Studland Bay at Swanage, offers a captivating 4-mile expanse of sandy beaches.
Beach info.
These include Knoll beach, Shell Beach, South beach and Middle Beach. All of these beaches are under the stewardship of the National Trust.
We accessed the bay via a couple of different points on different days. But for us, by far the easiest was via the National Trust Car Park. This is close to the chain ferry point (taking visitors to Poole and Bournemouth).
From the car park it’s a 5 minute walk down a sandy path to the beach.
Alternatively you can park on the road, and then walk down a much longer path to the beach. This is be fine for the physically fit on a balmy day, but the day we chose to make the trip was really hot, and it was quite a slog.
However, regardless of your arrival route, it really is worth the effort.
The beauty of Studland Bay
Visitors are rewarded with calm waters, soft sand and shaded spots amidst the vegetation area.
The heathland behind the beach teems with diverse wildlife, including all six British reptile species. Notably, Knoll Beach features a clearly marked naturist section. This is reputedly the most popular naturist beach in Britain.
Some Historical Information.
The Bankes family, once residents of Corfe Castle and Kingston Lacey, often visited Studland Bay, where they owned a home. Today, that property has transformed into the Pig on the Beach Hotel.
In 1981, Ralph Bankes bequeathed the Bankes estate — encompassing Studland, Kingston Lacey, and Corfe Castle to the National Trust, ensuring its enjoyment by future generations
