West Bay East Beach
West Bay East Beach: shingle below 43-metre golden cliffs at the western end of Chesil Beach, with summer RNLI cover and winter-only dogs.
At a Glance
Beach Type
shingle
Dogs
Seasonal restrictions
Lifeguard
Yes (seasonal)
Parking
Available
Access
Moderate (steps/path)
Swimming
Swim with caution
Facilities
Activities
West Bay East Beach lies east of the harbour, beneath cliffs of Bridport Sands that formed about 175 million years ago and rise roughly 43 metres. It is a shingle beach that turns to coarse sand near the water, and it marks the western end of Chesil Beach. The harbour is south of Bridport, and the TV drama Broadchurch boosted visitor numbers here after it aired in 2013.
The cliffs
The East Cliffs are soft, and they fall. The West Bay Discovery Centre records falls from 1876 and 1906 and asks people to admire the cliffs from a safe distance. Keep away from the foot of the cliffs and from any fallen rock.
The harbour
The current harbour dates from around 1744, and improvements completed in 2005 added the Jurassic Pier and an outer harbour. West Bay was once a rope and net exporting centre, and it grew as a seaside destination after the railway arrived in 1884. The West Cliffs across the harbour are different from the East Cliffs, with water-resistant Jurassic clays topped by sandstones.
Chesil Beach starts here
Chesil Beach stretches about 18 miles from West Bay to the Isle of Portland. The pebbles are sorted by the sea, from pea-sized at the West Bay end to around 5 cm at the Portland end. Swimming here needs care, and the RNLI’s West Bay beach page shows when lifeguards are on duty. For the long beach itself, see Chesil Beach.
Dogs
Dorset Council’s dog order excludes dogs from East Beach and West Beach at West Bay between 1 May and 30 September. From 1 October to 30 April dogs are welcome, and Visit Dorset lists them off the lead. Read the signs and check Dorset Council’s own dog rules before travelling.
Parking and facilities
The car parks are Esplanade (40 spaces), The Mound (25 spaces), Quayside, Station Yard and West Bay Road. West Bay has two Changing Places toilets, accessible toilets at the Discovery Centre, and beach wheelchairs, a floating wheelchair and a wheelchair carrier for hire. Details are on Visit Dorset’s accessible beaches page.
Nearby
Lyme Regis and its sand and pebble Front Beach are west along the coast. Charmouth is the fossil beach between the two.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- Are dogs allowed on West Bay East Beach?
- Not from 1 May to 30 September, when Dorset Council's dog order excludes dogs from East Beach and West Beach at West Bay. From 1 October to 30 April dogs are welcome. Check the signs for lead rules before you go.
- Is it safe to walk close to the cliffs at West Bay?
- No. The West Bay Discovery Centre asks visitors to admire the cliffs from a safe distance, and records cliff falls back to the nineteenth century. Keep well away from the cliff foot.
- Where do I park for West Bay East Beach?
- West Bay has several car parks, including Esplanade, The Mound, Quayside, Station Yard and West Bay Road. Esplanade has 40 spaces and The Mound 25.
- Is West Bay the start of Chesil Beach?
- Yes. Chesil Beach runs about 18 miles from West Bay to the Isle of Portland, and the stones are at their smallest, pea-sized, at the West Bay end.