Swanage Beaches

(Swanage, Dorset, England, UK)

The award-winning sandy Dorset beaches around Swanage are simply wonderful and during the summer months, attract hordes of sunbathers and families. Next to the town centre and fronting Shore Road, the gently sloping sands of Swanage Beach stretches almost as far as you can see, and although it is relatively narrow, it is long enough to accommodate large numbers without becoming too overcrowded.

Beach amenities at Swanage are quite extensive and include toilets, facilities for baby changing, boat hire and a number of water sports, as well as numerous ice cream stalls, deckchair hire and a seasonal Punch and Judy show. At one end of the beachfront there is a good choice of shops, cafes, banks, amusements, gardens, beach huts and the Victorian pier.

General Information

Swanage Beach itself encompasses the promontory named Peveril Point and has been awarded the European Blue Flag for overall cleanliness and facilities. The sea itself is stunning blue and crystal clear, and on a scorching summer's day, it appears almost as if you are in southern France.

Out of season, it is possible to park on the road, right next to Swanage Beach, while during the summer season, road parking is close by and spaces are usually easy to come by, although there is an official car park as well.

The small village of Studland stands right next to Swanage and boasts another glorious stretch of golden sand, which is divided into areas known as Knoll Beach (a nudist stretch), Middle Beach, South Beach and Shell Bay. Studland's beachfront is more natural in its appearance and noticeably less commercialised than Swanage.

Owned and managed by the National Trust, Studland Beach features two nearby car parks (free to members of the National Trust), which are just a short walk away. Next to the cliffs, a multitude of rock pools appear when the tide goes out and are a great place to search for small crabs, shrimps and fish.

Further beaches close to Swanage include those at Boscombe, Bournemouth, Kimmeridge, Sandbanks and Weymouth. Of note, most of these beaches only allow dogs between October and May, although Kimmeridge Bay does permit dogs all through the year.