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West Dorset Beaches

Whatever you want from the seaside, the glorious sweep of West Dorset's coastline will provide it all.

Explore our Jurassic Coast, designated a World Heritage Site for it's outstanding geology! The full 25 miles of West Dorset coastline is recognised in this fantastic award, a coastal landscape made up entirely of rocks formed some 190million years ago. The age of the coastline ensures some fantastic fossil hunting opportunities.

Discover our seaside towns and villages - our picturesque yet bustling resorts like Charmouth, Lyme Regis and West Bay offer the widest range of holiday activities: paddling in the sea, fishing trips, windsurfing, strolls along the prom to mention just a few! Some areas permit dogs on beaches all year round, so why not bring the family pet along with you?

Whether you wish to bathe, fish, dive, sail, walk or simply admire the stunning views, always remember that the coast can be a dangerous place and make sure you holiday in safety.

Restrictions to beach access on the Jurassic Coast have now been lifted. The South West Coast Path between Lyme Regis and West Bexington has now been reopened for all sections, except for the stretch between Freshwater Holiday Park and Hive Beach.  This will be reviewed when further safety assessments have been carried out. 

Parts of the coast where visitors can access the beaches away from cliffs, such as Cogden, Hive,West Bay, Seatown, Charmouth and Lyme Regis beaches, are open as normal. Additional warning signs have been put up along the coast, and additional public notices are being prepared for tourist information centres and other strategic points in the area.