Beaches in Weymouth, Dorset
Weymouth is a popular seaside town positioned at the mouth of the River on the English Channel coast in Dorset. It is known as a gateway to the World Heritage Site of the Jurassic Coast which is famed for its important landforms and geology. It was one of the first modern tourist resorts in the UK after the Duke of Gloucester built his home Gloucester Lodge in the town and his brother King George III went on to spend 14 holidays there. read more...
The beach guide has 8 beaches listed in and around the town of Weymouth. We have arranged these beaches in order of closest to the town first (distance in brackets).
-
Weymouth Beach (0.2 miles)
Weymouth Beach is a curving arc of golden sand adjacent to the town centre, with Weymouth pier at the southern end. Family-friendly, the safe, shallow waters are ideal for swimming, and a range of other activities are on offer during summer, from donkey rides to Punch and Judy shows.
Ramps lead to the sand from the…
Newton's Cove (0.7 miles)
Tucked away below Nothe Gardens, Newton's cove is a small area of shingle with plenty of rock pools. The beach is backed by a modern promenade which makes access easy from Nothe Fort. Generally speaking this is one of the quieter spots in Weymouth and can be a great spot to get away from the…
Castle Cove (1.1 miles)
Known locally as Sandsfoot Cove, Castle Cove beach lies within the Portland Harbour, about 100 yards from Sandsfoot Castle and Gardens. The secluded, sandy beach slopes gently into the water, and is backed by greenery and low-rise cliffs. Castle Cove is a great beach for kids with lots to see, safe paddling and at low…
Greenhill Beach (0.7 miles)
The mainly pebble beach of Greenhill lies in Weymouth Bay and is less crowded than the sandier beaches in the area. The beach is backed by a promenade which actually forms a section of the South West Coast Path. There are some lovely beach huts along the promenade, which makes a good place to come…
Sandsfoot Castle (Portland Harbour ) Beach (1.4 miles)
Set on a sand spit in Portland Harbour, Sandsfoot Castle is a small, privately-owned beach, backed by cliffs and the ruins of Castleton Castle. Sheltered and sandy, Castle Cove is popular for a range of watersports including swimming, sailing, snorkelling and diving. There is a cafe and a network of coastal footpaths.
Preston Beach (1.1 miles)
This is a shingle beach which stretches from Greenhill to Bowleaze Cove, a short distance from Weymouth. The waters here are relatively shallow and a reef lies quite close to the shore. The beach offers some good fishing and is popular with sea anglers and dog walkers. It is much less busy than many of…
Overcombe Beach (1.8 miles)
Just under two miles east of Weymouth is the wide shingle beach of Overcombe. Despite its relative proximity to the town the beach here has a very different feel with very little in way of development. It is a popular spot with local families as well as kite-surfers and kayakers. As the tide goes out…
Bowleaze Cove (2.3 miles)
Bowleaze Cove is a sand and pebble beach just over two miles northeast from Weymouth. At low tide further patches of sand and a number of rockpools become visible.
There is a slipway here suitable for launching small craft and a short pier used mainly by anglers. In summer the beach is popular with families…
Weymouth beaches map
Map featuring Weymouth beaches. Click on pins to view beach detailsAbout Weymouth
Weymouth is a popular seaside town positioned at the mouth of the River on the English Channel coast in Dorset. It is known as a gateway to the World Heritage Site of the Jurassic Coast which is famed for its important landforms and geology. It was one of the first modern tourist resorts in the UK after the Duke of Gloucester built his home Gloucester Lodge in the town and his brother King George III went on to spend 14 holidays there.
It is blessed with one of the warmest climates in the country and is one of UK's most visited seaside resorts, popular because of its traditional seaside charm and safe sandy beach which stretches for three miles. There are two routes around Weymouth on the South West Coast Path, one which goes round the coast and the other which runs along the South Dorset Downs.
The town is best known for its attractive esplanade facing out to Weymouth Bay where there are rows of elegant Georgian terraces built between 1770 and 1855, many of which have been converted into hotels, shops and apartments. There are also various landmarks along the esplanade including the Jubilee Clock which was built in 1887 to celebrate the 50th year of Queen Victoria's reign, as well as statues of Victoria, George III and two war memorials.
The busy harbour area is positioned in the centre of the town and separates the two areas of Melcombe Regis and Weymouth via a bridge built in the 1930s. It is home to private yachts, boat rides and cross channel ferries. The Nothe Fort is a popular tourist site which sits on the promontory end of the harbour; built in 1860 originally as a coastal defence, it is now open to public after being fully restored during the 1960s. Weymouth, along with its neighbour Portland, was one of the host venues for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic sailing events.
