Ringstead Bay

{{Short description|Bay in Dorset, England}}

{{Other places|Ringstead (disambiguation){{!}}Ringstead}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

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{{Infobox body of water

| name = Ringstead Bay

| image = Ringstead Bay and White Nothe.JPG

| alt = Ringstead Bay with White Nothe to the east in the background

| caption = Ringstead Bay with White Nothe to the east in the background

| image_bathymetry =

| alt_bathymetry =

| caption_bathymetry =

| location = Dorset, England

| group =

| coordinates = {{coord|50.6309|-2.3378|type:waterbody_region:GB|display=inline,title|format=dms}}

| type =

| etymology =

| part_of = Jurassic Coast, English Channel

| oceans =

| catchment =

| agency = National Trust

| designation =

| pushpin_map = Dorset

| pushpin_label_position =

| pushpin_map_alt =

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| website = {{URL|https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ringstead-bay}}

| reference =

}}

Ringstead Bay, with the small village of Ringstead at the eastern end and the prominent headland of White Nothe at the western end, is located on the coast in Dorset, southern England. The area lies on the Jurassic Coast and is known for its natural environment and fossils.{{cite web| url=https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ringstead-bay | title=Ringstead Bay | publisher=National Trust | location=UK | accessdate=16 January 2022 }}

Ringstead Bay has a pebble and shingle beach with some sand.{{cite web| url=https://www.thebeachguide.co.uk/south-west-england/dorset/ringstead-bay.htm | title=Ringstead Bay | work=thebeachguide | location=UK | accessdate=16 January 2022 }}{{cite web| url=https://www.visit-dorset.com/listing/ringstead-beach/113531301/ | title=Ringstead Beach | work=Visit Dorset | location=UK | accessdate=16 January 2022 }} There are offshore reefs approximately {{convert|0.6|km|mi}} in length at the western end opposite the village that are uncovered at low tide. This forms is intertidal zone between the low cliffs to the north and the English Channel to the south.

The Ringstead Coral Bed a geological formation exposed at Ringstead Bay, hence the name.{{cite web| url=https://ukfossils.co.uk/2008/03/26/ringstead/ | title=Ringstead Bay | work=UK Fossil Collecting | publisher=UK Fossils Network | location=UK | accessdate=20 January 2022 }}{{cite web| url=https://www.mindat.org/paleo_collection.php?col=163932 | title=Collection: Ringstead Bay (Ringstead coral bed) England, UK | website=mindat.org | location=UK | accessdate=20 January 2022 }}{{cite web| url=https://natureinfocus.blog/2014/03/21/jurassic-coral-fossils-at-ringstead/ | title=Jurassic Coral Fossils at Ringstead | work=Jessica's Nature Blog | first=Jessica M. | last=Winder | date=21 March 2014 | accessdate=20 January 2022 }} It preserves fossils dating back to the Jurassic period.

Immediately to the east are the white chalk cliffs of White Nothe, dominating the bay. Below is Burning Cliff.{{cite web| url=https://getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/local/burning-cliff-west-dorset | title=Burning Cliff, West Dorset (DT2 8NG) | website=getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk | publisher=Ordnance Survey | location=UK | accessdate=20 January 2022 }} It is possible to walk to the top of White Nothe and back, with views of the bay and across to the Isle of Portland.{{cite web| first=Ian | last=West | url=http://www.soton.ac.uk/~imw/Ringstead-White-Nothe.htm | title=Ringstead Bay to White Nothe, Dorset | work=Geology of the Wessex Coast of Southern England | publisher=University of Southampton | location=UK | access-date=10 November 2013 }} It is also possible to walk to Ringstead Bay on a circular walk from Lulworth Cove to the east, via Durdle Door and White Nothe.[http://www.southwestcoastpath.com/main/walks/index.cfm?fsa=dspWalkDetail&w_id=60 Durdle Door & White Nothe circular], [http://www.southwestcoastpath.com/ The South West Coast Path National Trail], UK.

Ringstead Bay also has a nudist beach that is a 20-minutes walk east of the main Ringstead beach.{{cite web| url=https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/nudist-beach/Ringstead-Bay-Dorset.html | title=Ringstead Bay Dorset | work=Naturist / Nudist Beaches in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland | publisher=Saturday Walkers Club | location=UK | accessdate=16 January 2022 }}{{Cite web| title = Ringstead Bay news from the Dorset Beaches| work = dorsetbeaches.co.uk| access-date = 2015-08-16| url = http://www.dorsetbeaches.co.uk/westdor/ringsteadbay/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526012422/http://www.dorsetbeaches.co.uk/westdor/ringsteadbay | archive-date=2015-05-26}}