A day at the beach

This shingle beach near Weymouth stretches nearly half a mile and reveals a wide expanse of sand at low tide. There are rock pools and a reef close to the shore which you can see when the tide is out. Swimming is generally safe here, but there is no lifeguard. If you have young children the grassy area it backs on to is a good spot to play. You can search for fossils on the beach as this is part of the Jurassic Coast, but don’t go too near the cliffs as there’s the potential for falling rocks.

This traditional seaside town offers fish and chips, ice creams and even has a Punch and Judy show! With its gentle sloping, golden sand and clear water, the beach has been awarded a Blue Flag and Seaside Award. Lifeguards are situated within the bathing zone during the summer. The bay is normally calm and sheltered and good for swimming, sailing and scuba diving. Attractions include water sports, fishing, crazy golf, boat charters and a steam railway.

Seatown is a small coastal hamlet with a privately owned shingle, shelving beach – a favourite for fishermen and fossil hunters. This little-known beach has incredible views of the coastline and sits within one of Dorset’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It sits at the end of a meandering country lane that runs alongside the river Winniford which runs into the sea. Fossil hunters may be lucky enough to unearth finds from the late Jurassic and early Cretaceous periods

Located within a marine Special Area of Conservation this beach has the best rock pooling and is the safest place to snorkel in Dorset. The rocky beach is teeming with wildlife, both in the same and in the rock pools. Remember to take your snorkel if you want to enjoy an underwater adventure. Alternatively, go exploring between the rocks and look into the many rock pools across the beach, you may get to see crabs, anemones or even fish!

This natural wonder is a real highlight of the Jurassic Coast. The name Durdle derives from the Old English word 'thirl' meaning bore or drill. Eventually, the arch will collapse to leave a sea stack. Below the cliffs is a popular, sweeping shingle beach. It has no facilities although in the summer there’s a mobile kiosk on the steep path down to the beach selling ice creams and refreshments. You can swim here, but be aware there are steep ledges in places and there are no lifeguards.

A pretty seaside town with beautiful sandy beaches and a picturesque harbour as well as plenty of activities and attractions on offer. Enjoy a wander through the gardens, walks along the South West Coast Path or stroll along The Cobb (made famous by Meryl Streep in the film ‘The French Lieutenants Woman’). You can try your hand at water sports, sailing and fishing. There’s a selection of very good food kiosks on the front some of which specialise in local produce.

You may recognise this beach from the tv series ‘Broadchurch’. It features in The Good Beach Guide and has two beaches. East Beach is a sloping, shingle beach backed by magnificent, golden sandstone cliffs that rise 50m vertically above the beach with views towards Chesil Beach and Portland. West Beach is a smaller, quieter beach popular with young families, the protective cove is safe and shallow for paddling. The historic market town of Bridport is one and a half miles away.

This 18-mile-long shingle barrier beach stretches from West Bay to Portland and is one of Dorset’s most iconic landmarks. It’s wild, rugged and at the mercy of Mother Nature. We like to have a coffee at Taste, the cafe near Chesil Beach Visitor Centre on Portland Beach Road before setting out for a stomp across the broad shingle beach. Chesil Beach is a mecca for fishing. Just offshore is a unique strip of unbroken sand that offers fantastic opportunities for catching mackerel.

This beach is home to the beautiful Tropical Gardens and has both Green and Blue Flag awards. Bournemouth’s Alum Chine is a great family friendly area with a pirate-themed children's playground! There's also a paddling pool with a water pump for the little ones. Beach huts are available to hire all year round from the local beach office too. Swimming over the gently shelving sands is considered extremely safe, especially with lifeguards from May to September.