Studland Beach

No blog about getting naked in the UK would be complete without at least some sort of mention of Studland Beach in Dorset. This stunning stretch of golden sand lies just to the north of Swanage and is on the eastern side of the Studland and Godlington Heath Nature Reserve. Access is either along the beach from the north or south ends, or via a footpath from Ferry Road (there is a bus stop at the end of the path to help you find it).

Walking from the road takes around half an hour and the terrain varies from soft heathland, through hard gravel, to very soft sand dunes. Because of the soft sand at the end the beach is probably not wheelchair accessible via the path, so I would recommend wheelchairs / pushchairs / bikes / etc progress along the harder tide-line sand from the beach at the north where there is access next to the chain ferry.

If you use the path to get to the beach, the first thing you see of it is the land side of the dune ridge that separates the beach from the heath. Once you get past the "naturists may be seen..." sign you are okay to disrobe, and many people spend all day in the dunes there. You see them popping up from time to time like meerkats as the dunes so successfully isolate you from all surrounding sounds that it's easy to think you're the only one left on the beach!

Continue through the dunes and you appear in the centre of the clothing-optional part of the beach. The dunes stretch off to your left and right as you step through onto a wide expanse of golden sand that - depending on the tide - can appear to go for ever in front of you as well. If you are there in the summer holiday period there will be a small hut on the beach somewhere visible from the end of the path that sells ice cream, tea, coffee, sandwiches, etc. This is run by the National Trust staff, and despite all of them being fully clothed whilst on duty they have no issue with you buying things from them as naked as you like. The staff also act as de-facto security guards and often help out with keeping track of kids that wander off from their parents as well as tracking down anyone who does anything illegal or anti-social.

The atmosphere of the beach is very family oriented, and there is generally a very good mix of clothed, unclothed, singles, groups, men, women, and anything else you can think of. Everyone can be comfortable there with no pressure, and it's a great place to go for your first time nude on a beach.