Beach facilities
Season: spring
This is a spectacular setting in any weather, but the full length of the beach, including the fleets, was laid out in front of me, as I descended by road towards the Abbotsbury end of Chesil Beach. A beach clean was being organised by Dorset County Council and I was able to learn about the unique geography here from my interviewee, John.
John’s long term relationship with Chesil Beach.
The sound of the sea, at the Abbotsbury end of Chesil Beach.
Season: autumn
This iconic 18 mile long pebble beach stretches North West from Portland to West Bay, separated from the mainland by the Fleet lagoon. The area of shallow sand dunes overlaying shingle that points east and inward towards Portland harbour is known as Hamm Beach. Both of the beaches and the lagoon are in the centre of the Jurassic Coast and part of the only UNESCO designated World Heritage site in the UK. There’s prolific wildlife here, including a tern colony in the Fleet Nature Reserve. This is a special place, highly recommended.
A group chat with Andy, Katie, Mark, Sonya, Nana and Hattie.
The beauty and panorama to be seen from Chesil Beach, at the Portland end.
To me the beach is a spiritual place that allows me to get away from the stresses and strains of everyday life by contemplating the vast emptiness of existence. It is a place I like to visit no matter what the season and I am grateful for the opportunity it allows me to explore or simply walk amongst the pebbles and sand.