Day out to the Jurassic Coast, Dorset

Let us start with a disclaimer lol. I’m not actually sure if this was ever on my list of UK things to do. However, when we started to plan our trip to the South West of England, I knew that a day out to the Jurassic Coast, Dorset had to be a part of the itinerary.

Now what exactly is the Jurassic Coast?

The Jurassic coast is one of the most spectacular coastlines in the country with its dramatic cliffs. It is a world heritage site, which begins at Exmouth in Devon and runs all the way to Old Harry Rocks in Dorset. It is 95 miles long and flows through East Devon, West Dorset, Weymouth & Portland and Purbeck.

Fun fact – It is England’s ONLY natural world heritage site.

Why is it called the Jurassic Coast?

This is where it gets exciting for history buffs. It covers 3 geological periods from Triassic to Jurassic to Cretaceous, which make up the Mesozoic Era aka Middle Ages. We are talking around 250 million years ago. It is simply called Jurassic coast because of its geological ties to fossils. As it is England’s only natural world heritage site, it is actually ranked alongside the Great Barrier Reef, Galapagos Islands and the Grand Canyon. How cool is that?!

Although a lot of the coast is accessible, the National Trust protects one third of the coastline. In order to hunt fossils, there are guided tours in Charmouth.

For a day out to the Jurassic Coast, Dorset, be prepared for a long day of beautiful cliffs and clear water. One of those locations that makes you forget you are still in England. Or actually, no. It is one of those locations that shows you the beauty of England.

Durdle Door

This is the main reason why we are here isn’t it? Durdle Door is the most iconic landmark in all of Dorset. It is possibly, the most photographed and most popular one as well. From the viewpoint to the beach itself, there are just under 150 steps which are the steepest I have ever climbed. It is worth every step though. When we got there, we hung around the viewing point for over 30 minutes and even set up camp there. Then it was time to climb down to the beach as my feet had to touch the water.

Man O War Beach

Located on the east side of Durdle Door beach, it is the first part of the coastline you see once you walk from the car park. It is a sandy beach with some fine pebbles, fine enough to walk bare feet. I find it a lot quieter than its sister nearby, Durdle Door. Perhaps this is because most people would rather relax and photograph the popular Durdle Door arch? I’m not sure why but it is definitely worth a visit. Man O War beach is very scenic and the blue green water that roles unto the shore is so calming.

Lulworth Cove

Most people who visit the Jurassic coast give Lulworth Cove a pass. We almost did after I was sure my waist was about to give way thanks to all that trekking. Lulworth Cove is a pebbled beach in a sheltered cove. In low tide, rock pools and sea creatures can be found. The cove is very popular with hikers and especially with families exploring with their children. If you must, check out “Stair Hole” which is a little cove located west. It is said to have inspired Enid Blyton’s The Rubadub Mystery.

London day out to the Jurassic Coast, Dorset – Do I recommend?

One question I was asked is if I would recommend the Jurassic Coast as a day trip from London. Depending on what part of London you are driving from, it is roughly 3 hours. The car park is at the entrance so you’ll have to make your way down to the beach.

I timed myself and it was exactly 23 minutes from car park to the viewpoint and a further 144 steps down to the beach. 23 minutes and 144 steps might not seem like a lot but with its steepness and rocky routes, it is not the easiest of walks. Perfect for hikers though.

Anyway, if you think walking to the beach is tough, try walking back. We got to the top of stairs and I had to catch my breath for 3 minutes! And then make our way back to the car park. Now this is not to discourage you but it is a lot for a casual day out from London. Nevertheless, I am quite aware that it is quite popular day trip so perhaps this is just my laziness speaking.

We enjoyed our day because we drove 30 minutes back to our cottage and soaked in the hot tub afterwards.

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10 things to note on a day out to the Jurassic Coast, Dorset:

Bring comfortable walking or hiking shoes.
Make sure to take all your trash with you. It is quite easy to forget all your trash when you’ve had a lovely beach day. But in order for these historic sites to remain open, we need to clean up after ourselves.
You can actually swim and kayak on the beach so it is worth bringing your swimwear to enjoy the beaches.
Do not jump off the cliff. You would think this was a given but you know, people love to be adventurous.
Go early to get a good spot. We got there at 9.45am on a Sunday it was not too busy but I’d recommend going even earlier.
Another reason to get there early is for a good parking spot as these get filled up pretty quickly.
Accessibility is quite disappointing. As explained above, the route to the viewpoint is quite rocky and the stairs down to the beaches are steep. Therefore, it is not suitable for wheelchair users or small children who cannot be carried.
There are no toilet facilities down at the beaches. So if you need a pee, it has to be done before you start the climb.
Dogs are allowed so it is the perfect day out for your furry companions.
No barbeques are allowed but you can take a picnic basket and blanket and enjoy a lovely day out.

My closing thoughts (because I always have extra thoughts)….

There you have it. Everything we did on our day out to the Jurassic Coast, Dorset. The Jurassic Coast is very special, scenic and breath-takingly stunning. It is one I will advice everyone who lives in the UK to visit at least one time in their lives. Perfect for families and even romantic dates as there are secluded areas around the coves.

It is perfect for a cute solo date; find a spot and read or just take everything in. As much as it could get busy, I loved that there were areas where you could spend time with yourself and still enjoy its beauty. In all honesty, our day out to the Jurassic coast, Dorset was PERFECT.

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Next time, I’ll check out the path through Lyme Regis but until then…

Bisous, ‘Bugo