Southern England – Jurassic Coast, Dorset
Distance: 25½km/ 16 miles
Time: 7hrs
Type: Coast and downland
Where: Circular walk from Osmington, via White Horse Hill, Durdle Door, Swyre Head and White Nothe.
Start/End: The Sunray pub, Osmington (SY725828).
Terrain: Chalk downland – easy underfoot, very clear paths. Some quite strenuous ascents and descents.
Maps: OS Explorer OL15; Landranger 194.
The Dorset and East Devon coast — known as the Jurassic Coast — is England’s first natural World Heritage Site. It covers 152km/ 95 miles of stunning coastline, with rocks recording 185 million years of earth’s history. One of the most spectacular features is Durdle Door, a dramatic natural archway pierced by the sea. This lies to the west of Lulworth Cove along a superb stretch of chalk cliff coastline. It’s exhilarating to walk at any time of year, but Lulworth Cove itself can get very busy so is best avoided in the height of summer or on sunny bank holidays. Inland there is excellent — and quieter — walking to be had along the downland ridges, which afford a wealth of extensive views. This walk combines the best of both worlds, with an outward leg along these ridge-top tracks and a return via the Coast Path.
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