Ringstead Bay

For other places with the same name, see Ringstead.

Ringstead Bay
Ringstead Bay with White Nothe to the east in the background
Ringstead Bay with White Nothe to the east in the background
Ringstead Bay is located in Dorset
Ringstead Bay
Ringstead Bay
LocationDorset, England
Coordinates50°37′51″N 2°20′16″W / 50.6309°N 2.3378°W / 50.6309; -2.3378
Part ofJurassic Coast, English Channel
Managing agencyNational Trust
Websitewww.nationaltrust.org.uk/ringstead-bay

Ringstead Bay, with the small village of Ringstead at the eastern end and the prominent headland of White Nothe at the western end, is located on the coast in Dorset, southern England. The area lies on the Jurassic Coast and is known for its natural environment and fossils.[1]

Ringstead Bay has a pebble and shingle beach with some sand.[2][3] There are offshore reefs approximately 0.6 kilometres (0.37 mi) in length at the western end opposite the village that are uncovered at low tide. This forms is intertidal zone between the low cliffs to the north and the English Channel to the south.

The Ringstead Coral Bed a geological formation exposed at Ringstead Bay, hence the name.[4][5][6] It preserves fossils dating back to the Jurassic period.

Immediately to the east are the white chalk cliffs of White Nothe, dominating the bay. Below is Burning Cliff.[7] It is possible to walk to the top of White Nothe and back, with views of the bay and across to the Isle of Portland.[8] It is also possible to walk to Ringstead Bay on a circular walk from Lulworth Cove to the east, via Durdle Door and White Nothe.[9]

Ringstead Bay also has a nudist beach that is a 20-minutes walk east of the main Ringstead beach.[10][11]

  1. ^ "Ringstead Bay". UK: National Trust. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  2. ^ "Ringstead Bay". thebeachguide. UK. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  3. ^ "Ringstead Beach". Visit Dorset. UK. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Ringstead Bay". UK Fossil Collecting. UK: UK Fossils Network. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Collection: Ringstead Bay (Ringstead coral bed) England, UK". mindat.org. UK. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  6. ^ Winder, Jessica M. (21 March 2014). "Jurassic Coral Fossils at Ringstead". Jessica's Nature Blog. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  7. ^ "Burning Cliff, West Dorset (DT2 8NG)". getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk. UK: Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  8. ^ West, Ian. "Ringstead Bay to White Nothe, Dorset". Geology of the Wessex Coast of Southern England. UK: University of Southampton. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  9. ^ Durdle Door & White Nothe circular, The South West Coast Path National Trail, UK.
  10. ^ "Ringstead Bay Dorset". Naturist / Nudist Beaches in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. UK: Saturday Walkers Club. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  11. ^ "Ringstead Bay news from the Dorset Beaches". dorsetbeaches.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 May 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2015.