Studland Bay

Important notice -

Due to issues with the Sandbanks chain ferry, the cafe and shop at Knoll Beach will close at 4.45pm on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 September. Apologies for any inconvenience.

Vast area of sandy beaches and heathland

More about this place

A view of Studland Beach
Studland Bay   Dorset

The beaches

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

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Trust Ten runners on the beach at Studland Bay

Train in 10  

Build your fitness over 10 weekly sessions designed to help you reach your goal of completing our Trust10 run. We’re there to support you every step of the way with a run leader and a clear plan.

Apples on a tree

Apple day 

Meet the countryside rangers in the orchard by South Beach on Sunday 30 September and have a go at apple themed activities, a bioblitz and try fresh apple juice. Free event.

More to explore

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.

Upcoming events

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Just off for a walk book signing

Sat 29 Sep 2018
10:00-16:00
What happens when a 37-year-old office worker, who exercises marginally less than the average cheese sandwich, decides to walk over 600 miles of coastline in one go? 10.30-1.30 at Knoll Shop, 2.30-4 at Grooms cottage

Autumn Fungi

Sat 29 Sep 2018
11:00-13:00
Meet a Fungi expert for a beginners guide to the fungi of Studland Bay.

Apple day

Sun 30 Sep 2018
10:30-15:30
Meet the countryside rangers in the orchard by South Beach and have a go at apple themed activities, a bioblitz and try fresh apple juice. Free event.

Wild Food Walk and Lunch

Sat 06 Oct 2018
11:00-14:00
Join a Ranger-led walk to discover the food growing wild around us and then enjoy a two course 'wild food' lunch at Knoll Beach café

Creatures of the night

Sat 20 Oct 2018
10:30-15:30
Take part in our nature-themed Halloween trail

Woodland Walk and Draw

Sun 21 Oct 2018
10:30-15:30
Come to the woods and dunes for inspiration and get creative using the natural things around you.
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Studland Bay

Eating and shopping

A picnic hamper from our summer range

The shop

You’ll find everything you need for a day at the beach in our shop, along with gifts, home accessories, rugs, decorative items and a great range of cards. Our Valleys to Headlands range of homewares is meanwhile inspired by a slowed down approach to living amid the colours and textures of the natural world.

An outdoor table at Knoll Beach Cafe in Studland Bay

The cafe 

Dine in style indoors or out with views overlooking Studland Bay with views to Old Harry rocks and the Isle of Wight. When it's not so warm you’ll find a cosy interior heated by a stove burning wood from our estate.

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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.

Our changing coast

Failing sea defences at Middle Beach in Studland

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 and now we are asking more beach users to get involved.

The storms battering the dunes

Living with change: Our shifting shores 

We're tackling the threats of a changing coastline to safeguard the coastline you love.

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Studland Bay

Venue hire

A group of people outside the Discovery Centre at Studland Beach

The Discovery Centre 

The Discovery Centre is our fully catered eco-venue just 300 yards from Studland Beach. With indoor seating for up to 40 plus a wealth of opportunities for outdoor activities, it’s available for away days, conferences, receptions and parties.

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.

Find out more
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Studland Bay

Learning

two girls using a suction 'pooter' to collect insects at Studland Beach

Studland for schools 

Make Studland your classroom to explore the natural environment through field work or indoor activities in the Discovery Centre. Explore a range of topics for key stages one to four including habitats, coastal processes, human impacts, management of a national nature reserve and eco-buildings.

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Studland Bay

Places to stay

Seaview holiday cottage

Places to stay near Studland Bay 

A quirky hideaway minutes from great beaches or a harbourside farmhouse could be your holiday home from home. Further afield, choose from a historic village setting or the peace and tranquillity of the Purbeck countryside.

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