Middle Beach is a small sandy beach at Studland Bay, situated between Knoll Beach and South Beach and just a short walk from Studland village. Owned and managed by the National Trust, it is generally quieter and less developed than Knoll Beach but still has useful facilities close by.
The sheltered, gently shelving water makes Middle Beach popular for swimming, kayaking and paddleboarding, while its position at the southern end of Studland Bay makes it a good starting point for walks towards Studland village and Old Harry Rocks.
Middle Beach Car Park is located above the beach, where you will also find the Sandy Salt Pig café and Fore Adventure watersports. Fort Henry, an important Second World War observation bunker used during preparations for D-Day, is only a couple of minutes’ walk away.
Address: Middle Beach, Studland, Dorset, BH19 3AX (Google map)
Parking: National Trust car park – charges apply to non-members
Facilities: Café and toilets close to the beach
Watersports: Kayak and paddleboard hire and guided activities
Dogs: Allowed all year, with seasonal restrictions
Website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/
Middle Beach
Middle Beach is considerably smaller than Knoll Beach and has a quieter, more natural feel. The sandy beach is backed by low cliffs and woodland, with views north across Studland Bay towards Poole and Bournemouth.
The water is sheltered and gently shelving, making the beach popular for swimming and paddling. There are no lifeguards, however, and swimming conditions can vary.
Middle Beach is also well positioned for exploring the southern end of Studland Bay. You can walk south towards South Beach, Studland village and Old Harry Rocks or north along the shoreline towards Knoll Beach.
Access from Middle Beach Car Park is down a path towards the beach. Visitors with limited mobility may find Knoll Beach more convenient because of its easier access and wider range of facilities.
The Sandy Salt Pig
The Sandy Salt Pig is located at Middle Beach Car Park and has outdoor seating overlooking Studland Bay.
The café serves coffee, breakfast and brunch dishes, light lunches, cakes and snacks and makes a convenient place to stop before or after visiting the beach.
Its position also makes it a useful starting or finishing point for a walk towards Studland village and Old Harry Rocks.
Opening hours vary according to the season, so check before making a special journey.
Website: https://www.thesaltpig.co.uk/
Watersports at Middle Beach
Fore Adventure operates at Middle Beach and offers kayak and stand-up paddleboard hire together with a range of guided outdoor activities.
One of its most popular experiences is a guided kayak tour to Old Harry Rocks, providing an opportunity to see the famous chalk cliffs and sea stacks from the water.
For current equipment hire prices, see our Kayaking in Dorset and Paddleboarding in Dorset guides.
Website: https://www.foreadventure.co.uk
Conditions on Studland Bay can change, so always check the weather and follow local safety advice before heading onto the water.
Fort Henry
Just a couple of minutes’ walk from Middle Beach Car Park is Fort Henry, a large Second World War observation bunker overlooking Studland Bay.
Built in 1943 by Canadian Royal Engineers, Fort Henry was used during Exercise Smash, a series of large-scale rehearsals for the D-Day landings. In April 1944, King George VI, Winston Churchill, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, General Bernard Montgomery and Lord Louis Mountbatten watched military exercises taking place across Studland Bay from the observation post.
Fort Henry and the neighbouring wartime gun emplacement are now Grade II listed and are free to visit.
Walking from Middle Beach to Old Harry Rocks
Middle Beach is a good starting point for a walk to Old Harry Rocks, one of Dorset’s most famous coastal landmarks.
From Middle Beach, walk towards Studland village and join the South West Coast Path, which climbs gradually onto the chalk headland at Handfast Point.
The route provides increasingly impressive views across Studland Bay and Poole Harbour before reaching Old Harry Rocks. Allow approximately 1½–2 hours for the return walk, although it is worth allowing longer if you want to explore the headland.
Studland village itself is also worth a short detour. 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.
Godlingston Heath & the Agglestone Rock
Middle Beach Car Park is also the starting point for the National Trust’s Godlingston Heath Walk, a 3-mile circular route through the Studland and Godlingston Heath National Nature Reserve.
The walk takes around 1½ hours and crosses the heath to Agglestone Rock, a huge 400-tonne sandstone boulder with extensive views across the surrounding landscape.
Walk description and map: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/
Dogs at Middle Beach
Dogs are welcome at Middle Beach throughout the year, although National Trust 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.
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 Middle Beach
Middle Beach is just north of Studland village on Ferry Road. (Google map)
From Swanage and Corfe Castle, follow the B3351 towards Studland. From Poole and Bournemouth, Studland can be reached via Sandbanks and the Sandbanks chain ferry, which carries vehicles, 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.
Middle Beach Car Park
Sat Nav postcode: BH19 3AX (Google map)
Middle Beach Car Park is a National Trust car park situated above the beach. It is particularly convenient for Middle Beach, the Sandy Salt Pig, Fort Henry and walks towards Old Harry Rocks and Agglestone Rock.
National Trust members can park free but must scan their membership card on every visit.
Payment for non-members can be made at the parking machines 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.
Studland Middle Beach Car Park Charges
| Parking time | Cars |
|---|---|
| Up to 2 hours | £6 |
| Up to 4 hours | £12 |
| All day | £16 |
