Chesil Beach & the Fleet
Chesil Beach is one of the great natural wonders of the English coast — an 18-mile sweep of shingle running from Portland to West Bay, part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. Behind it lies the Fleet, the largest tidal lagoon in Britain and a haven for wildlife.
Highlights
- Iconic 18-mile shingle barrier beach on the Jurassic Coast
- The Fleet Lagoon — a rare brackish lagoon rich in birdlife and eelgrass
- Big skies, fossils and dramatic walking in every season
- Connects to the South West Coast Path, England’s longest waymarked trail
A little history
The bank was formed by the sea after the last ice age and has sheltered Abbotsbury’s swans for centuries. In 1943 Barnes Wallis tested his ‘bouncing bomb’ on the waters of the Fleet.
Plan your visit
Free to explore year-round. Respect the protected nature reserve, especially in the bird nesting season. Discover more of the World Heritage coastline via the Jurassic Coast guide (opens in a new tab).
Jurassic Coast guide ↗ Opens in a new tab — this page stays open.