Dorset Jurassic Coastal Path walking holiday plus London as a bookend

Trip Snapshot

London bookends this independent walking holiday. The hike 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 self-guided walking trail starts at the picturesque old port of Lyme Regis, nicknamed "The Pearl of Dorset" and noted for the fossils found in the cliffs and beaches and its historic harbour. Your route then takes you over Golden Cap, which at 190m is the highest cliff in southern England 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 earthworks. You'll have the opportunity to visit a number of historic villages crammed with old stone thatched cottages with welcoming inns if you fancy a real ale and tea shops if you'd prefer scones and cream tea. As you progress eastwards, so the variety and beauty of the landscape seems to increase with every new corner. Highlights include the classic picture postcard sites of Durdle Door's rock arch, and the perfect circular bay of Lulworth Cove. Stunning cliffs accompany you through the army ranges (see note on introduction page about when it's open) in the most strenuous section of the walk. You can extend your walk from Swanage by following the Purbeck hills to the remarkable village of Corfe Castle and its castle ruins.