Knoll Beach is the largest and best-equipped of the beaches at Studland Bay, with a long stretch of sand, gently shelving water and views across Poole Bay. Like the other beaches at Studland, it is owned and managed by the National Trust.
The beach is particularly popular with families because the water remains shallow for some distance from the shore. In summer there is also a designated swimming-only zone. Behind the beach are extensive sand dunes, heathland and woodland which form part of the Studland and Godlingston Heath National Nature Reserve.
Knoll Beach has the largest car park at Studland Bay and the widest range of facilities, including a café, shop, toilets, outdoor shower and watersports hire. National Trust members can park free but must register their vehicle on each visit.
Address: Knoll Beach, Studland, Dorset, BH19 3AH
Beach: Open all day
Parking: National Trust car park – charges apply to non-members (see charges at bottom of page)
Facilities: Café, shop, toilets, outdoor shower and watersports hire
Dogs: Allowed all year, with seasonal restrictions
Website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/
Knoll Beach
Knoll Beach is a wide sandy beach backed by dunes and heathland. The sheltered location and gently shelving water make it a popular place for swimming, paddling and family days at the beach.
The National Trust manages the coastline with an emphasis on preserving its natural character, so visitors shouldn’t expect the highly maintained appearance of an urban resort beach. Seaweed and other natural material can sometimes be washed ashore.
Views extend across Poole Bay towards Bournemouth, while Old Harry Rocks can be seen towards the southern end of Studland Bay. On a clear day there are also views towards the Isle of Wight.
There are more than four miles of beaches around Studland Bay, so it is possible to walk north from Knoll Beach towards Shell Bay and the Sandbanks Ferry or south towards Middle Beach, South Beach and Studland village.
Knoll Beach Café and Facilities
Knoll Beach has the best range of visitor facilities of Studland’s beaches.
The Knoll Beach Café is located just behind the beach and has indoor and outdoor seating, serving hot and cold drinks, snacks and light meals. Dogs are welcome in the outside seating area.
Next to the café is the Knoll Beach Shop, selling beach equipment, swimwear, towels, sun protection, toys, books, clothing and gifts.
Other facilities include toilets, an outdoor shower and taps for washing off sand. The National Trust Visitor Welcome Team is also based at Knoll Beach and can help with information and beach hut bookings.
Beach wheelchairs are available to borrow, subject to availability, and it is advisable to contact the National Trust in advance if one is required.
Watersports at Knoll Beach
Knoll Beach is one of the best places at Studland for watersports, with equipment available to hire directly from the beach.
Studland Watersports is an independent family-run watersports centre located close to the National Trust café. Kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and pedalos are available to hire, together with sailing dinghies and windsurfing equipment for more experienced users.
The prices below are just a small selection of the equipment available:
| Equipment | Hire price |
|---|---|
| Small Pedalo | £10 / 30 mins |
| Small Kayak | £10 / 30 mins · £18 / hour |
| Standard SUP | £10 / 30 mins · £18 / hour |
All equipment bookings include a buoyancy aid. Sailing and windsurfing hire is subject to experience requirements.
Website: http://studlandwatersports.co.uk
A much wider range of equipment and activities is available. See the Studland Watersports website for full details, current hire prices and availability.
The sheltered waters of Studland Bay are particularly suitable for paddleboarding and kayaking, although conditions can vary and visitors should always follow local safety advice.
Prices checked August 2026 and subject to change.
Studland Naturist Beach
Around 1 mile north of the main Knoll Beach area is Studland Naturist Beach, a designated section of beach where clothing is optional. Naturism has a long history at Studland and the National Trust has designated approximately 1km of the beach for naturist use.
The naturist beach is clearly marked and can be reached by walking north along the beach from Knoll Beach for around 20 minutes.
Visitors staying around the main Knoll Beach, café and watersports area are therefore unlikely to encounter the naturist section unless they walk further north along Studland Bay.
Walking from Knoll Beach to Old Harry Rocks
One of the best walks from Knoll Beach is to Old Harry Rocks, approximately 2 miles away.
From Knoll Beach, walk south along the beach towards Middle Beach before joining the South West Coast Path and continuing through Studland village and onto the chalk headland.
The walk takes around 40–50 minutes each way and provides excellent views across Studland Bay and Poole Harbour before reaching the famous chalk sea stacks at Handfast Point.
Studland village itself is also worth exploring. St Nicholas’ Church has Norman origins and is one of Dorset’s oldest churches, while the Bankes Arms is a traditional pub with a large garden overlooking Studland Bay.
Explore Studland and Godlingston Heath
Behind Knoll Beach lies the Studland and Godlingston Heath National Nature Reserve, an extensive landscape of heathland, sand dunes, woodland and freshwater habitats that is particularly important for wildlife.
Just inland from the beach is Little Sea, a freshwater lake that was once an inlet of the sea and is now home to a rare and distinctive ecosystem. Walking trails also lead deeper into the reserve towards Agglestone Rock, a huge sandstone boulder standing dramatically on the heath.
Dogs at Knoll Beach
Dogs are welcome at Knoll Beach throughout the year, although seasonal restrictions apply.
From 1 May to 30 September, dogs must be kept on a lead of no more than 2 metres while on the beach. From 1 October to 30 April, dogs can be exercised off the lead on the beach.
Dogs must also be kept on leads across the heathland and dunes from 1 March to 31 July to help protect ground-nesting birds.
Getting to Knoll Beach
Knoll Beach is on Ferry Road between Studland village and the Sandbanks Ferry.
From Swanage and Corfe Castle, follow the B3351 towards Studland. From Poole and Bournemouth, one of the most direct routes is via Sandbanks and the Sandbanks chain ferry, which carries cars, cyclists and pedestrians across the entrance to Poole Harbour.
The Purbeck Breezer 50 bus also serves Studland, providing connections with Swanage, Sandbanks, Poole and Bournemouth.
Cyclists can reach Studland on National Cycle Network Route 2, and cycle racks are available at Knoll Beach.
Knoll Beach Car Park
Sat Nav postcode: BH19 3AH (Google map)
Knoll Beach has a large National Trust car park immediately behind the beach. It is the main car park for Knoll Beach and is also the only Studland Bay National Trust car park that can accommodate coaches.
ANPR number plate recognition is in operation, so remember your vehicle registration number.
National Trust members can park free but must register their vehicle on every visit, either by scanning their membership card at a parking machine or using JustPark.
Blue Badge holders can park free when a valid Blue Badge is clearly displayed in the vehicle.
Overnight parking and camping are not permitted.
Knoll Beach Car Park Charges
| Parking time | Cars |
|---|---|
| Up to 2 hours | £6 |
| Up to 4 hours | £12 |
| All day | £16 |
Payment can be made using a bank card or coins at the parking machines. Alternatively, visitors can pay using JustPark.
National Trust members: Free, but vehicle registration is required on every visit.
Blue Badge holders: Free with a valid Blue Badge displayed.