Hive Beach

A shingle beach with a cafe on the sand

Hive Beach is at Burton Bradstock, about two miles east of Bridport and just off the B3157 Bridport to Weymouth road. The National Trust looks after it. The shingle here forms part of the larger Chesil Beach, and the beach sits on the Jurassic Coast, which stretches from East Devon into Dorset. Hive Beach Cafe, a seafood restaurant, sits on the shingle.

Swimming and safety

Treat the sea here as dangerous. The National Trust warns of strong currents, a shelving beach, large waves and unstable cliffs, and says Hive is not an RNLI lifeguarded beach. Visit Dorset’s beach guide gives the same message: bathing can be dangerous. The cliffs along this stretch of the Jurassic Coast are liable to landslips and falls at any time and without warning, so stay well back from the cliff edges and the base of the cliffs. In prolonged dry weather the Trust asks visitors not to light barbecues because of wildfire risk.

Dogs

Dogs are welcome, with a summer limit. From 1 June to 30 September they are not allowed on the beach directly in front of the cafe (the main beach access), unless they are assistance dogs. The Trust says to walk them on a lead east along the beach past the wooden chalet, and you may stop with your dog once you are beyond it. Keep dogs on a short lead, particularly when the beach or coast path is busy, and on a lead from 1 March to 31 July while ground-nesting birds are rearing young. Read the National Trust’s dog guidance for Hive Beach before you set off, because the rules are set by the landowner and can change.

Parking, toilets and access

The National Trust car park is beside the beach and has eight accessible spaces. Members and Blue Badge holders park free, and other visitors pay. Check current charges on the National Trust’s Hive Beach page. Caravans and trailers cannot use the car park, motorhome spaces are limited, and overnight parking and camping are not allowed. Toilets are run by the cafe and open when it does. Accessible toilets are open when the cafe is, and accessible picnic benches line the beach front. The Trust hires out a mobility scooter (a Tramper) from April to October; book by email or phone through its Hive Beach page.

Walking from the beach

The South West Coast Path passes the beach. The National Trust’s Hive Beach coast path walk is a circular route of about 1.1 miles that it rates easy, and its Cogden Circular is about 2.2 miles from the Cogden car park. The X53 bus stops at the end of the short road to Hive Beach. For another beach near Bridport, see West Bay East Beach.