Location
United Kingdom
Status
Unofficial / Tolerated
Suitable for
Families and adults
Terrain
Shingle
Best season
June to September
About Ringstead Bay
Ringstead Bay is a remote shingle bay on Dorset's Jurassic Coast about five miles east of Weymouth, below steep cliffs and the National Trust headland of White Nothe, with views back across Weymouth Bay towards Portland. The naturist end is the eastern end of the bay, below Burning Cliff, well away from the small settlement, cafe and boats at the western end. The beach is mainly pebbles, with some sand exposed at low tide, and the water shelves steeply; beach shoes help. The south-facing shore can get very hot and is not overlooked thanks to the cliffs and hillside behind. Naturists are typically a mix of couples and single men, with clothed walkers occasionally coming along the shore. Storms and tides reshape the shingle, and the cliffs at the eastern end are unstable, with landslips, so sit nearer the sea where the beach is wide. Seaweed can attract flies in summer.
Getting there
From the A353, turn towards Upton and continue past the Ringstead turning to the car park high above the cliffs (about £5 a day, supervised in summer; toilets nearby). Take the unmade lane past a caravan park, cross a field by the stile and go down a short slope to the beach, then turn left along the pebbles. Alternatively, from the National Trust car park (now charged, free to members) follow the path down to the coast path and the steep Burning Cliff path, or walk about a mile east from the village car park (postcode DT2 8NG), roughly 20 minutes on hard pebbles. Expect a steep climb back.
What visitors say
Most visitors find the naturist end quiet, secluded and friendly, with a few couples and single men on a normal day and more in a heatwave, when clothed walkers also stroll along the shoreline. The main complaints are the hard walk on pebbles, the steep, overgrown and poorly signed paths from the clifftop car park, and the steep climb back. A few visitors were put off by clothed people and the lack of signs and left. Regulars say the water is clean but shelves steeply.
Summarised in our own words from public reviews and guides listed under Sources.
Amenities
Legal context
There is no designation scheme for nude beaches in England and Wales and nudity in itself is not an offence; the Sexual Offences Act 2003 exposure offence requires intent to cause alarm or distress. Ringstead is owned by the National Trust and has no official naturist status or signs; the eastern end has been used by naturists for decades, and visitors report clothed walkers generally ignore them (reports to 2023).
Naturism at Ringstead Bay sits under United Kingdom's rules for de facto tolerance — usually left alone if you keep it non-sexual and low-drama.
Full country law: United Kingdom public nudity guide.
Naturist status confirmed against an official source on 24 October 2026.
Location
View on interactive map
Approx. 50.6281, -2.3413
Visitor tips
- 1 Informal / tolerated site — be discreet and leave no drama.
- 2 Towel, water, sunscreen. Sit on your own towel.
- 3 No photos without clear consent.
- 4 Check access, tides, and parking before you go.
- 5 House rules and local custom can be stricter than the law.
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Frequently asked questions
Where is the nude section at Ringstead?
At the eastern end of the bay, below Burning Cliff, away from the village and cafe.
How do I get there?
From the clifftop car park via a field path and short slope, or along the pebbles from the village, about 20 minutes.
How much is parking?
Around £5 a day at the car park above the bay; the National Trust car park is charged except for members.
Is it safe near the cliffs?
No. The cliffs at the naturist end are unstable, so keep well away from their base.
Are there facilities?
A cafe and shop and toilets near the car park and western end; nothing at the naturist end.
Sources
Important
Beach status changes. Verify current conditions before you go. This is guidance, not legal advice.
Members’ reviews
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