After more than 30 years in the doldrums it seems that climate change,
eco-awareness and re-gentrification are putting Britain’s seaside towns back
on the map. As a result Britons are re-discovering the beauty of their own
coastline.
The Jurassic Coast doesn’t have a palm-fringed sandbar lapped by turquoise
seas. But, from shingle coves to sweeping sandy bays, it does have a beach
to suit most tastes.
From Studland Bay to Exmouth, there are several decent-sized sandy beaches.
Weymouth was given the seal of royal approval by King George III more than
200 years ago and has shallow waters and the sort of sand that makes great
sandcastles. Portland Harbour, home to the London 2012 Olympic sailing
events, is a hub for watersports, including scuba diving, kite surfing and
kayaking. While Swanage is a family-friendly resort whose central beach,
together with Sandy Bay at Exmouth, has the only other international
standard blue flag award for well managed facilities and water cleanliness
on the Jurassic Coast. That said, many of the beaches along the 95-mile
Natural Heritage coast are recommended by the Marine Conservation Society,
the highest standard for any UK award for bathing water quality.
Arguably the best of the lot, though, is Studland Bay, which offers a
three-mile curve of beautiful sandy beaches with an unspoilt backdrop of
heathland and dunes that comprises Studland National Nature Reserve.
The bay’s four main beaches are managed by the National Trust. Knoll Beach has
a visitor centre, where wildlife (rare birds and deer) sightings are posted,
a cafe and a watersports equipment hire shop. The children’s author Enid
Blyton was a regular visitor to Knoll, a setting ripe for childhood
adventures. Studland Bay is also home to Britain’s busiest naturist beach,
which can be found between Knoll Beach and Shell Bay.
Shell Beach isn’t necessarily a Bounty-ad looker but it is a totally unspoilt
beach - accessed by an old chain ferry from the mainland – with “green”
self-composting WCs and fine views of the boats sailing in and out of Poole
harbour.
Further along the coast, one of the area’s most popular beaches, Lulworth
Cove, forms a practically perfect half-circle of shingle beach. It offers
safe bathing in a sheltered bay and views of the now near-iconic Durdle
Door, a natural arch of limestone rock overlooking the cove.
Instead of sand Ringstead Bay, between Lulworth and Weymouth, has 700 yards of
shingle. But there’s more room to stretch out at this local’s favourite
which offers archetypal Dorset views of chalky cliffs topped by rambling
farmland.
For its geological intrigue – and the coast’s latest in a long line of
literary connections as the setting of Ian McEwan’s latest novel - Chesil
Beach’s 19-miles of shingle bank is one of the finest barrier beaches in the
world.
For those who get restless sunbathing all day, Charmouth beach is one of the
best places in Britain to root around for fossils. The nearby Heritage Coast
Centre organises guided walks led by experts throughout the year that help
you tap into the coast’s 185 million years of geological history.
Across the border in East Devon there are a couple of sandy coves near Pinn
and Otterton and pebbly beaches at Beer, Branscombe and Budleigh Salterton.
Ladram Bay has a backdrop of striking sandstone red cliffs and stacks, while
Exmouth has a splendid sandy beach backed by high cliffs.
