Best Beach Walks in Dorset
From short walks with a stop at a cafe, to long hikes along the South West Coast Path, you can find some of the best beach walks in Dorset. Summer on the beach is lovely and a favourite place for many locals and visitors. The end of October is also a time that many local dog owners look forward to, restrictions are eased and they enjoy beach walks in more places. Families wrap up warm against the winter wind and enjoy early sunsets and chips on the beach.
West Dorset Beaches, Parking, Toilets and Cafes
Read on for guide to beaches, parking and cafes at the places that are the best options close to where I live on the Jurassic Coast in West Dorset. Whether you enjoy solo walks, family days out or looking for new dog walks read on. I am sure you have your favourite spots as well and am always happy to hear your recommendations and top tips for all across the South West.
For this guide I’m starting in West Dorset on Chesil Beach and then heading towards Lyme Regis – it’s surprising how different each beach is. There’s also a post for across the border into East Devon.
Chesil Beach
For miles of space the vast beach that marks the eastern start of the Jurassic coast is Chesil Beach. This pebble beach huge in length and height and it’s hard to imagine the forces of nature required to build this bank of pebbles. At this end the pebbles are quite large and it slopes steeply into the sea so is not recommended for swimming. It’s a popular spot for fishing and beach BBQs with views across to the Fleet Lagoon and Portland beyond.
Abbotsbury
There are lovely walks with the area around Abbotsbury a great option. There is a footpath up to the pretty St Catherine’s Chapel and many pubs and tearooms in the village or around the Abbey Barn such as Cherries. Dogs are allowed on most of the beach but please do check local signage.
For parking and direct access to the beach, follow the signs for the Sub-tropical Gardens on the outskirts Abbotsbury village (postcode DT3 4LA). Head past the garden entrance and you will come to a car park (metered charges) and toilet facilities right next to the beach. You can also enjoy the lovely Chesil Beach Cafe which serves lunches, local cakes and great coffee. Check ahead for winter opening hours – Facebook link here.
West Bexington
Heading West towards Bridport along the beach is the official South West Coast Path route and after 2 miles you reach West Bexington. Here you will find a similar beach and car parking (Dorset Council meter), as well as toilets but no other facilities. Postcode for the Sat Nav is DT2 9DG.
Cogden Beach
Now don’t tell everyone but Cogden Beach is a bit of a gem if you are looking for an unspoilt and remote part of Dorset. Of course there’s a reason.
The small pay and display car park is away from the beach (about 500 metres across a track and a field, National Trust), there are no toilets, no facilities, no life guards.
The beach is made up of pea sized shingle. Although flat in areas higher up, it does still go quite steeply into the sea so can be dangerous for swimming. The beach is dog friendly so this also makes it popular for dog walkers.
On the National Trust website you can find details of a short walk that goes along the beach and round Burton Mere, and small inland lake with a reed bed. The area is a nature reserve so attracts a lot of birds and wild flower species. In the spring the beach is pink and white with Thrift and Sea Kale.
The parking is just on the side of the main road about a mile from Burton Bradstock.
Hive Beach – Burton Bradstock
A popular beach owned by the National Trust with a range of walking trails around the coast and the beautiful South West Coast Path. Once again it’s a shingle beach and does shelve quite steeply, best for strong swimmers only as there are no life guards.
Dogs are welcome all year at the dog friendly area of beach heading which is the east end (towards Cogden Beach), past the wooden chalet. No dogs on the main beach from 1 June – 30 September. See signage at the beach for more details.
For families The National Trust often run kids activity trails at Easter and other times over Bind Barrow. There are pretty walks around the local area including the South West Coast Path. A nice 2 mile walk takes you along the beach heading towards Bridport. Once you reach the river follow it round and return round the back of the cliff on the Hardy Way.
Parking: National Trust car park £3 for 2 hours (free for NT members with a valid card), close to the beach if you arrive early enough.
Eating: try the popular Hive Beach Café – great for a lazy brunch as well as fabulous main meals.
Public Toilets – yes, open at the same times as the cafe or head back into the village.
West Bay
There are two sides to West Bay with a working fishing harbour in between. As well as the beaches you have shops and cafes galore to browse at the location now famous for being Broadchurch. The main beach slopes into the sea with small shingle.
Popular with swimmers and paddle boarders there are also Life Guards here in the summer. Dogs are not allowed on the main beach area between 1st May and 1st October but can go where the cliffs start.
From here you can enjoy a walk all along the seafront to the next bay at Burton Freshwater beach, then return along the cliff top coast path. Please keep away from the base of the cliffs due to the risk of rock falls.
The other side of the harbour in West Bay there is a lovely long and accessible harbour wall, popular for fishing and crabbing as well as strolling. Then there is a smaller beach with some parking right on the seafront. You can walk along the seafront here for about 1/2 mile and it is perfect for pushchairs or wheelchairs. For a longer walk keep going this way towards Eype Mouth and Thorncombe Beacon.
