Photo: Gary Rogers / Geograph, CC BY-SA 2.0
Eype's Mouth
A shingle cove below steep steps near Bridport with a small car park, no lifeguards, no toilets and dogs welcome off lead all year.
At a Glance
Beach Type
shingle
Dogs
Yes - year-round
Parking
Limited
Access
Difficult (cliff path)
Swimming
Not recommended
Activities
A small cove on the Jurassic Coast
Eype’s Mouth is a shingle beach backed by a steep cliff, near Bridport. The shingle shelves steeply into the sea. There are no toilets, so bring what you need. For facilities, West Bay East Beach is the nearest alternative.
Getting down to the beach
A small car park serves the beach, at postcode DT6 6AL, reached by a single-track lane. Visit Dorset also lists extra parking at the A35 rest area, a 15-minute walk down to the beach. Steep steps lead to the sand. The sea and beach can be viewed from the parking area.
Swimming and safety
Bathing can be dangerous here and there are no lifeguards. The shingle shelves steeply, with a strong under-tow. The cliffs are always on the move: the South West Coast Path warns that the sea continually erodes them and causes the occasional landslide, so keep away from the cliff base.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome on Eype Beach all year. Dorset Council sets the rules through a public spaces protection order, so read its page on dogs on beaches before you go.
Walking
The beach car park is the start of a 3.8 mile (6.1 km) South West Coast Path walk to Bridport, graded easy. From the car park the route drops to the beach, then heads east along the coast path past the old Forest Marble quarry workings and the common, with views of the high white and gold cliffs, down to the harbour at West Bay. It then follows the meadows beside the river into Bridport. There is only a little gentle climbing on the way.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- Are dogs allowed on Eype Beach?
- Yes. Visit Dorset lists dogs as welcome all year, off lead, and Dorset Council lists Eype Beach as open to dogs all year round. Check the council's page on dogs on beaches before you travel, as the rules can change.
- Is there parking at Eype's Mouth?
- There is a small car park above the beach, reached by a single-track lane. Visit Dorset also lists extra parking at the A35 rest area, a 15-minute walk down to the beach.
- Are there toilets at Eype Beach?
- No. Visit Dorset lists no toilets at Eype Beach, so bring what you need or use the facilities at West Bay East Beach.
- Is it safe to stand under the cliffs at Eype's Mouth?
- No. The South West Coast Path warns that the sea continually erodes the cliffs here and causes the occasional landslide. Keep away from the cliff base and follow the waymarkers and any diversion signs on the coast path.