Studland Bay

Dotted around Shell Bay are 10 community painted cows. Can you find them all?

With the countryside blossoming into life, here are some of our favourite walks to discover the best of Purbeck.

Whether you want to walk, run, cycle, swim or paddle at Studland, there are endless opportunities for adventure.

Four miles of beautiful beaches line the sheltered waters of Studland Bay – ideal for beach games, sandcastles, watersports or simply relaxing.

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

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.

Dynamic Dunescapes is a nationwide project bringing together conservation bodies including the National Trust to restore sand dune landscapes like that at Studland Bay for nature.

Summer 2021 will see the return of cattle grazing to Studland Heath for the first time since the 1930s as part of our Dynamic Dunescapes project.

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.

Four hundred years ago a cornerstone of our natural world was lost. Now we are exploring how we might bring beavers back.

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.

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.

No overnight camping or parking is allowed at the places we care for. More information on why we don’t permit visitors to stay overnight at our car parks can be found here.

With more people than ever enjoying our coast and countryside places, we’re asking for your help in looking after them during your visit. Please help us protect wildlife and landscapes by following the Countryside Code, which includes taking any litter home with you and not lighting a barbecue or campfire.

Now more than ever, we all need access to nature, fresh air and open spaces. Become a member today and you can explore our outdoor places and park at most of our car parks free of charge. What's more, your membership will go towards looking after nature, beauty and history for generations to come.

For 125 years, people like you have helped us protect some of the UK's best-loved places. Everyone needs nature, beauty and green spaces now more than ever. But our income has dropped sharply due to the coronavirus crisis, and our essential conservation work is at risk. Please give what you can to help us look after these places, so people and nature can thrive.