West Bay
Dorset, England
A dramatic shingle-and-sand beach beneath the striped sandstone cliffs made famous by television, with firm sand exposed at low tide either side of the harbour.
A dramatic shingle-and-sand beach beneath the striped sandstone cliffs made famous by television, with firm sand exposed at low tide either side of the harbour. The contrast between soft shingle at the top of the beach and workable sand lower down means it rewards picking your spot carefully.
Best Seasons
Beach Type
Tides
Low tide exposes a good stretch of firm sand close to the harbour mouth; this narrows quickly as the tide turns.
At a Glance
| Nearest town | Bridport |
|---|---|
| Region | Dorset, England |
| Family rating | |
| Facilities | Parking, Toilets, Café, Lifeguard |
Recommended Holes
Dig Guides for West Bay
Tailored advice for every hole type on a mixed-sand-shingle.
Castle Moat
The classic — a sandcastle's best friend
Treasure Hole
Dig deep, hide well, find glory
Sand Pool
Build your own private paddling pool
Tunnel
The engineering challenge — meet in the middle
Volcano
Pour water in, watch it erupt
Channel and Dam
Control the water — redirect the sea
Den or Foxhole
Excavate a hideout and disappear
Buried Alive
The timeless classic — bury a sibling
Spiral Vortex Pool
Dig a spiral, fill it with water, and watch it swirl
Fossil Dig Pit
Bury it, map it, and excavate it like a real palaeontologist
Sea Wall
Build a defence and see how long you can hold back the tide
Igloo Den
A carved dome hideout, built up rather than dug down
Time Capsule Hole
Bury a message, a memory, or a wish — and dig it up another day
Sand Maze
Dig a labyrinth, then race to find your way out
Rock Pool Habitat
Dig your own rock pool to give crabs, shrimp, and whatever else the tide brings in a temporary home
Foxhole
A proper dug-in trench, built for crouching in and defending, not for water