Shell Bay

What sets Shell Bay apart

Shell Bay is the National Trust beach at the northern end of Studland Bay, beside the chain ferry from Sandbanks. The Trust looks after four beaches around the bay: Shell Bay, Knoll, Middle and South. The shop, cafe and visitor reception are at Knoll Beach, while Shell Bay has a car park, toilets and a bistro. The beach is sandy, with views across Poole Harbour, and a boardwalk leads to it from the car park.

Getting there

Shell Bay car park is pay and display, free for National Trust members, and overnight parking and camping are not allowed. A bistro and restaurant sits close by. You can also arrive on foot from the Sandbanks chain ferry, which links Sandbanks in Poole with Studland Bay every 20 minutes, carrying vehicles, bikes and foot passengers. The ferry operator has times and fares. The National Trust’s Studland Bay page has the full visitor information.

If you are staying on the Poole side, Sandbanks Beach is the other end of that crossing.

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 your dog on a lead of less than 2 metres anywhere on the beach. On heathland and dunes the rule is leads from 1 March to 31 July, to protect ground-nesting birds. Read the National Trust’s page for the rule in force.

Swimming and facilities

Treat swimming with caution and check conditions on the day. The Trust lists toilets at Shell Bay car park, including an accessible toilet. The terrain around Studland is mixed and uneven.

Naturists and the coast path

The National Trust’s official naturist area is 900 metres of Knoll Beach, marked with signs and posts, and not at Shell Bay. Studland Bay is on the South West Coast Path, and can be reached on foot from Bournemouth and Poole by the Sandbanks chain ferry.