One of the best things about Dorset (if not the best) is the beautiful beaches, including the renowned Swanage Beaches.
There’s no shortage of them either!
Some of the best beaches are situated in and around the heart of Swanage.
Swanage, famous for being a seaside town, has an impressive beach and crystal clear water for you to have a wild swim, whatever the weather.
There are also several beaches in the surrounding areas of Swanage, each with its own beautiful charm and as much beauty as a beach in Hawaii.
If you’re looking for a traditional British seaside, a secluded rustic beach or even a beach to wander around in your birthday suit, then Swanage is the place to visit.
First, I will show you all the beaches directly in Swanage, and then the beaches in very close proximity (5-8 min drive tops).
Let’s get started.
The Best Beaches in Swanage Dorset
North Beach
North Beach is at the end of Swanage Beach, closest to the clifftops.
It is a more secluded part of the beach and can be part of an enjoyable walk from the town or down from the cliff-top walking trails.
However, walking from the town requires a little climbing over the wooden groynes, so it’s not a walk for people with physical disabilities.
Some of North Beach is privately owned, so look out for the signs whilst visiting to ensure you bypass that area.
Unlike the main Swanage seafront, dogs are allowed all year on North Beach.
The Swanage Beach Cairn
The Swanage Beach Cairn can be found at North Beach.
When you reach the end of the beach, you will see a large pile of chalk rocks.
The rocks are known as ‘a work of art that everyone can contribute to.’
A local woman started off the rocks by placing some of her happiest memories written onto them and now people visit from all over to contribute their stones with thought, wishes and prayers.
The Cairn is worth a visit to admire and place your own wishes down, you get a lovely view of the ocean and the town from here as well.
Location: S W Coast Path, Swanage BH19
Swanage Bay
Swanage Bay has blue flag award-winning sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and views of the stunning countryside.
Along the beach are a number of cafes and restaurants that serve seafood, burgers, teas, coffees or just a snack to satisfy your hunger cravings whilst visiting.
There are designated swimming areas to keep everyone as safe as possible whilst out in the water.
Between the 1st May – 30th September, Dogs are banned on Swanage Beach. However, for the rest of the year, dogs are welcome.
Location: Swanage BH19 1LW
Swanage Beachfront
Swanage Beachfront is an excellent place to bring children.
It’s a ‘typical’ British beach with ice cream stalls, deck chairs and sun lounger hire and even a Punch and Judy show.
You can hire out peddle boats/ paddle boards and kayaks at a reasonable price, it’s a lot of fun to take to the sea and take in the views Swanage has to offer.
You can rent a beach hut at a good price for your visit, sit and people-watch, relax and enjoy your time on the beach.
Beach Hut Prices
| Day Hire (Off Peak): | £15 |
| Day Hire (Peak): | £20 |
| Week Hire (Off Peak): | £60 |
| Week Hire (Peak): | £140 |
Shore Road Beach Huts Swanage Information Centre 01929 766018
There are also amusements to visit and Santa-Fe fun park to visit right on Swanage beachfront.
Location: Shore Rd, Swanage BH19 1LB
Swanage Monkey Beach
Monkey Beach in Swanage is well known as a small (and I mean small) piece of beach for dogs.
It is all year round dog friendly.
It is located between the old Stone Quay and Swanage Pier.
There is parking close by (see parking in Swanage below) and a field for your dog to run around before a cooling swim in the sea.
Monkey Beach is also a good starting point to go paddle boarding or kayaking, with only a short piece of beach to set off from.
Crabbing and fishing are close by that you can do off of the old stone quay, and boat outings are available to book for the day if you really want to get out into the ocean and see Swanage.
In the summer months, for the children (and the grown-ups) there are hair braids and temporary tattoo stalls.
Location: Pier Head, Swanage BH19 2FA
Pier Beach
Pier Beach is a very small and very secluded beach just right of the pier.
Unlike the white sands of the other beaches in Swanage, Pier Beach has sand and shingles with lots of great stones for skimming.
It has excellent views of Swanage’s famous Victorian pier and Swanage’s old pier (mainly just timber piles remain but they are an excellent photo opportunity and make for a great view.)
