Low tides in the coming days
Next days
The 7-day forecast, hourly plan and an alert for this place are in pre-sale.
See the pre-saleWhere to look
Walk out onto the ledges on both sides of the bay at spring low water. Dorset Wildlife Trust runs Rockpool Ramble walks, which are a good start.
What you can find
crabs, anemones, starfish, gobies, prawns, red seaweeds, kelp
What to do: rockpooling, wildlife watching
Shellfish and sanitary status: The bay is a marine wildlife reserve, so do not collect shellfish or other animals here. Fishing rules in Dorset are published by Dorset IFCA.
Rules and safety
The bay is on the private Smedmore Estate and there is a charge for vehicle access. Reserve rules apply: look in place, put stones back, take nothing. West of the bay is a military firing range, open only on published days.
About the place
Kimmeridge Bay has flat rock shelves, the ledges, that form wide rock pools at low tide. It is home to the Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve and the Dorset Wildlife Trust centre (Fine Foundation Wild Seas Centre). It is one of the best documented rockpooling spots in England.
Do not miss the next window
The best windows last a few hours: after a storm, after rain, on a clear night with an active Sun. Sign up and we will email you when the index at your spots goes above 60.