Yes I agree.

We had our first holiday to Dorset this week and went to Studland. Having read this was a problem in advance we bought a wind break, hey presto no more gawkers.

🙂

I must be naive but neither in Greece nor at Studland did I have any sense of being looked at to the extent  that I was uncomfortable.  The 'meerkats' (a bit perjorative) were just people-watching to pass the time, as I saw it.

Also in Greece I noticed many had their backs to the beach and were facing the sun, arms outstretched even, and just took them to be serious sun-worshippers, preferring to stand in order to get a full 'dose'.

Never had the problem at Studland, or in Greece. The only place I've ever been aware of it was Fuertventura

Mrs F and I went to Studland last month. I was anticipating meerkats but saw none. We had a very relaxing few hours and would go again.

As to weather you encounter meercats at studland depends alot on your location if on the beach itself you will not see or notice any if at the front of the dunes just above the beach again nut much in the way of meercats but as you move back away from the beach further into the dunes thats when they become more apparent and if you go right to the back of the dunes by the red topped boundary posts then you will soon see lots and be passed by them several times. So as in property buying its location location location. This is information I have gleaned from 30+ years of going to studland but please do not let the few put you off of a good beach and enjoy the soft sand gently sloping beach and warm waters.

As to weather you encounter meercats at studland depends alot on your location if on the beach itself you will not see or notice any if at the front of the dunes just above the beach again nut much in the way of meercats but as you move back away from the beach further into the dunes thats when they become more apparent and if you go right to the back of the dunes by the red topped boundary posts then you will soon see lots and be passed by them several times. So as in property buying its location location location. This is information I have gleaned from 30+ years of going to studland but please do not let the few put you off of a good beach and enjoy the soft sand gently sloping beach and warm waters.

I would largely agree with Dave B. We also have been going to Studland regularly for 30+ years and always pitch up on the open beach. If it's particularly breezy, take a windbreak and perhaps pitch up at the base of the dunes for added shelter. We've never really had any hassle in all that time.

But I wouldn't set up in the dunes, because, unfortunately, that is where there can be problems with 'meerkats'. Or folk just being a nuisance.

Mike

I agree with most of the posts and it does become a little tiresome hearing the same old things about Studland.  I've only been a few times and have seen the aforementioned 'meercats' but I don't go where they can spoil my day.  It's like anything else, if you want it, you can find it but you don't have to be bothered by it unless you want to look for it.  If, like most people who go there, you're just going for a relaxing day without clothes on a lovely sandy beach, just stay on the beach!  It's simple.  Sure, people look at eachother walking past but that happens whether clothed or not on a beach; it's called curiosity and it's a reality of life.

Being as such beach time I have is mainly limited to a very very intolerant stretch of coast staying behind a windbreak, I am envious of such a simple freedom as to be able to just...go on the beach! I wouldn't want to go into dunes if I didn't have to, I would just stay on the main stretch with hundreds of others.

I've not been to Studland yet this year but last year we saw very few meerkats.  We stayed on the beach and it was mostly couples and singles and everyone was just enjoying the friendly happy atmosphere.  If you stay out of the dunes there's no problem, it's an absolutely lovely beach 8)

Was there tod... erm, yesterday now, after a planned week of work didn't go as originally planned.  Rather sea-weedier than I remember from last year.  I am puzzled by the various groups of people, couples, families etc who head straight for the middle of the nude section, but keep their swimwear, doing the "towel dance" or some variation thereof.  It was some of these I even overheard commenting on the "meerkats"!