Knoll Beach, Studland
National Trust sand and dunes at Studland Bay with a cafe, shop and Changing Places toilet, a lead rule for dogs in summer and an official naturist stretch.
At a Glance
Beach Type
sandy
Dogs
Seasonal restrictions
Parking
Available
Access
Moderate (steps/path)
Swimming
Swim with caution
Facilities
Activities
The beach and what is behind it
Knoll Beach is one of four National Trust beaches around Studland Bay, alongside Shell Bay, Middle Beach and South Beach. The bay is a curved sweep of sand backed by dunes and heathland, roughly 2.5 miles long, and the dunes behind Knoll sit inside the Studland and Godlingston Heath National Nature Reserve, designated in 1946. The beaches have views of Old Harry Rocks.
Knoll is the beach with the most on site: a car park, a cafe, a shop and bookshop, toilets and a visitor reception.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome on Studland’s beaches all year. From 1 October to 30 April they can be walked off lead. From 1 May to 30 September the National Trust asks you to keep them on a lead of less than 2 metres anywhere on the beach. On the heathland and dunes, dogs must be on leads from 1 March to 31 July to protect ground-nesting birds. Dogs are welcome in the shop and in the outdoor seating at the cafe.
Naturist area
An official naturist stretch lies on Knoll Beach: 900 metres of coast marked with green-topped posts and signs.
Parking, facilities and access
The National Trust car park is open every day of the year, with seasonal hours, and charges that vary by season and are free to members. Blue badge holders do not pay. The cafe and shop at Knoll Beach are open all year, and there are toilets at Knoll, at Middle Beach and at the Shell Bay car park.
The Trust describes Knoll as the most accessible spot at Studland. A level path of about 50 metres runs from the accessible parking to the cafe, shop, reception and toilets. A Changing Places toilet sits next to the cafe and shop. Manual all-terrain beach wheelchairs and an electric 4x4 beach wheelchair are available, and beach matting allows wheelchair users to reach the beach. The Oceanic Aqua chair, an amphibious chair for getting into the sea, is run from Knoll Beach with Studland Watersports. See the Trust’s accessibility page for the full detail.
Swimming
The bathing water shelves gently, but treat swimming here with caution and check conditions on the day.
Nearby
The Sandbanks chain ferry crosses the mouth of Poole Harbour to Studland. On the Sandbanks side is Sandbanks Beach.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- Are dogs allowed on Knoll Beach?
- Yes, year-round. Off lead is fine between 1 October and 30 April. Between 1 May and 30 September the lead must be under 2 metres, wherever you are on the sand.
- Is Knoll Beach a naturist beach?
- Part of it is. The National Trust's official naturist area is a 900 metre stretch marked with green-topped posts and signs.
- Can you get a beach wheelchair at Knoll Beach?
- Yes. The National Trust has manual all-terrain beach wheelchairs at Knoll Beach, and an electric 4x4 chair.
- What are the opening times for the car park, cafe and shop?
- They change with the season, and the National Trust publishes current times on its Studland Bay page. The cafe and shop at Knoll Beach are open all year.