West Bay: Beaches, Coastal Paths and Boat Trips

West Bay brings together several distinct coastal experiences: the town is part of the South West Coast Path, a National Trail. East Beach is a sloping pebble beach with sandstone cliffs; West Beach is a shallow bay suitable for paddling. There are also boat trips along the Jurassic Coast. This variety can help you choose a destination: would you mainly like to walk, experience different stretches of beach, or spend time on the water?

Beaches and cliffs

At East Beach, a sloping pebble beach meets sandstone cliffs. The golden-coloured cliffs above the beach rise vertically 50 m above it. West Beach offers a different setting: the shallow bay is suitable for paddling. The two stretches therefore differ both in their shape and in the activities they offer—here, a dramatic coastal backdrop beside the pebble beach; there, a shallow bay.

Walking trails and trips on the water

West Bay is part of the South West Coast Path, a National Trail. There is also West Cliff & Eype, a self-guided walking trail put together by the West Bay Discovery Centre. The difference is clear when choosing: one is part of a National Trail, while the other is a named, self-guided route created by the Discovery Centre.

Boat trips along the Jurassic Coast are offered from West Bay Harbour. On RIB trips, you can see cliffs and coastal landmarks up close that are only visible from the sea. One RIB trip on offer lasts 15 minutes; check its availability before your visit, as the details of the offer may change. West Bay River Boats also offers rowing trips on the River Brit. RIB trips focus on cliffs and coastal landmarks viewed from the sea, while the rowing trips take place on the river. Check the operators' latest information before travelling.

Pier, beach and places to eat

The Jurassic Pier features a restored 18th-century cannon. The pier is accessible to wheelchair users and has seating. West Beach has ramps and free-to-borrow beach wheelchairs; a beach mat is available during the high season. If you plan to use the beach mat, check whether it is available for your travel dates before visiting.

The Watch House café in West Bay offers generous outdoor seating areas with views of the coast. If you would like to include a café visit in your plans, check the business's latest information before visiting. This gives you a specific place to take a break outdoors, in addition to the beach and pier.

Getting to West Bay

The nearest railway stations to West Bay are Axminster and Dorchester; both are about a 20-minute drive away. The X53 Jurassic Coast and X51 bus services connect to West Bay. Journey times and transport connections may change, so check the information relevant to your journey before travelling. This lets you factor the stations and bus services mentioned into your plans without treating the different travel options as equivalent.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Winterborne Stickland, Langton Matravers, Puddletown, Fontmell Magna, Sturminster Newton, Pilsdon, Woodsford, Saint Leonards

For the main travel overview: Dorset.