Studland Bay Tourist Information

Studland Tourism Guide

Studland is a small village that is popular due to the beautiful white sands and clear blue waters of Studland Bay and Beach nearby.

The coast around Studland is spectacular chalk cliffs particularly at Foreland Point where the chalk stacks of Old Harry Rocks poke out of the sea and can be seen from Bournemouth further north east. From the west of Studland at Agglestone is a huge stone standing over sixteen feet high that its said was thrown by the devil from the Isle of Wight who was aiming at the skittles (Old Harry Rocks) and his wife but missed.

Studland is only five miles from Poole but feels much further as it's a relatively unpopulated area surrounded by sand dunes, heathland and the sea. The easiest and quickest access to the Studland peninsula is via the Sandbanks Ferry from Poole. Otherwise Studland is reached via Swanage Road from the south.

The National Trust own and manage the Purbeck Estate which includes Studland and you'll find several car parks along the coast. Car parking fees are charged but this all goes towards the upkeep and management of the beaches and facilities. There is also a Visitor Centre at Knoll Beach.

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Studland Beach and National Nature Reserve

There are in fact four beaches along Studland Bay. Shell Bay, Knoll Beach, Middle Beach and South Beach. The beaches are backed by sand dunes and heathland. The extensive heathland and dune heath is able to support a wide variety of rare species including all six reptile species found in the UK, Dartford warblers and nightjars.

The beaches at Studland were used as a training exercise in the Second World War in preparation for D-Day and the French landings. This area was thought to be one of those most at risk from invasion from the Germans so was fortified with Fort Henry built by the Canadian engineers in 1943.

Studland's beaches stretch for three miles and are a fine white sand. Along Knoll Beach is a designated naturist beach marked by green posts. If you don't want to walk through this area you can always take the Heather Walk Trail through the dunes to save your blushes! There are two other marked walking trails: the Woodland Trail and the Sand Dunes Trail.

The coastline here is naturally eroding over time. This causes certain conflicts with trying to maintain the coast and its villages with allowing natural processes to occur such as erosion and re-establishment of sand dunes which in turn help protect the coast as natural flood defences. The National Trust follow a managed realignment strategy which allows the coast to erode naturally but is likely to mean that facilities will have to be moved over time as the coast erodes.

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Ferries to the Studland Peninsula

There is a regular ferry service from Sandbanks to Shell Bay on the Studland Peninsula. It's a quick shortcut avoiding a twenty five mile drive around the coast to Studland, Swanage and the Purbeck Peninsula.

The Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road and Ferry Company run daily services throughout the year - weather permitting. The ferries can take pedestrians, cyclists, motorbikes, cars, light vans, camper vans, buses and coaches. There is no advance booking system so you just have to turn up and wait. In busy periods this does mean you may have to queue.

Check the weblink right for up-to-date information on prices and timetables.

Ferry Office, Shell Bay, Studland, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 3BA. Tel: 01929 450203. Fax: 01929 4504983.

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South West Coast Path Somerset to Dorset

The South West Coast Path ends (or starts depending on where you start) at Shell Bay on the Studland Peninsula. It is a 630 mile long trail around the South West of England. The Path goes through some of the country's most beautiful coastal scenery through Somerset, Devon, Cornwall and Dorset.

The South West Coast Path starts/ends in Minehead and is estimated to take 7-8 weeks if you want to do the whole route! More realistically, the South West Coast Path website, link right, has details of suggested walks along different parts of it, as well as a search function so you can find a walk to suit your ability and requirements. There's everything from easy strolls, feasible for all abilities, to more challenging week long hikes.

The Path is waymarked with the acorn logo and distances are signed at main access points. The weblink right also includes a distance calculator and links to transport and Tourist Information Centres - everything to help you plan your walk before setting out. You can also purchase guidebooks to the trail.

The South West Coast Path hugs the Dorset Coast along its southern section so not only can you tackle the Path, you can take in some of the country's most spectacular coastline such as Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove and Old Harry Rocks at Studland.

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Dorset Heaths NNR & RSPB Reserves Holidays

Much of the Studland peninsula is covered in heathland and there are several extensive areas of heathlands around Studland. Much of this area falls into the Dorset Heaths National Nature Reserve which contains Stoborough Heath and Hartland Moor to the south of Wareham along with the Studland and Godlingston Heath all around Studland itself.

The Dorset Heaths are internationally important and are home to some of Britain's rarest wildlife including sand lizards, adders, grass snakes, common lizards, slow worms, smooth snakes, Dartford warblers, nightjars as well as all the specialist plant species of heathlands.

Further north west of Studland is Arne Reedbeds National Nature Reserve. This is an excellent birdwatching reserve, largely managed by the RSPB.

Here you're likely to spot spot nightjars, Dartford warblers, avocets and hen harriers. The local Natural England office and the RSPB run regular guided walks in these areas so check the links right for up-to-date information.

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