Hidden amongst the popular spots on the Jurassic Coastline are some lesser known, less crowded secrets to discover. A collection of walks below include a stumble to a beach, many off the beaten track and away from the tourist trail. Ranging from a smugglers cave to Banksy artwork!
West Dorset
- Monmouth Beach – Dogs allowed all year round
- Front Beach – Dogs Allowed from 1st October to 30th April
- Church Cliff Beach – Dogs allowed all year round
- East Cliff Beach – Dogs allowed all year round
Parking available
Toilets and refreshments available in the town
Harbour, Pebble and sandy beaches
- West Hay – Dogs allowed but with some restrictions (National Trust land)
- St Gabriel’s – Dogs allowed but with some restrictions (National Trust land)
Parking some distance away
Access difficult
No toilets or refreshments available
Stone beaches
Seatown, Chideock and Golden Cap
- Seatown – Dogs Allowed from 1st October to 30th April
Parking available
Toilets and refreshments nearby
Pebble Beach
- Eype – Dogs allowed all year round
Parking available down a small narrow lane
No toilets or refreshments available
Pebble beach
- East Cliff
- Burton Freshwater
Parking available
Toilets and refreshments in the village
Harbour and pebble beach
- Hive Beach – Dogs allowed but with some restrictions (National Trust land)
Toilets available
Refreshments available at Hive Beach Cafe
Pebble beach
Chesil Beach
- Cogden Beach i- Dogs allowed all year round
Parking some distance away
Access difficult
No toilets or refreshments available
Pebble beaches
- West Bexington – Dogs allowed all year round
Parking right on the beach
Toilets nearby
Refreshments available at The Club House
Pebble Beach
- Abbotsbury – Dogs allowed all year round
Parking available
No toilets or refreshments at the beach but available in the village
- Moonfleet – Dogs allowed all year round
No parking nearby
No toilets or refreshments
Muddy and sandy beach on the inside of the Fleet Lagoon
- East Fleet- Dogs allowed all year round
No parking nearby
No toilets or refreshments
Muddy and sandy beach on the inside of the Fleet Lagoon
Isle of Portland
- Fleet – Dogs allowed all year round on leads only
Parking nearby
Toilets and refreshments available at the visitor centre
High pebble beach
- Chesil Cove – Dogs allowed all year round
Parking nearby
Toilets and refreshments available at The Cove House Inn
High pebble beach
- Church ope Cove – Dogs allowed all year round
Parking available at the top of the cliff
Access down a footpath and through ruins of an old church
No refreshments but toilets are available
Pebble beach
Isle of Purbeck
- Osmington Mills – Dogs allowed all year round
Small car park at the end of a narrow lane
Toilets and refreshments available at the Smugglers Inn
Pebble beach
- Ringstead – Dogs allowed all year round
Car park next to beach (payment required). Car park on the top of the hill (free)
Toilets in the car park
No refreshments available
Pebble beach with rockpools
Durdle Door (walk coming soon)
- Durdle Door – Dogs allowed all year round
- Man o War – Dogs allowed all year round
Car park at the top of the cliffs, accessible through a caravan park.
Strenuous walk down, harder back up!
No refreshments or toilets available
Pebble beach
Winfrith Newburgh and Chaldon Herring
- Stair Hole – access discouraged
- Lulworth Cove – Dogs allowed all rear round
Large Car park near the beach
Toilets in the car park
Large visitor centre
Plenty of refreshment options
Easy access to beach
Pebble beach
Worbarrow Bay – MOD ownership – check opening times
- Tyneham – Dogs allowed all year
- Mupe Rocks – Dogs allowed all year round
No car parking nearby
No toilets
No refreshments
Difficult access
Pebble and stone beaches
- Kimmeridge – Dogs allowed on leads
Car parks nearby, toll to be paid to the Encombe Estate
Toilets in the Slipway car park
Occasional refreshments available
Pebble and stone beach – good for rockpools
St Aldhelm’s Head and Chapman’s Pool
- Chapman’s Pool – Dogs allowed all year round
Parking at the top of the cliff
Steep climb/difficult access
No toilets or refreshments available
Pebble beach
Worth Matravers and Dancing Ledge
- Seacombe – Dogs allowed all year round
- Dancing Ledge – Dogs allowed all year round
Parking some distance away at the top of the cliff in Langton Matravers
Steep climb/difficult access
No toilets or refreshments available
Rock beach
- Studland – Dogs allowed all year round (summertime on leads)
Car parking available in the National Trust car parks – please do not park on the road!
Refreshments available
Toilets available
Visitor centre
Easy access
Sandy beach, complete with large sand dunes
- Bramble Bush Bay – Dogs allowed all year round
Same car parks, toilets and refreshments for Studland
Access through heath – on the inside of Poole Harbour
Sandy beach
- Shipstal Beach – Dogs on leads at all times
Under management of the RSPB
Car park, visitor centre and toilets nearby
Access through the heath along accessible tracks
Shell beach
East Dorset
- Hengistbury Head -Dogs on leads allowed all year round
Visitor centre, car park and toilets nearby
Easy accessible trail
Sandy beach
Christchurch (walk coming soon)
- Grimbury Beach -Dogs on leads allowed all year round
Car park nearby
No toilets nearby
Sandy Beach in the inside of Christchurch Harbour
