A very popular walk along the Jurassic Coast is from Lulworth Cove to Durdle Door. I recommend walking this short stretch of coast outside of weekends and public holidays if possible to avoid the large crowds.
This isn’t a circular walk, so you will have to turn around and return to the car. With ample parking at either end of this walk, it really doesn’t matter which end you decide to start from.
Parking
The parking at Lulworth Cove is within a large car park at the bottom of the hill near the cove. Parking at Durdle Door is at the top of the hill, accessed via Durdle Door holiday park. Both car parks are large and charge the same cost. Currently the charges are £5 for four hours, or a day rate is also available.
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Facilities
Facilities at Lulworth Cove include a Heritage Centre which is also home to public toilets and a small cafe area.
Nearby there is the Lulworth Cove Inn, Finley’s fish and chips takeaway and some small shops and cafes near the cove.
Facilities at Durdle Door include public toilets, plenty of picnic bench seating and a refreshment van.
Lulworth Cove To Durdle Door Walk
The walk between Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door has plenty of inclines and descents. It isn’t very pushchair friendly, however I have seen people attempt it!
The ground underfoot is uneven in places and can be slippery during wet weather. If it’s a windy day, take care as some of the path gets close to the cliff edge.
In total one way between Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door is approximately 1.5 miles in distance. The walk offers amazing views across the Jurassic Coast, and is one of the gentler sections of the coastal path.
Beginning from Lulworth Cove car park, face away from the cove and join the path from the car park. You can’t miss it as you will begin your walk climbing the first hill you see. It does look more daunting than it is so don’t be put off straight away.
The ground here is stone with large wide steps in the hill. There is loose gravel here which can sometimes become a bit slippery. Don’t forget to stop and admire the view down into the cove as you climb the hill.
At the top of the hill, the ground opens up and the path becomes flatter. During wet weather, parts of this path can become a little boggy, but there is plenty of green space to walk on avoiding the puddles.
The path continues until you see the car park at Durdle Door holiday park. Here is the refreshment van and toilets.
A walk to Durdle Door isn’t complete without seeing the famous Durdle Door arch. To see this properly, the walk down the hill is needed. The ground here can be unsettled with loose stones, but there are grass verges which feel safer under foot in places.
If you decide to walk down to the beach, there are steps on the cliff to Man O War beach either side of the arch. Alternatively there is a lovely view point area above the beach which is a popular photo spot.
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From here you can enjoy amazing views, and see the hills on the South West coast path that lead towards Ringstead Bay a few miles away.
It’s easy to see how you could spend as much time as you wanted at either end of this walk. Both Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door are great places to sit and enjoy a picnic, or enjoy the beaches. Both beaches are dog friendly all year round, and are a lot quieter than many beaches in Dorset.
The only way back to the car is to turn around and walk back the way you came.
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