Studland Bay Directions

Studland Bay is situated on the central south coast in Dorset. It is between Bournemouth in the east and Swanage in the west. There are car parks at both ends of the bay and there is a bus service that runs the length of the coast from Bournemouth, stopping at various points before arriving at the southerly end of Studland where the main town and amenities are.

Postcode: BH19 3AH – National Trust Studland Bay Car Park

Driving From The East

If you are driving to Studland Bay from the east, you are likely to be heading west on the M3. The route is approximately 130 miles, and although this can be shortened in terms of distance when you get to Poole, it menas using a ferry to cross the harbour which is an additional cost and possible wait.

If staying on the main roads, the M3 becomes the M27 at Chilworth (near Southampton) and once into the New Forest become the A31. This will take you all the way down to Upton where you will need to head right onto the A35. A couple of miles around the tow town brings you to Lychett Minster. Turn left onto A351 towards Holton Heath.

Stay on the A351 as it curves you around towards the south and Corfe Castle, take a left onto B3351. This road will take you to Studland town and the southerly end of the Bay. There is a car park (owned by the National Trust) and amenities and shops for provisions.

For the scenic route, leave the A31 just after Ringwood and join the A338 down to Bournemouth and head along the coast towards Poole Harbour and Sandbanks. The chain ferry is well signposted. Once over the harbour, there is a car park for the northerly end of the bay, or you can continue along Ferry road to the southerly end where Studland town is, providing shops and amenities. It is possible to park on the sides of Ferry Road but this is discouraged.

Public Transport

From London, head straight to Bournemouth on the Weymouth line. Directly outside Bournemouth train station is a bus stand. You will want the Purbeck Breezer 50, operated by More Buses. Although a year-round service, the timetable improves in the summer months, and they also schedule open-top buses for much of the day. The bus will take you straight to Sandbanks and takes around an hour. A return fare is approximately £6 for an adult. Concessions are available for group tickets/day passes/children etc.

Once over the chain ferry – and please don’t leave the bus once you’re on the ferry as the crossing only takes a few minutes – you can either alight at Shell Bay and walk around and down to the naturist area. Or you can wait until FRP6 Jerry’s Point, a fire access point to the heathland that has a bus stop and a path which will take you straight down to the naturist section of the bay. FRP6 is the first stop after Shell Bay (on the Studland side of the Ferry Crossing).

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