West Bexington is a classic stretch of Chesil Beach: a steep shingle bank with quick access to deep water, famed for seasonal variety and fast-changing conditions. Parking is close at the end of Beach Road (paid), but the heavy shingle makes even short walks tiring; pick a spot with a...

Bass Pouting Whiting Plaice Dover Sole

Cogden Beach

(6.8/10)

5.4 miles from West Compton

Cogden Beach is a quiet stretch of the Chesil shingle bank between Burton Bradstock and West Bexington. It is a steeply shelving, clean-ground beach with quick access to deeper water, producing mackerel and bass in summer, flatfish and gurnards at range over sand, and rays and smoothhounds after dark; winter...

Bass Whiting Plaice Flounder Dover Sole

Hive Beach

(7/10)

5.7 miles from West Compton

Steeply shelving shingle on the Jurassic Coast at Burton Bradstock, offering quick access to deeper water. Productive in summer for mackerel, scad and garfish, with bass in the surf; winter nights bring whiting, pouting and dogfish, with the chance of rays. Strong lateral tides and a heavy shore break at...

Bass Whiting Plaice Dover Sole Thornback Ray

Freshwater Beach

(6.9/10)

6.1 miles from West Compton

A steeply shelving shingle section of Chesil between West Bay and Burton Bradstock, with deep water close in. Best on a flooding tide into dusk and after dark. Summer brings mackerel, bass, scad, garfish and smoothhounds; rays are possible, and winter sees whiting and pouting with the chance of a...

Bass Pouting Whiting Plaice Dover Sole

Dragon's Teeth Abbotsbury

(7/10)

6.5 miles from West Compton

A classic Chesil shingle beach mark by the WWII ‘dragon’s teeth’ at Abbotsbury. Steep shingle with deep water close in over clean sand/shingle. Summer brings mackerel, scad and garfish (dusk into night); winter nights are reliable for whiting, pouting and dogfish. Occasional smoothhound and small‑eyed rays show on crab or...

Bass Pouting Whiting Plaice Dover Sole

West Bay East Beach

(7/10)

6.7 miles from West Compton

Steep shingle beach immediately east of West Bay harbour at Bridport. It shelves quickly into clean sand and mixed shingle, giving respectable depth at medium-to-long range. Productive on the flood through high and into the first of the ebb, especially at dusk and after dark. Summer sees mackerel, scad and...

Bass Whiting Plaice Dover Sole Thornback Ray