Chapmans Pool

Chapmans Pool is a remote horseshoe-shaped cove on the Isle of Purbeck, sheltered by high Kimmeridge clay cliffs and reached only on foot via a steep 30-minute walk from Renscombe car park above Worth Matravers. The beach is a mix of shingle, coarse sand and flat rocks, with an old fisherman's hut and slipway at one end and a stream cascading down the cliff face. Rock pools form among the flat ledges at low tide, and fossil hunting is rewarding, with ammonites and reptile remains regularly found among the loose shore material. The cove was formed by the same process as Lulworth Cove, the sea breaking through harder Portland stone and eroding softer rock behind.

Dogs are welcome year-round on this dog friendly beach, and the remote location means it rarely has more than a handful of visitors even in summer. The steep descent of over 300 feet and the rocky terrain suit fit, active dogs rather than elderly animals or small breeds. There are no facilities whatsoever at the beach, so bring water, food and everything you need. Beach shoes are recommended as the rocks can be slippery. The walk back to the car crosses cattle fields, so dogs should be on leads through the farmland. The Square and Compass pub in Worth Matravers, a short drive from the car park, is dog friendly and serves food.