In my opinion, you get one of the best views of Swanage from Pier Beach with the vast countryside, white cliffs, and if you walk far enough you can see Old Harry Rocks in the distance.
If you walk a little further down, you can crab fish off the side of the rocks and get a close up look at the famous clock tower.
Location: Pier Approach, Swanage BH19 2AP (Right of the pier)
Parking For Swanage Beaches
There are a number of places you can park in Swanage.
These all require payment, so make sure you pay and display.
Also, car park opening times may vary.
Swanage Beachfront: Shore Road
North Beach Car Park: Days Park, Bonfields Ave, Swanage
Main Beach Car Park: Information Centre, A351, Swanage BH19 1PW
Broad Road Car Park: Broad Rd, Swanage BH19 2AP
Central Car Park: Springfield Rd, Swanage BH19 1HB
Solo motorcycle parking bay: Banjo Pier, Swanage BH19 1AH
Mermond Place Short Stay Car Park: Mermond Place, BH19 1DQ
Beaches In The Surrounding Swanage Area
South Beach
South Beach is stunning.
From the minute you leave the car park to the walk down to the beach through the ‘jungle’ scenic walkway to walking out to the beautiful view of Old Harry Rocks.
This is the beach where you’ll get the closest view of Old Harry and it does not disappoint.
There are beautiful clear shallow waters and sand perfect for building sandcastles.
There is plenty for children to explore, trees to climb, crab shells to investigate and a world war II pill box to inspect.
The car park is roughly a 10-minute walk from the beach, so bring your beach trolley if heading down for the day.
The car park is National Trust (free to members and a fee for non-members) and is next to The Bankes Arms pub.
The pub serves amazing food and has a breathtaking view from the large beer garden located at the front of the pub.
When you reach the beach, there is a takeaway food hut to your left, which sells a selection of pastries, sandwiches, tea, coffee and sweet treats.
South Beach has more of a rustic vibe than the previous beaches stated.
A ‘hidden’ gem in the Studland/ Swanage area.
South Beach car park opening times: 09:00 – 23:00
Location: Manor Rd, Studland, Swanage BH19 3AU
Middle Beach
If you follow the South West coast path (the beach shoreline) from Knoll Beach you will reach Middle Beach.
Sometimes depending on the tide you can carry on straight on to Middle Beach and sometimes you can’t so bear that in mind when setting out for the day.
Middle Beach has a lovely white sandy beach and clear blue waters, with a bit of seaweed thrown in.
There is a National Trust car park close by with ample parking and toilets and a selection of things within the car park to look out for:
Fore Adventure
If you’re looking for an adventure while visiting Dorset, this is a good place to start!
Fore offers a plethora of activities for all, from kayaking, foraging, paddle boarding, sea snorkelling, coasteering and so on.
You can take half-day tours to Old Harry Rocks, which I did with my husband, and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
You can also enjoy a forage and feast experience with many more things on offer to do.
If sunbathing on the beach isn’t for you, then tick something off your bucket list and experience something new.
Check them out here: https://www.foreadventure.co.uk/
The Sandy Salt Pig
Also in the Middle Beach car park is The Sandy Salt Pig.
Run by a local resident that offers Purbeck-produced food at affordable prices.
The Salt Pig has many other restaurants dotted around Dorset, and having a takeaway service on the beach is sure to make your beach trip a whole lot better.
The food is amazing and definitely worth a trip to Middle Beach on its own.
There are also hot drinks available and a great view of the beach.
The Sandy Pig opening times: 9 am–5 pm, 7 days a week.
Dogs must be on a lead between 1 May and 30 September on Middle Beach.
Car Park opening times: 08:30 – 20:00
Location: Beach Rd, Studland, Swanage BH19 3AX
Knoll Beach
Knoll Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches near Swanage.
It’s got great facilities but also has a rustic and rural charm.
You can walk along the beach and enjoy views of Old Harry Rocks, set up your towel among the trees or paddle in the vast amount of shallow sea.
Knoll beach is part of the National Trust and has a large car park with coach parking and a National Trust office.
There is a shop and cafe open all year round and toilet facilities are all easily accessible via the car park.
The National Trust facilitates disabled people as much as possible by having the cafe, toilets, shop and office all on level ground, and you can also free hire a beach wheelchair from the office.
