Middle Beach Studland Bay
Middle Beach Studland Bay
Middle Beach Studland Bay
4.5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
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111 within 6 miles
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
60 reviews
Excellent
29
Very good
24
Average
4
Poor
1
Terrible
2
esmivram
West Sussex, UK154 contributions
Aug 2021 • Family
We stayed close by middle beach for a week with a bunch of teenagers. It is a pretty, natural beach that is mostly sandy and quite sheltered. There is lots to do including kayaking, pedal boats, paddleboard hire etc so the boys we were with really enjoyed their time and could safely wander about and keep themselves occupied without us worrying. There is a great cafe and ice cream kiosk. It’s busy enough to have a nice atmosphere but doesn’t feel crowded.
Written August 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
eloorg
Hampshire, UK513 contributions
Aug 2021
Middle beach, in my opinion, is the best bit of Studland bay, as it has the shallowest sea and so much more of the beach becomes available at low tide. It is also one of the more sheltered areas for water sports and has its own facilities (toilets, cafe, ice cream hut) nearby, despite the main visitors centre only being a 3 minute walk down the beach away. Smaller car park than other areas though, which does fill quickly on good days.
Written August 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Steveze
48 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
We come to Dorset every year and love going to middle beach. This year however it was super packed which was bound to happen given the current circumstances, so you’ll need to get there early for a spot. The steps down to the rocks have been taken away unfortunately, probably down to people not respecting the sea and the cliffs given that a lot of the visitors have never been. The beach is sandy and the water is shallow so great for kids. The rocks, if you do
manage to get over to them are very slippery so you’ll need beach shoes, don’t get caught out by the incoming sea though as you can get cut off, which has obviously happened. There is a water sports centre which mainly does kayak adventures which need to be booked in advance.
manage to get over to them are very slippery so you’ll need beach shoes, don’t get caught out by the incoming sea though as you can get cut off, which has obviously happened. There is a water sports centre which mainly does kayak adventures which need to be booked in advance.
Written August 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
w0tcha
Ampthill, UK599 contributions
Jun 2022
When I lived along the coast in Weymouth 40 years ago, Studland Bay was our beach of choice. As we were recently staying in Bournemouth and the weather forecast promised the hottest day of the month, we decided to revisit Studland.
We parked in the Middle Beach car park and paid the fairly pricey parking fee. Unloaded all our stuff and started to make our way over to the cliff path down to the beach itself. As we got nearer the cliff edge we noticed the disgusting smell – at first we assumed it was the line of portaloos strategically placed near the cliff edge. But once past them, the smell got even more overpowering. When we got to the top of the path we could see the entire waters edge was covered in rotting seaweed and not surprisingly the beach was empty. We decided to forfeit the parking fee and try somewhere else.
Unfortunately we tried Knoll Beach, which was little better although more brave souls seemed to be persevering on the beach. We eventually ended up at Sandbanks Beach, a far more pleasant experience.
I appreciate seaweed is a natural phenomenon but if the National Trust are going to charge fairly extortionate amounts to visit their properties, they should at least maintain them or put up signage to advise visitors before paying, that they may be disappointed with the experience.
We parked in the Middle Beach car park and paid the fairly pricey parking fee. Unloaded all our stuff and started to make our way over to the cliff path down to the beach itself. As we got nearer the cliff edge we noticed the disgusting smell – at first we assumed it was the line of portaloos strategically placed near the cliff edge. But once past them, the smell got even more overpowering. When we got to the top of the path we could see the entire waters edge was covered in rotting seaweed and not surprisingly the beach was empty. We decided to forfeit the parking fee and try somewhere else.
Unfortunately we tried Knoll Beach, which was little better although more brave souls seemed to be persevering on the beach. We eventually ended up at Sandbanks Beach, a far more pleasant experience.
I appreciate seaweed is a natural phenomenon but if the National Trust are going to charge fairly extortionate amounts to visit their properties, they should at least maintain them or put up signage to advise visitors before paying, that they may be disappointed with the experience.
Written July 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Dulwich100
London, UK4 contributions
Jun 2021
Went on a beautiful sunny morning : we are national trust members and the car park didn’t read the QR code on the cards . Alternative is coins only ! No card reader
Went down to the beach via the cafe : they only take cash !
Went down to the beach : stank of rotting seaweed
Went onto Knoll Beach ; Excellent : car park read the QR codes . The cafe envisaged contactless payments and the beach was clean and provided deckchairs .
Went down to the beach via the cafe : they only take cash !
