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St Aldhelm's Head near Worth Matravers

Dorset Walk

County/Area - Dorset

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 4.1 miles / 6.7 km    Ascent - 600 feet / 182 metres

Time - 2 hours 40 minutes    Grade - easy

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Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - St Aldhelm's Head near Worth Matravers
Click image to see photo description.

This walk in Dorset's Isle of Purbeck includes an attractive section of coastal footpath along the limestone cliffs. In the past extensive quarrying of this rock was a major source of local employment and saw extensive use in major buildings through the British Isles. The start is a small carpark located just south of Renscombe Farm at grid ref. SY964773, which lies a mile or so west of the village of Worth Matravers.

To start the walk, exit the car park and take the signed footpath opposite. This leads across a large field with the hedge-line to your immediate left. Bear to the left around Weston Farm (grid ref. SY968773) to a lane. Bear right along the lane and after turn right down a lane with houses to your right. The lane soon bears left and then right before taking a meandering course down to the sea (grid ref. SY976761).

Turn left on to the South West Coast Path. This follows the top of the cliffs and takes you to St Aldhelm's Head where you can visit the former Coastguard Station. Continue along the South West Coast Path as it turns north. The path soon descends into a deep valley before climbing up onto the cliff tops. The views down to your left include the bay of Chapman's Pool with the Purbeck cliffs continuing westwards. Reaching a footpath junction (grid ref. SY959772) turn right signed to Renscombe. This leads back to the car park.

Other walks nearby

Walk 2145 Houns-tout Cliff from Kingstoneasy3.5 miles
Walk 3286 Dancing Ledge & Durlston Head from Langton Matraverseasy/mod7.0 miles
Walk 1331 Kimmeridge & Tynehameasy/mod6.8 miles
Walk 1534 Swyre Head & Tyneham Cap from Kimmeridgemoderate11.8 miles
Walk 1995 Houns-tout & Swyre Head from Kimmeridgemoderate8.7 miles
Walk 2579 Purbeck Coast from Swanagemoderate10.0 miles
Walk 2568 Egmont Point & Kimmeridge Bay from Tynehammoderate14.0 miles
Walk 1533 Gad Cliff, Povington Hill & Tynehameasy/mod4.5 miles
Walk 1634 Old Harry & Ballard Down from Studland easy/mod5.3 miles
Walk 3396 Agglestone & Old Harry Rockseasy/mod6.4 miles

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Walking the Jurassic Coast

Walking the Jurassic CoastThis 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.
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