Church Cliff Beach

The cliffs here are the real draw - golden sandstone that rises dramatically from the shingle beach, best seen from the water's edge when the light hits properly in late afternoon. Church Cliff Beach sits just west of Bridport, a proper working town rather than a resort, which means it's genuinely quiet even in summer. You get the geology lesson for free: these cliffs are part of the Jurassic Coast, and you can spend a good hour spotting fossils in the fallen rocks if you know what to look for. The beach itself is shingle and sand depending on tide, fine for paddling but not ideal for sunbathing unless you've brought a mat. Families with younger kids might find it a bit sparse - there's no arcade, no ice cream van, nothing like that. What you do get is space and the kind of silence that makes you remember why you left the city. Access is straightforward from Bridport - walk or drive down towards the coast - though parking is roadside and limited. The cliffs are unstable in places, so don't go poking around the base too much. Best visited at low tide when you've got more beach to work with. It's the sort of place that rewards a slow wander rather than a quick visit - give yourself two hours minimum. If you're staying at Seadown or Newlands holiday parks nearby, this is a five-minute drive and absolutely worth it. Worth noting: there's nothing here to keep restless teenagers happy for long, but walkers and fossil hunters will return again and again.