Independent Walking
Dorset Jurassic Coastal Path & Ridgeway
Y our walking trail follows a stunning section of the South
West Coastal Trail between Lyme Regis and Swanage in Dorset, with a possible extension to Corfe Castle. This spectacular coast is one of the most interesting and varied in the UK and has been designated a natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO with its cliffs capturing 185 million years of the Earth ' s history. Your holiday starts at the picturesque old port of Lyme Regis, nicknamed " The Pearl of Dorset " and takes you over Golden Cap, which at 190m is the highest cliff on the south coast and provides amazing panoramic views. After passing Abbotsbury, a beautiful village with the largest thatched building in the world, your route takes you onto the Dorset Ridgeway with great views and numerous prehistoric sites. You ' ll have the opportunity to visit several historic villages crammed with old stone thatched cottages, with welcoming inns and tea shops. Further east the classic picture postcard sites of Durdle Door ' s rock arch and the perfect circular bay of Lulworth Cove await you. You can extend your walk to Swanage & the remarkable village of Corfe Castle.
Independent Walking
Independent Walking
Price P / P 5, 7 or 8 nights. See Price List or Web Site for details
Walking Profile
Holiday Profile
4, 6 or 7 days self-guided walking moving between guest houses. The walking days on this independent holiday average about 16km. The walking varies with some easy sections, whilst others sections of the Dorset coastal path have some sizeable and reasonably steep ascents and descents. A couple of the days have a series of ups and downs making them quite difficult days for the grade with a maximum daily ascent of 650m. For the most part your walking trail follows a national footpath and it is therefore well signposted.
5, 7 or 8 nights: 4, 6 or 7 days self-guided walking moving between guest houses.
Included 5,7 or 8 nights accommodation on a B & B basis, full walking notes and maps, transport of luggage
What’ s not included
Walks: day-by-day
Day 1: Arrival – Welcome, night at Lyme Regis. Explore this historic picturesque port.
Day 2: Lyme Regis- West Bay You’ ll soon reach Charmouth, which is a great place to look for fossils. Your trail continues over a number of hills including the ascent of Golden Cap, the highest cliff on the south coast with wonderful views, as well as plenty of wild flowers and butterflies. 16km, + 555m
Day 3: West Bay- Abbotsbury After some small hills following the cliff tops, the trail levels out as you approach the amazing Chesil Beach- a huge ridge of shingle 13km long, with a lagoon on its landward side. This stretch is good for bird spotting. Your walking trail turns inland & soon reaches the pretty village of Abbotsbury with its stone and thatched cottages. 15km, + 150m
Day 4: Abbotsbury- Ridgeway Your walking trail takes you inland along The Ridgeway- a chalk ridge which is famous for its quantity of pre-historic barrows( burial earth mounds). The ridge provides fine walking and great panoramic views. On route it is possible to make a detour to Maiden Castle- an impressive Neolithic and Iron Age hill fort which dominates the area. 16km, + 250m
Day 5: Ridgeway- Lulworth Your walking trail returns to the coast and traverses the top of some beautiful chalk cliffs such as the headland of White Nothe which provides glorious views. You ' ll pass Durdle Door, a great natural arch before reaching Lulworth cove which is without doubt one of the finest coves in the UK, bounded by cliffs on all sides. 15km, + 470m Short break ends.
Day 6: Lulworth- Worth Matravers A great day starts by going over the cliffs surrounding Lulworth Cove before passing the Fossil Forest to reach Smugglers Cove. This part of your walking trail follows some dramatic cliff top walking around a series of picturesque bays and headlands. It ' s worth making the detour to Tyneham, a deserted village, evacuated in 1943. 19km, + 650m
Day 7: Worth Matravers- Swanage Your route undulates along limestone downs and beautiful cliff tops. The route is punctuated by old quarry workings exploited when stone was directly loaded onto boats out at sea. After passing Durleston Head you ' ll reach the seaside resort of Swanage. 18km, + 180m
Day 8: Departure or Swanage- Corfe Optional extra day climbs onto a chalk ridge of the Purbeck Hills. Here you have great views over the amazing Poole Harbour. Walk to Old Harry Rocks, a chalk headland with detached rock towers. The wonderful ruins of Corfe Castle dominates the village.
Day 9: Departure- Departure after breakfast
Travel to and from walk; all lunches & evening meals, visits, travel insurance
♦ Stunning coastline, one of the most varied and interesting in England
♦ Beautiful secluded bays such as Lulworth Cove and towering cliffs at Golden Cap
♦ Lovely beaches, and strange rock formations like Durdle Door
♦ Unspoilt countryside, peppered with pretty
hamlets and villages with historic thatched cottages and traditional pubs and tea rooms
♦ Designated a natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO- a geological‘ walk through time '
♦ A new walking experience each day
At a Glance
GUIDED / INDEPENDENT Price: Grade: Profile:
See Price List
Dates: April Oct *
Accommodation
A range of good quality hotels, bed and breakfasts and inns. In some locations the choice of accommodation is limited so please book early to ensure that we can secure our first choice accommodation. Where possible, we choose guest houses with a distinctive local character, where charming surroundings are married with a warm welcome. All accommodation is on a B & B basis. Evening meals are taken in local cafes, tea rooms, restaurants and pubs. Example: Mariners Hotel, Lyme Regis.
Dates
* 5 nights short break version is available everyday from 1 April- 31 October. 7 & 8 night holidays start everyday during the English school holiday periods from 1 April- 31 October. Outside of these periods, the first night in Lyme Regis starts on Monday or Tuesday. Starting days on the 7 & 8 night holidays are restricted due to the route going through the Army Ranges at Lulworth on day 6 and this route is only available when firing is not taking place. Normally this section is available during school holidays and at weekends, but there are some weekends throughout
11 the year when it is not open, so please contact us before you book.
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