Jane's Midlife Journey

Durley Chine is the first of three Blue Flag ‘chine’ beaches running west from Bournemouth. A chine is a narrow ravine through the cliff formed by a river. During the Victorian era, when Bournemouth first became a seaside resort, several of the chines around Bournemouth were converted into parks, creating scenic paths leading down to the beach.

How to get to Durley Chine Beach

The most direct route to Durley Chine is 0.7 miles west of Bournemouth along the Prom by foot/bike or on the land train. By road, it is 1 mile along West Cliff Road.

By Bus

The 33, the 50 Purbeck Breezer (and during the summer, the No 70 Breezer Bus, which runs along the coast road between Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) stop at Admirals Walk, a 7 minute walk from Durley Chine Beach. Alternatively, you can take the m1/ m2/16/18 and alight at St Michaels Roundabout, which is an 11 minute walk.

Access

Durley Chine is not among the chines transformed into gardens; it’s just a road leading to the car park. There is a step free path, alternatively, the beach can be reached by Durley Chine Steps. The tree lined Middle Chine (in between Durley Chine and Alum Chine) provides more picturesque access to the beach.

Parking

There is a car park at Durley Chine. The car park has 131 spaces, so fills up quickly in summer. Prices are seasonal, costing £3 for an hour for most of the year or £2.40 for two hours between November and mid March. Full details of parking fees can be found here. If you opt to walk through Durley Chine, there is free roadside parking on the cliff top.

Beach

The wide expanse of golden beach is mainly sandy.

Food & Drink

Durley Inn

There is a Harvester pub/restaurant (The Durley Inn) at the bottom of Durley Chine. It also has a beach kiosk selling snacks and drinks.

Chineside

On the other side of the chine is Chineside beach café, which serves breakfast and lunch plus cakes and drinks. It has plenty of seating over two storeys overlooking the beach, plus a pop up seating area on the beach itself. There is an additional takeaway and ice cream kiosks as well as a shop selling beach goods.

There is also an ice cream kiosk on the prom at Durley Chine.

Toilets

There is a toilet block on the prom and another in the Environmental Hub.

Other Facilities

• Beach huts
• Drinking water
• Shower

Durley Environmental Innovation Hub

Recently opened is Durley Environmental Innovation Hub. This series of buildings provides toilets, recycling facilities, a kiosk and claims displays ‘focusing on the environmental impact of waste management and single use packaging on the coastal environment.’ To be honest, when I’ve visited, it’s always been closed…

Lifeguards

The Durley Chine Lifeguard tower is in operation from 10 am until 6 pm between 24th May and 7th September 2025.

Durley Chine Beach for Children

Durley Chine offers a sandy beach with a gentle slope into the sea and lifeguards during peak times. It is slightly removed from the main area of Bournemouth, making it a little quieter and therefore a pleasant beach for families.

Chineside and the Durley Inn both offer a kids’ menu. Chineside has a selection of typical kids’ meals for £7.95. While at the Durley Inn, kids can have choose from a wide range of main courses and add a side, dessert and drink for between £7.29 and £9.29.

Dogs

Dogs are not permitted on Durley Chine Beach between May and September. There is a dog friendly beach area just west of here at Middle Chine.

• Updated: November 2025

I hope you found this information useful. For more inspiration on things to do in and around Bournemouth, check out my 101 Things to do in Bournemouth here.

For more inspiration on things to do in and around Bournemouth with young children, check out my 101 Things to do in Bournemouth with Babies and Toddlers here.