Parking – there are a number of council run car parks and parking on the seafront, the cheapest is the first Long Stay at the entrance to West Bay on the left.
Eating – there’s too much to choose from. Try pizza at The Watch House Café on the beach, fabulous fish and chips from one of the outdoor huts by the harbour or lunch and a lovely ice cream sundae from Cherries Ice Cream Parlour. There’s plenty of choice whatever your budget.
Public Toilets – yes
Eype Mouth Beach
Tucked away down a country lane, Eype Mouth is accessible off the A35 near Bridport (DT6 6AL). Expect a pebble beach there not much else! Dogs are welcome at all times. What makes this beach popular is that it’s often park of a walk from West Bay or a circular walk to Thorncombe Beacon.
Parking in the small private car park right on the sea front. For tea and cake and a great walking base try the Downhouse Farm Cafe – up the hill from the beach open from March to the end of October from 10am, with last orders at 6pm. (closed Monday’s except Bank Holiday’s). I’ve heard their cream teas and apple cake are to die for!
In the village of Eype the New Inn, is dog friendly. There are no public toilets on Eype Beach.
Chideock – Seatown
Turn off in Chidoeck for the beach at Seatown. This beach privately owned is dog free from May to September. Explore along the shore line for fossils, again keep clear of the cliff. The beach is pebble and shingle and shelves into the sea. There is lovely walking along the coast path over the cliffs. It’s just over 2 miles to Eype or turn back on a different footpath after half a mile steep walk.
In the other direction (also uphill, turn left off the road out of the hamlet) you will reach Langdon Woods and Golden Cap if you are feeling energetic.
One of the main draws to this beach is The Anchor Inn which has a great reputation for food. It’s compact inside but there are plenty of outdoor tables. You can also buy food, ice creams and takeaways from the caravan park shop (until Mid November) or drive back into Chideock for pubs and cream teas. There is a privately run car park here opposite the Anchor Inn as well as public toilets.
Charmouth
A lovely town, with a beach famous for it’s fossil. For the best walk try to get there for low tide and head over the little bridge to East Beach when a large expanse of sand is revealed. At high tide the sea almost reaches the cliff and you may find yourself walking in sludgy black mud. However walks along the beach are stunning especially in the morning and evening light.
West Beach (pictured) is more pebbley but the far end of this beach is popular with fossil hunters. At low tide you can walk all the way to Lyme Regis along the shoreline.
Parking – quite a choice. The cheapest is the West Dorset Council Car park just off Lower Sea Lane (3 minutes walk to the beach with toilets). Just before the beach on the left it’s a private car park £3 all day or 60p after 6pm. The seafront car park is Charmouth Parish Council’s, £4 all day or £1 per hour.
For food Charmouth has a range of options from tea shops and pubs to fish and chips and a bakery as well as two convenience stores on the High Street. The seafront cafe is seasonal.
Public toilets – behind the Heritage Centre. Check signage for dog walking details.
Lyme Regis
Lyme Regis is a popular town and at the weekends the promenade is busy with holiday makers and locals alike. The main beaches are has a small sandy area (no dogs) as well as a longer pebble section.
Dogs are allowed on the main Front Beaches (the pebble one) outside the summer months (1st October – 30th). On lead restrictions apply on the adjacent Cart Road, Marine Parade and Sea wall beaches in the winter months as well so please check the signs.
Monmouth Beach is popular for walking and BBQs, this is pebble beach to the right of the harbour. Dogs are freely allowed all year on here. On the other side of town East Cliff Beach is also dog friendly. At low tide you can walk to Charmouth but make sure you check the tide times.
There is plenty of parking but for the cheapest options try the long stay Holmbush or Charmouth Road carparks you will need to walk a bit further for these one. There is parking closer to the beach but expect to pay short stay prices.
There are numerous options for eating and drinking – too many to mention to be honest so just see what takes your fancy.
Public toilets – yes plenty. The best ones are on Marine Parade that have been recently refurbished. For more details about Lyme Regis you can read my other complete post.
I do really enjoy beach walks all year round. If you have a dog it can be quite confusing the different rules in each place.
For East Devon here’s the link to my guide to Winter Walks on East Devon Beaches
Do take care when walking either on top of the cliffs or along the beaches. The cliffs are very unstable and climbing cliffs or getting close the edge of you’re on the top or the base of the cliffs is potentially very dangerous. Take a serious note of any signs or warnings.
Photo Credits:
Thank you to Max Redwood, a local photographer and videographer, for letting me use 2 of his Lyme Regis photos for this post.
Thank you to Sara from High Grange for sharing her pictures Cogden Beach. Sara and husband chef Luke run a unique outdoor covered woodland dining, feast nights and cookery school near the East Devon/West Dorset boarder.
Hi! I am Clare and I live in glorious East Devon with my family.
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