Hive Beach — Attraction in Burton Bradstock

Let me start by saying I'm not the most well travelled person but I'm as I sit here thinking about my 38 years on this planet, I think I can comfortably say this is the worst place I've ever been to.

The "beach" is a quarry. There is no sand and no stones, just sharp shingle that is somehow both uncomfortable to walk on like a pebble beach but also even worse than sand for getting to places where it shouldn't. I've been watching the kids trying to forge "sand" castles out of what can only be described as fine grain sadness.

There is absolutely no life here. We rather ambitiously brought some nets with us, but there is not even a single barnacle or shell anywhere to be seen. I don't know what terrible thing happened to this place to render it void of life. This is kind of what I imagine sitting on a beach in a post apocalyptic world would be like, only without the comforting warm feeling of irradiated fallout.

Never fear, I'm exaggerating slightly. As I type I can count around 30 sand flies crawling over my skin and phone. At first I found it annoying but I've started giving them names. I think I got one to do a trick earlier but it might be my mind playing tricks on me as it struggles to deal with another piece of gravel trying to bury itself in my bum.

The final insult is despite this being the worst beach in the world, its the only one I've ever had to pay to visit.

Go somewhere...

This is a beautiful beach but I feel very strongly that it is not a place to swim! I visited with my husband in September and went for a swim. On exiting the water we were both knocked over by a breaking wave which then pulled me down into a steep shelf edge on the edge of the beach and I was constantly pummelled and thrown around by the waves. My husband was unable to reach me and I was convinced I was going to drown. The waves were knocking me under and the shingle was moving so fast that I couldn't stay still. I was pulled from the water by three men on the beach who ran in to save me. I dread to think what would have happened had these men not helped me. I've since found out that a person died on the beach 2 days previous to my incident and there has also been another recent incident. Please think very carefully before deciding to swim here, no matter how strong a...

Hive Beach in Dorset is an absolute gem. Nestled along the Jurassic Coast, it offers stunning views with its mix of sandy and shingle beach, backed by dramatic cliffs. It's an ideal spot for nature lovers and fossil hunters, with the South West Coast Path providing beautiful walks along the coastline. It’s also dog-friendly and has good facilities, including parking. While the beach can be a bit steep in places and the cliffs can be unstable, it’s still a fantastic spot for a day out. Whether you’re after a peaceful retreat or an outdoor adventure, Hive Beach...