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Vast area of sandy beaches and heathland
Studland, near Swanage, Dorset
Asset | Opening time |
---|---|
Beach | Open all day |
Car Park | 09:00 - 18:00 |
Café | 09:30 - 17:00 |
Shop | 09:30 - 17:00 |
Beach hut bookshop at Knoll Beach and Grooms Cottage, Middle beach
Dogs are welcome on Studland's beaches all year round. Well behaved dogs are welcome in the outside seating area at the café. From 1 May - 30 September please keep your dog on a lead of less than 2m anywhere on the beach. Local Authority Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO) restrictions are in place and failure to comply may lead to a fixed penalty notice.
Situated at Knoll Beach, open all year round.
Situated at Knoll Beach, open all year round.
Pay & display charges apply (free for NT Members; please scan membership card at pay & display machine). Coach Parking at Knoll Beach car park. Overnight parking and camping is not permitted.
Toilets located at Knoll beach, Middle beach and Shell bay car park.
Mixed and uneven terrain throughout. Designated accessible parking. Accessible toilets at Knoll Beach, Middle Beach and Shell Bay.
Accessible toilets at Knoll Beach, Middle Beach and Shell Bay.
Changing Places toilet at Knoll Beach. Facility includes an adult-sized changing bench, hoist, a peninsular toilet and a height adjustable basin. It is also heated. There is level access from our disabled parking to the changing room, café and shop.
Tramper vehicle available at South beach car park. Bookings 01929 450500
Mixed and uneven terrain throughout.
Beach wheelchairs available for free hire at Knoll beach office.
B3351 from Corfe Castle and Swanage or via chain ferry from Sandbanks, Poole
Parking: Pay and display (free to members) at South Beach, Middle Beach, Knoll Beach and Shell bay
Studland Bay is on the South West Coast Path and is accessible on foot from Bournemouth and Poole via the Sandbanks chain ferry.
The closest mainline railway stations are Parkstone and Branksome in Poole and Wareham. The closest stop on the Swanage Railway is Swanage itself. Options for onward travel to Studland Bay include buses, walking and cycling.
Purbeck Breezer no.50 from Bournemouth and Poole or Swanage. £2 per person until end October.
Studland Bay is on the National Cycle Network Route Two which runs east to Bournemouth and Poole and west to Corfe Castle and Wareham. Bike racks are available at Knoll Beach. Beryl bikes bays are available at all four Studland Bay car parks (South, Middle and Knoll Beaches, Shell Bay). Any bicycles, including Beryl bikes, can be brought over on the ferry for a £1 fee each way (the Beryl bike hire fee can be 'paused' while on ferry). For more information go to https://beryl.cc/scheme/bournemouth-christchurch-and-poole.
A chain ferry links Sandbanks in Poole with Studland Bay, carrying vehicles, bikes and foot passengers. Ferry service runs every 20 minutes. Find out more about arriving by ferry or phone 01929 450203.
Permits are available from the Knoll Beach Office for horse riding along a designated route on the beach. Please email studlandbay@nationaltrust.org.uk. Date and time restrictions apply. Horses are not permitted on the beach from June-October.
Studland Bay is a two pawprint rated place. Well-behaved dogs are very welcome. We have certain restrictions to ensure everyone enjoys the beach, whether on two or four feet.
You can avoid traffic queues and stress, and do your bit for the environment, by leaving your car behind when you travel to Studland Bay.
A designated section of Studland Beach is probably the best known naturist beach in Britain. The 900m area of Knoll Beach is marked with signs and posts.
Please be aware that barbecues, cooking and fires are not permitted at Studland Bay, due to the fire risk. There are no designated barbecue areas at Studland. In the case of fire dial 999. Please contact 01929 450500 to report BBQs to our staff at Studland Bay.
Metal detecting is permitted via a permit system only. Please email us to apply for a permit. Drones are not permitted on any National Trust land.
Live World War Two ammunition may occasionally be found. Studland was used as a live fire area in preparation for D-Day. If you see anything, do not touch or remove it but note the location using what three words and report it immediately to a member of staff, call 01929 450500 or the police on 999.
