Beaches of the Jurassic Coast Pt. 2

Church Ope Cove-The only real beach on Portland and only reached by foot. It has no facilities except, mercifully, a toilet. A peaceful spot presided over by a ruined castle and church.

Weymouth on one of its quieter days

Weymouth-The Naples of Dorset certainly lives up to its name in summer. A beautiful azure sea curves away to the chalk cliffs of the Purbecks shimmering in the heat haze.
The fine sand is unequalled for sand castles (ask the sand sculptor who has a pitch on the beach). The shallow water is perfect for toddlers... in fact it is the quintessential English resort with donkeys, swing boats and candy floss. It has a wide esplanade for promenading. Its biggest blight, though, is the traffic, and parking is always at a premium; so plan to get there early.

Ringstead-An unspoilt beach with just a few holiday bungalows and a tearoom. It is a wide curve of shingle beach with good safe shallows and a decidedly upmarket feel. Once again, lovely views of Portland, and gentle walks on to the cliffs when you have finished frying. The eastern end tends to be used for discreet nude sunbathing.

Durdle Door early morning

Durdle Door-Two long shingle beaches are separated by the rockoutcrop of Durdle Door. Access is down a long path from the car park at the edge of a caravan park and the nearest WCs... Avoid loading yourself with too many deckchairs etc.; it is a long haul back to the top.

Lulworth Cove-Like Durdle Door, Lulworth is an icon of the Purbecks. The beach forms an almost full circle broken by just a narrow entrance. It is mostly shingle and child friendly. Although it gets crowded where the road finishes, a short walk along soon shakes off the hordes.

Kimmeridge at twilight

Kimmeridge-A long lane brings you to this wide cove backed by low cliffs. Rocky outcrops make it one of the best places for rock pooling. Constant activity surrounds the jetties as it is a popular destination for divers. There is a marine centre and WC. An ice cream van in the summer is the only source of food so bring a picnic.

Studland-A four mile stretch of gently shelving sandy beach owned by the National Trust. Superb for children. At the far end is a nudist beach for those who like to feel the sand between a bit more than their toes.

Swanage-Traditional holiday resort. A wide esplanade fronted by a long, sandy beach perfect for children. Pedalo hire is available.Bournemouth-The smooth sandy strand stretches for several miles all the way to Poole. It is backed by a wide car-free promenade along which you can walk or cycle (except in high summer) and refuel where necessary from the many kiosks and snack bars when you've had your fill of sand and sea. It is also just a short hop from sea front to the high street and its large department stores.