Went down to the beach : stank of rotting seaweed
Went onto Knoll Beach ; Excellent : car park read the QR codes . The cafe envisaged contactless payments and the beach was clean and provided deckchairs .
Written June 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
places2seeplaces2go
England, UK4,714 contributions
Jan 2020
Being local have visited Middle Beach & Studland area many, many times.
Middle Beach is effectively the "Middle" section of the beach most people call Studland/Shell Bay.
It is surrounded by sand dunes & has a gorgeous bay for swimming.
There is a very small cafe & also a car park available.
Depending which way you decide to walk you are just a short distance from Knoll Beach with its large NT cafe & toilet facilities.
Walk the other way & you will reach South Beach & Joe's Cafe.
Take time to view the marvellous WW2 war defence remains. A superb example of "Dragons Teeth" & many Pill Boxes, including the interesting Henry's Fort.
The whole area is simply beautiful.
Middle Beach is effectively the "Middle" section of the beach most people call Studland/Shell Bay.
It is surrounded by sand dunes & has a gorgeous bay for swimming.
There is a very small cafe & also a car park available.
Depending which way you decide to walk you are just a short distance from Knoll Beach with its large NT cafe & toilet facilities.
Walk the other way & you will reach South Beach & Joe's Cafe.
Take time to view the marvellous WW2 war defence remains. A superb example of "Dragons Teeth" & many Pill Boxes, including the interesting Henry's Fort.
The whole area is simply beautiful.
Written January 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Gill B
2 contributions
Aug 2020
Lovely sandy beach but not wide at all and FAR FAR too busy in the hot weather. Impossible to social distance. We got there at 9am when the car park opened and were the second family on the beach so had the pick of spots. It filled up very quickly - it was fine in the water (which is just amazing - warm and shallow for what seems like miles)but through the morning, more and more people kept arriving, even though the beach was packed and they probably should have turned round. The final straw was one family pitching their sun tent literally 5cm from ours, so we upped and left. Everyone was ignoring the one way paths to and from the beach, and the zig zag up is very narrow. Will definitely return at a quieter time, preferably when covid has done one.
Written August 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Nikki B
Watford, UK549 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
Nice beach to walk along on an autumn day. There was a lot of seaweed on it to begin with near the Middle Beach Cafe. I couldn’t find a nice place to sit to eat my bacon sandwich and drink my coffee but as you walked further on it improved. There are restaurants and toilets further up, that one is called South Beach which I think I prefer.
Written October 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Fidelscastrol
Manila, Philippines717 contributions
Jul 2022
A haven for boat cruisers. Water quality? Generally great for swimming but can get packed and the main car park soon becomes full up. Best mid week. Friends advise hiring kayak to get close and personal with Great Harry Rocks. If you are feeling less energetic it's a great place to chill and suntan. Car park fee not worthy of a beach of this quality. Sand quality poor. Too many dogs so not ideal for families with small children. Not quite San Tropez.
Fidelscastrol.
Fidelscastrol.
Written July 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Tracey1169
Willenhall, UK587 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
As the names suggests it’s the middle bit of beach. It has a good size NT car park, but it did get full very quickly. There’s also a small cafe just down the dunes. It has a nice walk to Fort Henry which is part of the WW2 defences carry on down the path which is a lovely nature walk and you’ll also see Old Harry Rocks. The beach it’s self is sandy an the Bay would be great for swimming. If you go the other way you’ll see the impressive dragons teeth which is also part of the defences.
Written August 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Can I cook our lunch from our camper van while using the car park?
Glen504216
Bognor Regis, UK398 contributions
Don’t see why not - it’s just a normal National trust car park 😀
Middle Beach Studland Bay - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Middle Beach Studland Bay
- Middle Beach Studland Bay is open:
- Sun - Sat 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
- We recommend booking Middle Beach Studland Bay tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 1 Middle Beach Studland Bay tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near Middle Beach Studland Bay:
- (1.90 mi) Burnbake Campsite and Forest Lodges
- (2.79 mi) Swanage Haven Boutique Guest House
- (3.05 mi) Glenlee Guest House
- (3.35 mi) Caythorpe House
- (3.65 mi) Taunton House B&B
- Restaurants near Middle Beach Studland Bay:
- (2.27 mi) Oriel Sandbanks
- (2.88 mi) The Cabin
- (3.55 mi) Java Independent Coffee House
- (4.53 mi) Drgnfly Pan Asian Restaurant
- (0.79 mi) Knoll Beach