Groups are welcome at Studland Bay, whether you’re planning a group trip or a self-guided education visit. Find out about the kinds of activities on offer for education groups, and how to arrange your visit.
Four miles of unspoiled sandy beaches with sheltered, gently shelving bathing waters backed by dunes and low cliffs.
Towering sea stacks and cliffs topped by chalk downland, with views over Poole Bay to the Isle of Wight.
Protected lowland heath, home to all six native British reptiles, rare birds, plants and invertebrates.
Beachside café with indoor and outdoor seating. Hot and cold drinks and snacks. Dogs welcome outdoors.
Beach equipment, watersports gear, swimwear and towels, sun protection, toys, books, clothing and gifts.
Second-hand bookshop with a wide range of paperbacks and hardbacks for adults and children.
Freshwater lake, once an inlet of the sea. Home to a rare and distinctive ecosystem.
Second World War observation bunker where Churchill, Eisenhower and King George VI watched rehearsals for D-Day.
Join us as we commemorate the 80th anniversary of Exercise Smash. In April 1944, Studland Bay was central to the practice of the D-Day landings and the ending of WW2. The practice was called Exercise Smash, involved thousands of men and was overseen by Sir Winston Churchill. Sadly, seven tanks sank and six men lost their lives here. This year it is 80 years since Exercise Smash took place and we are commemorating the lives of the six young men along with Studland Bay’s part in the success of the D-Day landings on the 3rd, 4th and 5th of April. Events include guided WW2 walks, tank displays on the beach and an exhibition at Studland Village Hall.
Come along to Studland’s popular Easter trail and egg hunt for adventurous children! Families are invited to follow the Easter trail and explore the beach, dunes and woodland of Studland Bay, build a birds nest, fling some mud and collect a chocolate egg (Free-from and vegan options available).
Find out about our popular Easter Egg adventure trail which takes place along the beach, sand dunes and woodland to earn a chocolate egg. Learn about our activities to mark 80 years of Exercise Smash - the practice for the D-day landings here at Studland Bay and get involved in our mindfulness walks and our regular 10k run.
With miles of sandy beaches, dunes and woodland to explore, Studland Bay is the perfect place for a family adventure. Find out more and plan your visit.
Four miles of beautiful beaches line the sheltered waters of Studland Bay. The area is ideal for family beach trips and coastal walks.
Studland bay is known to many as a leisure destination with a four mile long beach. Discover how it was used during military operations during WWII and how it came to be donated to the National Trust in 1981.
Studland Bay is a special landscape that dedicated teams of staff, volunteers (and a herd of cattle) help maintain for the safety and enjoyment of wildlife and visitors.
There are more than 260 huts dotted along Studland beach with about 50 National Trust huts available for rent.
Volunteers play a big part in caring for habitats and helping visitors across Purbeck and we are always looking for friendly and passionate people to join our teams. Come along to our Purbeck volunteer recruitment event on Saturday 20 January to learn more.
There are endless opportunities for adventure at Studland Bay, Dorset, where you can explore the water in kayaks, the beach on horseback and the nearby countryside on bikes.
Discover ancient rock formations and one of Dorset's most famous landmarks on this circular trail from South Beach in Studland Bay, with exciting birdlife to enjoy along the way.
Impressive views over Poole Harbour and the mysterious Agglestone await you on this scenic 3-mile walk around Godlingston Heath national nature reserve.
Need some refreshments during your visit? Find out more about Knoll Beach Café, along with its sister shop, which sells a wide range of seasonal beach equipment, accessories and gift ideas.
A meadow campsite just off the South West Coast Path, with walks inland to the Purbeck hills or to Chapman’s Pool on the Jurassic Coast.
With views over Studland Bay, this former tennis pavilion makes a quirky holiday escape.
At the edge of Poole Harbour, with green fields all around this 1940s cottage has views to Brownsea Island.
One of a pair of former farm workers’ cottages with stunning views over Swanage Bay.
