Studland Bay

Important notice -

Our car parks are open at Shell Bay, Knoll Beach, Middle Beach and South Beach from 9am to 5pm. Toilets are open at Shell Bay, Knoll Beach and Middle Beach. We have limited spaces, so if the car park is full please come back another time.

Vast area of sandy beaches and heathland

More about this place

Family walking dogs

Which places are open and what you need to know before you visit 

We're reopening the places you love, gradually, safely and in step with government advice. Our houses, gardens and parklands remain closed for now, in line with the rules about ticketed venues. But we're opening some of our coast and countryside car parks in England, so you can get out into green spaces. You'll need to book for some of them. Some coast and countryside car parks in Northern Ireland will start to reopen from 27 May. For now, all car parks in Wales have to remain closed on government advice. Read this article to find out what's open, how you can visit, and what to expect from your visit.

Exploring Studland Bay

A view of Old Harry, Dorset

Old Harry - Purbeck landmark 

Old Harry is an iconic feature on the East Dorset coastline, and it's also a great spot for sports, walking and admiring some lovely views.

The Agglestone on Godlingston Heath, Dorset

Studland and Godlingston Heath 

The largest expanse of lowland heath remaining in Dorset recalls the landscape of Thomas Hardy's Wessex.

Walkers in the Purbeck Hills near Corfe Castle

The Purbeck Hills 

The views from the Purbeck Hills in Dorset represented the best of the English countryside for novelist E. M. Forster.

Bog pool at Arne, Purbeck Heaths, Dorset

UK's first 'super' nature reserve created at Purbeck Heaths 

We know that big steps are needed to create landscapes where people and wildlife can thrive. This is why we've joined forces with like-minded organisations to form the UK's first 'super' national nature reserve at Purbeck Heaths in Dorset.

Discover amazing wildlife
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Studland Bay

Our work

A beach ranger emptying litter bins at Studland Beach, Dorset

Keeping Studland special 

Providing great days out for more than a million visitors a year while protecting the delicate ecology of a national nature reserve is no mean feat.

Red Devon cattle on Studland Heath

Farming and conservation 

The National Trust and our farming partners use traditional methods to keep the diverse landscapes of Purbeck beautiful and rich in wildlife.

Failing sea defences at Middle Beach in Studland
Studland Bay   Dorset

Shifting shores at Middle Beach

We want to create a sustainable future for Middle Beach and its facilities, which are both impacted by coastal change. We are working with the Studland community to achieve this.

Find out more
Studland Bay from the air

Wild worlds 

The golden sands of Studland Bay surround a national nature reserve where heaths, wetlands and woodlands are home to a fascinating array of wildlife. The downlands stretching inland from Old Harry meanwhile host their own unique natural communities.

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