Walking Britain Dorset Walk
Lulworth Cove & Durdle Door
Walk Route Description
Click thumbnails for larger images.
This short walk includes two of the most famous features on the Dorset Coast, namely the circular inlet of Lulworth Cove and the rock arch known as Durdle Door. For a longer walk including these two features walk 2575 is a more challenging route.
The start is the main car park next to the visitor centre at Lulworth Cove(Grid ref. SY 821800). This can be a very busy place during peak times and if you prefer a quiet walk then do avoid peak holiday periods. From the car park take the broad paved path heading uphill westwards towards the coast. All the height gained on this section will be lost as you descend to Durdle Door and as you have guessed will have to be climbed again to return to Lulworth Cove.
Reaching the summit of the first hill you get the first good view of the Dorset Coast with its fine white cliffs. Stay on the main South west Coast Path to reach Durdle Door where you can descend to the beach to get a better view of the rock arch.
To complete the walk return by the outward route to the car park continuing past the information centre to reach the shingle beach of Lulworth Cove. Almost completely circular the cove provides a sheltered haven for small boats and is a pleasant place to spend some time before returning to the start of the walk.
Please maintain social distancing - keep at least 2 metres away from other walkers.
Maps | |||
| Ordnance Survey Explorer OL15 | Sheet Map | 1:25k | BUY |
| Anquet OS Explorer OL15 | Digital Map | 1:25k | BUY |
| Ordnance Survey Landranger 194 | Sheet Map | 1:50k | BUY |
| Anquet OS Landranger 194 | Digital Map | 1:50k | BUY |
It is recommended you take a map. The preferred scale is 1:25k. | |||
GPS files - right click or option-click the button and choose "Save As..." to download this file.
Recommended Books & eBooks
Walking the Jurassic Coast
This guidebook includes 30 walks on the Jurassic Coast of Devon and Dorset. Covering the coast between Exmouth and Bournemouth, these delightful routes range from 3 to 16 miles (5 to 24km), exploring and explaining the spectacular geology of this World Heritage area with clear, easily understood descriptions, cross-sections and timelines.
More information
South West Coast Path Map Booklet - Minehead to St Ives
Map of the northern section of the 630 mile (1014km) South West Coast Path National Trail. Covers the trail from Minehead to St Ives along the north Devon and Cornish coastline. This convenient and compact booklet of Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps shows the route, providing all of the mapping you need to walk the trail in either direction.
More information
The National Trails
This inspirational guidebook looks at each of the UK's 19 National Trails, with information that allows ease of comparison and contrast, inspiring you to find out more and to take up a long-distance challenge. Some Trails are short and easy, others much longer, many have strong themes - they may follow a coastline, or traverse ranges of hills.
More information
