Chesil Beach, Dorset
Chesil Beach is an 18 mile pebbly ridge on the World Heritage Site Jurassic Coast, stretching from West Bay near Bridport to the Isle of Portland. The beach is a very unique feature, mostly separated from the mainland by the Fleet Lagoon, a designated bass nursery area. The pebbles sit on a bank of clay and sand and are graded in size from pea-size shingle at one end to the size of a man’s fist at the other; it’s also an important area for wildlife, being well known among naturalists for the diversity of flora and fauna.
The entire ridge is utterly scenic and along it’s course there are some brilliant places to visit for a day out in this part of the world. Go to Abbotsbury Swannery betyween May and the end of June to see cygnets hatching, or take a stroll around the glorious Sub-Tropical Gardens; up on the hill nearby is the isolated St Catherine’s Chapel where occasional services are still held during the year. Burton Bradstock is good too - the coastal ambience is undescribably gorgeous and you can plan a trip mto include lunch or a cream tea at the Hive Beach Café; if you prefer quieter beaches for walks and mackerel fishing, go to West Bexington or Cogden.
All information correct at the time of writing