Ringstead Bay

Ringstead Bay is a quiet stretch of the west Dorset Jurassic Coast about 7 miles east of Weymouth, where a pebble and shingle beach meets water the Trust calls incredibly clear and safe for bathing, with views across Weymouth Bay to Portland. The Trust's car park sits on the cliff top above Southdown Farm and steep ancient tracks lead down to the shore; a second, privately run car park lies by the beach. The chalk grassland carries viper's bugloss and carline thistle, the scrub draws whitethroats and nightingales, and peregrines hunt the cliffs. Walk east along the coast path to White Nothe and you pass Burning Cliff, which once smouldered from its oil shale and iron pyrites. Reviewers love a calm swim, the beach cafe and the walk on towards Durdle Door. Tips from visitors: the Trust car park is a long walk from the beach, and there are no toilets on Trust land.