Durley Chine sits about fifteen minutes west of the pier, far enough along the promenade that the summer crowd noticeably thins while the sand stays exactly as good. It holds a Blue Flag, and the eco beach hub at the foot of the chine has made it one of the better-equipped approaches to the water in the bay.
What to expect
The beach is broad and backed by the wooded cleft of the chine itself, which cuts down through the cliff and gives the whole spot more shelter and more shade than the open central stretch. Beach huts line the promenade. The water shelves the same way it does everywhere along this coast — gradually, and a long way out.
For anyone staying on the West Cliff, this is the natural beach: the walk down through the chine takes a few minutes and is considerably more pleasant than the seafront road.
The beach hub and facilities
The building at the foot of the chine houses a café, toilets and showers, and was built to a low-energy specification — it is the reason the beach is often described as the eco end of the seafront. The ramp down to the sand makes this one of the more genuinely accessible beaches here, rather than one that is accessible in theory.
Swimming and safety
Seasonal RNLI cover operates through the summer with a flagged swimming zone. Outside the season there is none. The usual warning about inflatables applies with more force at the chines than at the pier, because the offshore wind funnels down the valley.
Getting there
Parking sits at the top of the chine off West Overcliff Drive and fills early on hot days. The promenade runs flat from Bournemouth Beach in one direction and Alum Chine in the other, so walking in is usually easier than driving.
Nearby
Alum Chine continues west and is quieter again. The full run of the coast is covered in the beaches guide, and beaches by neighbourhood explains which stretch suits which base.
