Sandbanks to Studland on the chain ferry: a beach day

The Sandbanks chain ferry is the four-minute crossing from the tip of Sandbanks to Shell Bay on the Studland side, and it turns a long drive round Poole Harbour into a short hop to some of the best beaches in Dorset. It runs every 20 minutes from 7am to 11pm, and on the far side are four National Trust beaches and the clifftop walk to Old Harry Rocks.

This guide covers the crossing and a full day on the other side: how the ferry works, how to pay, how to go by bus, which Studland beach to choose and what to do when you get there. One date to note: the ferry pauses for a scheduled refit from Monday 2 November 2026, according to the operator.

How does the Sandbanks chain ferry work?

The ferry is a flat-decked chain ferry that pulls itself across the harbour mouth on two chains, carrying cars, bikes, buses and foot passengers. It leaves Sandbanks on the hour and at 20 and 40 minutes past, from 7am to 11pm, and Shell Bay at 10, 30 and 50 minutes past, until 11.10pm. The crossing takes about four minutes.

Vehicle tolls are online only. The ferry reads number plates, and you pay on the operator's website before you travel or afterwards by the deadline; our piece on the ferry going cashless explains what changed this year. Foot passengers and cyclists cross as well, and the operator's site lists their fares.

The queue is the variable. On a hot summer weekend the line of cars back along the peninsula can take far longer than the crossing; in October and on weekdays you usually drive straight on. Go early, or go by bus.

Can you do it without a car?

Yes, and it is one of the best bus rides in the country. The Purbeck Breezer 50, run by morebus, starts in Bournemouth, runs through the West Cliff and Westbourne to Sandbanks, drives onto the chain ferry, and carries on through Studland to Swanage. The fare includes the ferry crossing.

In summer the Breezer uses open-top buses; out of season it switches to ordinary buses and runs less often, so check the timetable for the day. Because it passes through the West Cliff, it is the easiest way to Studland from a Flexiestays apartment. The Bournemouth Guide's getting around without a car covers the buses in more detail.

Which Studland beach should you choose?

Studland Bay has four beaches, all owned by the National Trust: Shell Bay by the ferry, Knoll Beach in the middle, then Middle Beach and South Beach towards the village and Old Harry. Knoll Beach has the most facilities; Shell Bay is the quickest from the ferry; South Beach is the start of the Old Harry walk.

The National Trust's Studland page has the car parks, which are free to members: number-plate recognition at Knoll Beach and pay and display at Shell Bay, Middle Beach and South Beach. Toilets are at Knoll Beach, Shell Bay and Middle Beach.

• Shell Bay is the long sandy beach right by the ferry, with views back across the harbour mouth to Sandbanks and Brownsea. It is the one to walk to if you come on foot or by bus.
• Knoll Beach has the National Trust shop, the Knoll Beach café, toilets and outdoor showers, and it is the family choice. A marked stretch of about 900 metres at its northern end is Britain's best-known naturist beach, signed with green-topped posts.
• Middle Beach is smaller and sheltered under low cliffs and trees, with beach huts and a café nearby.
• South Beach is below Studland village, and from there the coast path climbs to Old Harry.

Studland Bay was also named on a national list of the UK's best lesser-known beaches this year, as we reported in our news piece on Studland Bay.

How do you walk to Old Harry Rocks?

From South Beach or the village, follow the South West Coast Path east along the clifftop to the Foreland, where the chalk stacks of Old Harry Rocks stand off the headland. It is about a mile each way, gently uphill, and takes around half an hour at an easy pace. Stay well back from the edge.

The stacks mark the eastern end of the Jurassic Coast, the World Heritage coastline that runs west to Devon. From the top there are views over Poole Bay to Bournemouth and on a clear day to the Isle of Wight. Our every beach near Bournemouth guide ranks Studland against the rest.

What is there to do at Sandbanks before you cross?

Sandbanks is the peninsula at the mouth of Poole Harbour, with a Blue Flag beach on the sea side and calm water on the harbour side at Shore Road. Many people spend the morning on the Sandbanks side and cross to Studland after lunch, when the queue has eased.

The Bournemouth Guide's Sandbanks page covers the beach and the parking, and the Jazz Cafe is the beachfront café on the sea side. The ferries to Brownsea Island leave from Poole Quay, not from here, so plan that as a separate day.

Things to know before you go

Check the refit dates if you are travelling in early November, when the ferry is off and the drive round the harbour through Wareham adds the best part of an hour. Carry water and a layer, as Studland's beaches are exposed and there are fewer cafés than on the Bournemouth side. And if you are bringing a dog, check the National Trust's seasonal dog rules for each beach.

For the drive, the Help Centre explains parking at your building, so you know where the car lives when you come back.

Where to stay for Sandbanks and Studland

Sandbanks is about 20 minutes from Bournemouth's West Cliff by car or on the Breezer, so the trip works easily from a Bournemouth base. Flexiestays has eight aparthotels on and around the West Cliff and lists serviced apartments near Poole; our guide to where to stay in Poole compares Sandbanks, the Quay and Ashley Cross.