoint for vessels on passage along the English Channel coast. To the west it gives a clear line from Portland Bill and to the east guides vessels away from the Christchurch Ledge and leads them into the Solent. Lighthouse has a visitor centre.
- Corfe Castle
  8.28 km
  
  No Reviews
  Favorite
  Corfe Castle once controlled the Isle of Purbeck, a thousand-year-old castle, that was destroyed during the English Civil War when Parliamentary forces sieged the castle that was only taken over after betrayal within. The wife of Sir John Bankes led the defense and gained the name ‘Brave Dame Mary’. Facilities include car park, information points, tea rooms, and shop.
- Dancing Ledge Beach
  8.34 km
  
  No Reviews
  Favorite
  Dancing Ledge is not so much a beach but an old quarry floor. There are no beaches on this stretch of coastline but this is popular as you can get down to sea level. Some good swimming from the rocks but care needs to be taken. No facilities available.
Stay At …
Booking.com interactive map
Booking.com
Reviews
Leave a Review Cancel reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Review text
Select a rating
Name *
Email *
Website