Weymouth's beaches fall into two kinds.
The town's own shore faces east into a sheltered bay and runs from the town council's sands in front of the Esplanade, through a shingle stretch past Lodmoor to Overcombe, to Bowleaze Cove under the cliffs at the eastern end. Beyond the town, Castle Cove is a small sandy cove inside Portland Harbour; past it the coast turns to pebbles and shingle: Chesil and Church Ope on Portland, then Ringstead Bay, Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove to the east.
With young children the main beach is the safe default: the seabed slopes gradually, RNLI lifeguards patrol it daily from early May to late September, and there are showers, toilets and deckchair hire. Dogs are kept off the main sands from 1 May to 30 September, but are allowed all year from Greenhill Groyne to Overcombe, in the dog exercise area by the Pavilion and at Bowleaze Cove.
In the Environment Agency's 2025 ratings the main beach and Bowleaze Cove were Good and every other designated water on this page was Excellent. Chesil is not a bathing water and not a swimming beach: the reserve warns of a steep shelf and a strong undertow, and the long stretch between Abbotsbury and the Portland Boundary Stone is closed from 1 May to 31 August. Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove belong to the Lulworth Estate, which charges for parking every day of the year; the Door is a steep walk down, the Cove an easy one.
Lifeguards: the 2026 season. Water: the latest official bathing-water classification. Every fact links to the page it came from, checked 27 October 2026.
Summer dog ban Lifeguards in summer Good water (2025)
The town council's sandy main beach runs in front of the Georgian Esplanade, in a sheltered bay where the seabed slopes gradually. It is the traditional resort beach, with deckchair hire, sand sculptures and Punch and Judy in summer, and with RNLI lifeguards in season it is the obvious pick for young children.
Surface
sand
Dogs
Dogs are allowed on the main sandy beach (Greenhill Groyne to the dog exercise area) only from 1 October to 30 April, so not from 1 May to 30 September. The dog exercise area by the Pavilion and the stretch from Greenhill Groyne to Overcombe are open to dogs all year. Source
Lifeguards
RNLI lifeguards 10am to 6pm in the 2026 season: Easter school holiday 28 March to 12 April, weekends 18 to 26 April, then daily 2 May to 27 September. Source
Facilities
Toilets, including toilets for disabled visitors, and three outdoor showers on the Beach Office building; deckchairs, windbreaks, sunbeds and parasols for hire 10am to 5pm through the summer, weather permitting. Source
Access
Ramp or level access onto the beach and parking areas for disabled visitors; beach wheelchairs can be hired from the Beach Office (01305 239832), subject to availability. Source
Parking
Dorset Council's Pavilion car park (main), sat nav DT4 8ED: 323 spaces including 10 disabled bays, open 24 hours, charges 8am to 6pm and free 6pm to 8am. Source
Water quality
Good in 2025, the Environment Agency's classification for Weymouth Central. Source
Dogs allowed Lifeguards not stated Excellent water (2025)
North of Greenhill Groyne the shore carries on past Lodmoor to Overcombe as shingle, with the promenade and Lodmoor nature reserve behind it. Dogs can use it all year, so it is where dog walkers go when the main sands close to them in summer, and its water was rated Excellent in 2025.
Surface
shingle
Dogs
Dogs allowed all year from Greenhill Groyne to Overcombe. Source
Facilities
Town council toilets at Greenhill Gardens, Lodmoor Car Park and Overcombe Corner, each open 10am to 5pm in the 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027 timetable. Source
Parking
Dorset Council's Lodmoor car park, sat nav DT4 7SX: 565 spaces including 15 disabled bays, open 7am to midnight, charges 8am to 6pm. Source
Water quality
Excellent in 2025, the Environment Agency's classification for Weymouth Lodmoor. Source
Dogs allowed Lifeguards not stated Good water (2025)
A sand and pebble cove just east of Weymouth, backed by cliffs, with the River Jordan running across the beach into the sea. The grassy clifftop park above has a café open all year and public toilets, and dogs are allowed on the beach in every month.
Surface
sand and shingle
Dogs
Dogs allowed all year. Source
Facilities
Public toilets opposite the Oasis Cafe at the entrance to Bowleaze Coveway; the clifftop café is open all year. Source
Parking
The Beachside's private pay car park on Bowleaze Coveway (DT3 6PW) has room for 400 cars, 100 of them overlooking the bay; closing times change through the season, so check on entry. Source
Water quality
Good in 2025, the Environment Agency's classification for Bowleaze Cove. Source
Dog rules not stated Lifeguards not stated Excellent water (2025)
A small, sheltered sandy cove inside Portland Harbour, about 220 metres across and backed by cliffs near Sandsfoot Castle. It is a harbour swimming spot rather than a resort beach, and its water was rated Excellent in 2025.
