Chesil Beach, linking the Isle of Portland with the mainland, is a seventeen mile long stretch of mystery. The origin of this unique shingle ridge still baffles geographers and geologists, whose theories cannot easily explain why the pebbles are graded from east to west, with the biggest at the Portland end.
Facilities exist at West Weares, Portland, Ferrybridge, Moonfleet, Abbotsbury and Burton Bradstock although the sea off Chesil Beach is treacherous for both swimmers and sailors alike.
It is illegal to remove pebbles from the beach, a fact that has recently caused Ian Mc Ewan, the author of 2007 novella On Chesil Beach, to be threatened with a fine. He admitted removing a handful of stones and keeping them on his desk while writing the book.
Other beaches near Chesil Beach
Chesil Beach tide times
Tue 27th June
Low 02:16am (0.61m)
High 07:44am (5.44m)
Low 02:34pm (0.79m)
High 08:07pm (5.58m)Wed 28th June
Low 03:04am (0.78m)
High 08:33am (5.24m)
Low 03:20pm (1.01m)
High 08:55pm (5.36m)Thu 29th June
Low 03:52am (1.02m)
High 09:22am (5.00m)
Low 04:07pm (1.26m)
High 09:44pm (5.11m)Fri 30th June
Low 04:40am (1.29m)
High 10:14am (4.75m)
Low 04:56pm (1.52m)
High 10:38pm (4.85m)