The other half of a pair of former farm workers’ cottages a short distance from Dorset’s beaches.
On a working farm not far from the sea, this cosy and contemporary, dog-friendly cottage has bags of charm and a great garden building.
New. A rustic farmhouse close to Corfe Castle and the South West Coast Path.
Discover golden beaches, ruined castles and rolling countryside from this cosy, rural escape at the heart of the Jurassic coast.
Join us for a nature themed Easter trail. Explore the beach, dunes and woodland of Studland and learn about the wonderful wildlife with whom we share this special place.
Join us as we commemorate the 80th anniversary of Exercise Smash. We'll be welcoming the world's last working Valentine Duplex Drive tank for displays as well as guided walks and an exhibition and talks at Studland’s village hall.
As part of the 80th anniversary of Exercise Smash we, in conjunction with the Isle of Purbeck Sub Aqua Club (IPSAC), will be hosting a free exhibition and series of talks at Studland Village Hall.
Studland became one of the most important WWII battle training areas in the country with thousands of troops trained here involved in D Day. Join us for a walk exploring this important time in British history.
In commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Exercise Smash, we welcome the world's last surviving Valentine Duplex Drive tank to Studland.
Fancy getting outdoors and stuck into some hands-on countryside work? If so, join our rangers for the next volunteering task on Sunday 14 April - clearing pirri pirri bur from the sand dunes on the Studland peninsula.
Join us for the Trust10 at Studland Bay and challenge yourself on this 10km run with breathtaking views.
A glorious slice of natural coastline in Purbeck featuring a four-mile stretch of golden, sandy beach, with gently shelving bathing waters and views of Old Harry Rocks and the Isle of Wight.
Studland Bay is ideal for water sports and includes the most popular naturist beach in Britain. The heathland behind the beach is a haven for native wildlife and features all six British reptiles.
Designated trails through the sand dunes and woodlands allow for exploration and spotting of deer, insects and bird life as well as a wealth of wild flowers.
Studland was the inspiration for Toytown in Enid Blyton's Noddy.
Fancy getting outdoors and stuck into some hands-on countryside work? If so, join our rangers for the next volunteering task on Sunday 10 March - a day of pine pulling on the Studland peninsula. Why not bring the family and all have a go together!
Work is underway to rewet and restore peatland on National Trust land in Purbeck, Dorset. Peatland supports many rare plants and animals, stores carbon and helps prevent the extremes of flooding and drought.
Work begins soon to restore wetlands across Purbeck. Wetlands are incredibly important as habitats for wildlife, as well as filtering pollution, preventing flooding and storing carbon.
Over the summer, we asked people to help wildlife recover in Purbeck by recording sightings of glow-worms. These small beetles, which light up the hedgerows in July, have seriously declined in the south over recent years.
Studland bay is known to many as a leisure destination with a four mile long beach. Discover how it was used during military operations during WWII and how it came to be donated to the National Trust in 1981.
Find out how the National Trust has joined forces with seven other like-minded conservation organisations to form the UK's first 'super' nature reserve at Purbeck Heaths in Dorset.
Studland Bay is a special landscape that dedicated teams of staff, volunteers (and a herd of cattle) help maintain for the safety and enjoyment of wildlife and visitors.
The coast is an everchanging environment, constantly being reshaped by the waves, winds and tides. Climate change is likely to increase the rate of coastal change that we experience at Studland. That is why it is important that we act now to understand how the coastline might change, and how we can best adapt to this change.
Discover how the Dynamic Dunescapes project will help to restore the habitats across the dunes, increasing biodiversity and wildlife at Studland Bay in Dorset.
Find out about our research into how to re-introduce Eurasian beavers to Purbeck and why Little Sea near Studland Bay in Dorset is an ideal release site.
Volunteers play a big part in caring for habitats and helping visitors across Purbeck and we are always looking for friendly and passionate people to join our teams. Come along to our Purbeck volunteer recruitment event on Saturday 20 January to learn more.
Enjoy access to more than 500 places with National Trust membership. Join today and help protect nature, beauty and history – for everyone, for ever.