Leave the car at home

Evening light over Ballard Down at Studland Bay, Dorset

The roads around Studland Bay can be very busy at peak times, but you can cut congestion, reduce your carbon footprint and boost your own health with these sustainable transport alternatives.

From Bournemouth or Poole

You can take the Purbeck Breezer 50 bus from various stops between Bournemouth and Poole. The route features open top buses in summer so you can ride the chain ferry in style and enjoy the sea views along the way.

The bus stops at Shell Bay, Ferry Road for heath access, Greenlands track, Knoll Beach and Beach Road for access to Middle Beach, South Beach and the popular walk to Old Harry. It then continues to Swanage (see below).

By bike

If you are feeling active, you could cycle and take the chain ferry which operates every 20 minutes from Sandbanks direct to Shell Bay. From there you have the option of continuing along Ferry Road to reach the other beaches.

Sheffield bike racks are available in every car park area and opposite Middle Beach café - six at Shell Bay, six at South Beach, six at Middle Beach and 22 at Knoll Beach.

Beryl bikes

We welcome Beryl bikes however Studland Bay does not have any designated Beryl bike parking bays so extra charges will apply from Beryl if parking the bikes anywhere on the Studland side.

Sandbanks does have a Beryl bike parking bay so you could opt to cycle to Sandbanks and take the ferry as a foot passenger.

Two cyclists on the National Cycle Network Route Two near Studland — National Cycle Network Route Two links Purbeck Park to Studland Bay

On foot

Studland is located on the South West Coast Path which begins at the Shell Bay ferry slipway and continues along the beaches and cliffs to Old Harry, Swanage (see below) and beyond.

From Swanage and the west

You can take the Purbeck Breezer from Swanage or follow the South West Coast Path over Ballard Down to enjoy views of Old Harry, Poole Bay and the Isle of Wight.

Alternatively, you can walk via Ulwell to join the footpaths over the Isle of Purbeck Golf Club course and on to Godlingston Heath and Studland past the Agglestone Rock, walking through nationally important heathland (approximately three to four miles).

If you are travelling from the rest of Dorset, you can park at Purbeck Park at Norden and hire a bike from cyclexperience (push bikes and e-bikes available) to travel on Route Two of the National Cycle Network to Studland Bay.