Worbarrow Bay

A bay inside a firing range

Worbarrow Bay is a sheltered bay of shingle and sand on the Dorset coast, inside the Lulworth Ranges, land owned by the Ministry of Defence and used for military training. The village of Tyneham, a mile inland, was evacuated in December 1943 and has been deserted ever since. At the eastern end of the bay is a promontory known as Worbarrow Tout.

Mupe Bay is the other beach on the range walks; see Mupe Bay. For the cove most visitors use, see Lulworth Cove.

Access: check before you travel

The beach is open to the public only when the ranges are open, as the GOV.UK guidance on military areas in the South West says. The Lulworth range walks and Tyneham village access times for 2026 list the weekends that are closed, and the periods when the walks are open every day. Weekend access begins on Friday afternoon once range clearance is complete, and it depends on the weather.

Red flags by day and red lights by night mean live firing is taking place and access is prohibited. Firing times are subject to last-minute change, so phone 01929 404714 and look at the monthly firing notices on GOV.UK.

If you find military debris, do not touch it. Note where it is and tell a Training Safety Officer or the police.

The walk

Tyneham village gate permits vehicle access. It opens in the morning when no military activity is taking place and closes at dusk each evening. From the Tyneham car park it is a walk of about one mile to the bay, and Visit Dorset puts that at around 20 minutes. Keep to the paths marked with yellow posts at all times.

Swimming, dogs and facilities

Worbarrow is remote and reached only on foot, so take sensible care in the water. Dogs are welcome at Tyneham village and the bay, and the Tyneham Village listing carries the current rules. Stay on the marked paths and obey any range signs. Toilets and parking (with a suggested donation) are at Tyneham village, and there is a picnic area at Tyneham Farm. The bay itself has no facilities.