There's a footpath from the road but probably best to keep your clothes on till you're nearly at the beach. You can also park in the National Trust car park and walk to the naturist area along the beach.  About a ten minute walk.

It is exactly as Shiraz says.

However, the link to the map is interesting. It suggests the walk from the Knoll beach National Trust car park is much further than the walk through the sand dunes. I'm not convinced it is, because I reckon the designated naturist area starts slightly closer to the NT car park than indicated.

Opinion is always divided concerning whether it's best to park on the road and take the path through the dunes from Fire Break 6, or to set out from the NT car park.

We've done both, but for us the NT car park wins every time.

1. The walk is easier and more pleasant in my opinion - firm sand along the shoreline, versus soft sand through the dunes

2. Arrive at the most family-friendly section of the naturist beach

3. Parking more secure at NT than on the road, where break-ins are periodically reported

4. There are toilets, showers and refreshments available at the NT site - also a shop for beach essentials

The down-side to using the NT - if not a member - parking is relatively expensive.

Mike

My favourite beach, I always park in knoll beach car park, was £9 last summer. then a nice walk/paddle to the naturist section clearly marked with blue signs

This a great beach and the naturist area has been enlarged in the last year.

We find that if you go from the chain ferry (driving south) along for about 1 mile , park at fire point 6 on the road (there usually are spaces) and walk towards the beach. You'll come right onto the naturist section. That is the quickest and most convenient way. Enjoy!

During peak season, the queue for the chain ferry can get very long come the afternoon/early evening.  Also the roads round the peninsula can get heavily congested, especially once people start heading home.

If I'm coming from the Poole/Bournemouth direction, I very often park the car in Sandbanks and walk the rest of the way, catching the ferry as a foot passenger.  Yes it's more expensive, but worth it I think, for not having to sit for ages in either a queue or traffic jam.

Our usual strategy to avoid the gridlock around Studland during hot sunny peak holiday weekends is to get to the beach very early - arriving at the NT Knoll Beach car park pretty much as soon as it opens. That way guaranteed a good choice of parking.

Then leave the beach after lunch in the early to mid-afternoon, again avoiding all the mayhem on the local roads. We'd normally be staying somewhere nearby where we could strip-off again and chill-out as soon as we're back at base, to enjoy the rest of the afternoon in the buff.

The alternative, arriving later, sitting in the car for hours waiting to park. And once again sitting in the car - stuck in the traffic - at the end of the day. Frustrating and a complete waste of time.

The early bird catches the worm.  🙂

Mike

some great tips on here for Studlands visitors, thanks all, am determined to visit this summer, it will be my first time there, Poole Bay is a gem of an area, as good as anything abroad in my view

I live about 20 miles from Studland, traveling from the easterly direction, ie Christchurch and Bournemouth.

My solution is to take a bike with me in the back of the car. Park anywhere, as near as I can, as I approach Sandbanks. If early morning this will be the streets along the ferry road. Later on will be somewhere on the hillside roads just before the harbour.

Then ride to the ferry, cross over and ride along the waters edge to the naturist beach. An MTB is best, even better a fat bike like my Moonlander.

It's great fun and a nice ride around the harbour and along the beach.

Last year I had reason to call into Swanage before going to the beach. The traffic down to Swanage was appalling and took forever to reach Swange, and this was mid day mid week.

Getting home was even worse, with an enormous queue through Wareham and back to the main road where the traffic was struggling to enter the roundabout on the main road. There was far more traffic than I ever remember from earlier years when I did used to drive over this way. This was mid-week.

This convinced me that my parking on the eastern side of the harbour and riding to the ferry was in fact by far the best option for anyone who arrives from the east and has a bike.

It is such a lovely place though, well worth the effort.

TS

I live about 20 miles from Studland, traveling from the easterly direction, ie Christchurch and Bournemouth.

My solution is to take a bike with me in the back of the car. Park anywhere, as near as I can, as I approach Sandbanks. If early morning this will be the streets along the ferry road. Later on will be somewhere on the hillside roads just before the harbour.

Then ride to the ferry, cross over and ride along the waters edge to the naturist beach. An MTB is best, even better a fat bike like my Moonlander.

It's great fun and a nice ride around the harbour and along the beach.

Last year I had reason to call into Swanage before going to the beach. The traffic down to Swanage was appalling and took forever to reach Swange, and this was mid day mid week.

Getting home was even worse, with an enormous queue through Wareham and back to the main road where the traffic was struggling to enter the roundabout on the main road. There was far more traffic than I ever remember from earlier years when I did used to drive over this way. This was mid-week.

This convinced me that my parking on the eastern side of the harbour and riding to the ferry was in fact by far the best option for anyone who arrives from the east and has a bike.

It is such a lovely place though, well worth the effort.

TS

LIKE!  🙂

Mike

Like to visit at least once a year, but it's about 4 1/2 hours each way (two trains and a bus).

Thinking of making a weekend there at some point, making a visit to the Swanage Railway too (although that will need to be clothed!)