A beach hut bookshop is located a little further down the beach and a sauna you can rent just by the toilets and watersports hire.
You can even hire pedal boats, paddle boards and kayaks, making it a great beach to visit with the family with lots to do to keep the children entertained.
There are even paddleboard yoga classes you can book!
A perfect beach all round and somewhere you can spend the whole day with family and friends or with your dog, between 1st May – 30th September.
- Beach – Open all-day
- Car Park – 08.30 – 20.00 (Free for National Trust members, fees apply for non-members)
- Cafe – 09.30 – 17.30
- Shop – 09.30 – 17.30
Location: BH19 3AH
Studland Naturist Beach
Nestled between Studland and Knoll Beach, you can find one of the UK’s most well-known National Trust Naturist beaches.
Stretching out for roughly 1k of beach with a clothing-optional dress code, you can become one with nature and sunbathe in the nude.
The beach has rules (as stated by the National Trust website) are as follows to keep everyone safe.
Such as:
- Only the dress code is different
- Avoid being a nuisance
- Respect people’s space
- Don’t be an exhibitionist
- Avoid confronting or approaching textiles
- Any sexual activity is unwelcome and criminal in a public place
- Naturists are a trusting and trustworthy bunch, but please keep your valuables safe
- Always report a crime
The National Trust wants to keep everyone on the same wavelength when it comes to being a naturist so respecting the rules is important.
There are clear marked signs when you reach the nudist area, and nudists can only stay within said signs with no clothes on.
Parking is National Trust and can be found at Studland or Knoll Beach.
There are toilets in both car parks. However, there are none on the nudist part of the beach.
Location: S W Coast Path, BH19 3BA
Shell Bay Beach
Shell Bay Beach is a secluded natural beach with lots of wildlife and plenty of opportunity for adventure.
There are plenty of walking routes around the area, giving you the opportunity to walk along the beach and through the beautiful heathland surrounding the area.
If it’s something you enjoy, you can spot all the local wildlife, from dragonflies, butterflies, reptiles and birds.
There is also a selection of wildflowers, plants and heathland to spot for all the plant lovers.
With beautiful white sand and a stunning view of Brownsea Island, Bournemouth, and Poole across the water Shell Bay is a lovely place to visit.
There is a National Trust car park close by, which is free for members and a small fee for non members, with toilet facilities.
Also, as stated above, there is ample free parking along Ferry Road.
Dogs are allowed on Shell Bay Beach year-round.
The Shell Bay restaurant is also worth visiting if you love seafood and a cracking view.
Fires and BBQs are not permitted anywhere on the beaches as there is a lot of heathland surrounding the area, which is prone to fires.
Location: Ferry Road, BH19 3BA
Bramble Bush Bay Beach
When getting off the Sandbanks to Studland ferry (at Studland) you can visit Bramble Bush Bay.
A rustic hidden gem that has the benefit of being quieter than Studland beach and has a beautiful combination of beach and heathland, making it the perfect spot for photographers and bird watchers to visit.
There is a selection of houseboats on the water, which gives it a unique view from the rest of the surrounding beaches.
The beach is on the Shell Bay Restaurant side, opposite the National Trust car park.
It is very easy to find, and if you put it into your phone, the map is easy to follow.
Free parking is all along Ferry Road. However, it can get very busy during peak times.
Bramble Bush Bay is a great place for paddle boarding and kayaking as it’s a quieter, lesser-known beach, but remember to stay close to the shoreline, be safe and take care on the water.
Dogs are allowed on this beach year round, and toilet facilities are in Studland’s national trust car park.
Remember to check the tide times when visiting, as it can impact your visit to the beach.
Dragon Teeth at Bramble Bush Bay
Dragon teeth were used as part of the defence against enemy invasion in world war II.
They are concrete anti-tank defences placed in various parts of Studland.
You can see them in the water at Bramble bush bay and by the Middle Beach car park.
Location: Swanage BH19 3BA
There you have it. The best Swanage beaches, where to find them and things to do.
I hope this helps you when planning your next trip and you have a fantastic experience in Swanage, as it is truly underrated and worth a visit.
If you liked the beaches in this article you’ll love these beaches in Poole.