Surface
sand
Water quality
Excellent in 2025, the Environment Agency's classification for Portland Harbour Castle Cove. Source
Dog rules apply Lifeguards not stated Not a bathing water
The Portland end of the 18-mile shingle bank, reached from the Wild Chesil Centre at Ferrybridge, which has refreshments and exhibitions and is open daily. It is for walking and birdwatching rather than swimming, and the stretch backed by the Fleet is closed from 1 May to 31 August to protect ground-nesting birds.
Surface
shingle
Dogs
Dorset Council: between the Tank Teeth at Abbotsbury and the Portland Boundary Stone, dogs only on leads and only on the seaward side, 1 September to 30 April; no public access outside those dates. Source
Facilities
The Wild Chesil Centre stands right next to the beach, with refreshments, a shop and displays, open daily 10am to 4pm all year (check Christmas times); a disabled toilet is outside the centre. Source
Access
Closed from 1 May to 31 August between the Tank Teeth at Abbotsbury and the Portland Boundary Stone; from 1 September to 30 April that stretch is open on the seaward flank only. The RSPB little tern colony is closed to walkers from 1 April to 31 August. Source
Parking
Dorset Council's Chesil car park, sat nav DT4 9XE, by the Wild Chesil Centre: 616 spaces including 8 disabled bays, open 24 hours, charged at all times with tariffs up to 24 hours. Source
Tides
The bank shelves steeply and abruptly, with a strong undertow towards deep water, and can be overtopped or flooded in storms; between Abbotsbury and Weymouth the Fleet behind it limits escape routes. Source
Water quality
Not a designated bathing water, so it is not sampled.
Dogs allowed Lifeguards not stated Excellent water (2025)
A sheltered pebble cove on Portland's east coast, under high cliffs below Easton. Dogs are welcome all year and its water was rated Excellent in 2025; the nearest parking is a small free car park.
Surface
pebbles
Dogs
Dogs allowed all year. Source
Parking
Church Ope car park, sat nav DT5 1FJ, the nearest parking for the cove: 21 free spaces, open 24 hours, maximum stay 72 hours and no overnighting; managed by Betterment Properties. Source
Water quality
Excellent in 2025, the Environment Agency's classification for Church Ope Cove. Source
Dogs allowed Lifeguards not stated Excellent water (2025)
A quiet National Trust pebble beach between Weymouth and Lulworth, looking west along the coast to Portland. It is reached by a toll road, which also serves its parking and toilets, and dogs are allowed all year.
Surface
shingle
Dogs
Dogs allowed all year. Source
Facilities
Toilets, like the parking, are reached via a toll road. Source
Parking
Parking is reached via a toll road; the Lulworth Estate gives sat nav DT3 6HJ. Source
Water quality
Excellent in 2025, the Environment Agency's classification for Ringstead Bay. Source
Dogs allowed Lifeguards not stated Excellent water (2025)
The shingle beach beside the limestone arch on the Lulworth Estate, a steep fifteen-minute walk down from the clifftop car park. The Estate asks visitors to stay out of the caves at the foot of the chalk cliffs, where falls are common, and there is no access to the beaches after 9pm or dusk.
Surface
shingle
Dogs
Dogs allowed all year. Source
Facilities
Refreshment kiosks, souvenirs and toilets are in the car park area at the top. Source
Access
A steep fifteen-minute walk down from the clifftop car park; the Estate says the descent is not suitable for those with disabilities and asks for trainers or walking boots. Source
Parking
The Lulworth Estate's Durdle Door car park: vehicles £15 for up to 6 hours, £25 up to 9 hours, £35 for 10 hours or more, every day of the year including public holidays and weekends (tariff as of 27 October 2026); coaches can only drop off. Source
Water quality
Excellent in 2025, the Environment Agency's classification for Durdle Door West. Source
Dogs allowed Lifeguards not stated Excellent water (2025)
A white pebble cove with easy access from the Estate's car park and visitor centre, a café at the water's edge and rock pools when the tide is out. Dogs are welcome all year, though the Estate asks that they stay to the left of the slipway.
Surface
pebbles
Dogs
Dogs allowed all year. Source
Facilities
The Boat Shed Café at the water's edge; dogs permitted on the left-hand side of the slipway. Source
Access
A Tramper off-road mobility scooter, accessible parking and accessible toilets on site; book the scooter through the Visitor Centre on 01929 400587. Source
Parking
The Lulworth Estate's Lulworth Cove car park: vehicles £9 for up to 3 hours, £17 up to 6, £25 up to 9 and £32 for longer, every day of the year (tariff as of 27 October 2026); no cars towing caravans or large oversized camping vehicles. Source
Tides
Low tide uncovers rock pools. Source
Water quality
Excellent in 2025, the Environment Agency's classification for Lulworth Cove. Source