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10 Day itinerary in United Kingdom, Europe

Dorset Jurassic Coastal Path walking holiday plus London ...

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 designat... Read More

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WilliamJustineStephen

By William, Justine and Stephen

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Average
help_outline

Recommended Age

Everyone

Operated in

English

GUIDANCE

On Some Day Trips

starting point

London

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Hiking

Visit markets

Meet local people

Rural home stays

Outdoors & Nature

Start/End

Night

Highlights

1

Stunning coastline, one of the most varied and interesting in England

2

Lovely beaches, and strange rock formations like Durdle Door

3

A new walking experience each day as the landscape changes with the different rock types

4

Sophisticated London at beginning and end.

Itinerary

Guesthouse expand_more

Day 1

place Arrive London, rest after flight.

Pick up by private driver with a sign. Transfer to your hotel and afternoon at leisure. If your flight is early we will ensure bags can be looked after. Afternoon to explore London by yourselves. Ask us for any bookings, or activities, as we do know a number of top guides and little known experiences.

Day 2

place Train to the start of your walking holiday

Make your way to the station. Train to Lyme Regis. This will be second class, and a change is likely in Axminster. On arrival make your own way the short distance to your guest house. Explore this historic picturesque port and stroll along the Cobb - its famous harbour walls.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3

place Lyme Regis - West Bay

Your first day's walking brings you quickly to Charmouth at a gap in the coastal hills, which is a great place to look for fossils. There is a Heritage Visitors Centre. Your trail continues up and down a number of hills including the ascent of Golden Cap, the highest cliff on the coast of southern England giving wonderful views both along the coast and inland. Much of this area is owned by the National Trust and farmed using traditional methods meaning that it has plenty of wild flowers and butterflies in early summer. West Bay is a small harbour village with lovely sea cliff views. 17km, +530m

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 4

place West Bay - Abbotsbury

An easier day in store. After some relatively small hills following the cliff tops, the trail levels out as you approach the amazing Chesil Beach - a huge ridge of shingle 13km long, creating a lagoon on its landward side. On the way there is the opportunity to visit the picturesque historic Dorset village of Burton Bradstock with many 17th century thatched cottages. This stretch is good for bird spotting and there is a nature conservation reserve. Your walking trail turns inland at the start of the beach and shortly afterwards reaches the pretty village of Abbotsbury with lots of stone and thatched cottages as well as a number of other buildings and sites of interest. 14km, +210m

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 5

place Abbotsbury - Ridgeway

Your walking trail takes you inland along The Ridgeway - a chalk ridge which runs for 20km east-west, famous for its quantity of barrows (burial earth mounds) built here during the Bronze Age - one of the highest concentrations in the UK. The ridge provides fine walking and great panoramic views, one of the best being from Hardy's Monument at 240m above sea level. Just before the monument is the Valley of the Stones with impressive Celtic field systems still visible and naturally occurring large stones. On route it is possible to make a detour to Maiden Castle - a hugely impressive Neolithic and Iron Age hill fort which dominates the local landscape. 21km, +310m

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6

place Ridgeway - Lulworth

You walking trail returns to the coast and traverses the top of some beautiful chalk cliffs such as the great chalk headland of White Nothe which provides glorious views. The rolling landscape is beautiful and the green pastures and wild flowers contrast starkly with the white cliffs. On your way to Lulworth you'll pass Durdle Door, a great natural arch of limestone through which the sea passes. The day finshes with a beautiful walk over Hambury Tout to Lulworth. Lulworth cove is without doubt one of the most perfect coves in the UK bounded by cliffs and hills forming a secluded spot to rest weary legs. Historic buildings abound in the small village. 10km, +420m

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7

place Lulworth - Worth Matravers

Your great day's walk 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 which change form with the changing geology, such as the beautiful Worbarrow Bay. It's worth making the detour to Tyneham, a deserted village in a lovely setting in a clay valley between chalk and limestone hills. Evacuated in 1943, no-one has lived there since. Other highlights of the walking trail include Kimmeridge Bay and Chapman's Pool. Night at either of the lovely inland villages of Kingston or Worth Matravers 19km, +650m

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 8

place Worth Matravers - Swanage

Today's walking is undulating but less strenuous than on day 6. Your route undulates along limestone downs along beautiful cliff tops. Your day starts by going around the large headland of St Albans Head offering great views. 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

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 9

place Departure after breakfast

Pick up by driver and transfer to the station. This departure will be after breakfast.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 10

place Leave London, head home

Pick up after breakfast and private driver to station or airport. End of our services.

Meals: Breakfast

What’s Included

Meals expand_less

  • Breakfast (9)
  • Dinner (8)

Transport expand_less

  • Trains
  • Private driver pickups and dropoff.

Extras expand_less

  • Detailed daily roadbook.
  • 24/7 telephone backup.

Not Included expand_less

  • Tips.
  • Insurance.
  • Lunches.

About William

TEAM LEAD

+2 Local experts

verified Baboo Certified

star_outline 5 (2 reviews)

Expertise: 

Cycling

Hiking

Visit markets

Outdoors & Nature

An avid walker and traveller with a love for the outdoors and the mountains, I share my time between the UK and France. I have been creating and organizing unique active trips with a truly local experience for the last 13 years or so.

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By choosing to travel with us, you support local communities, wildlife, and the environment. We are dedicated to positively impacting the world through every journey we offer.

Let’s regenerate the planet together

We overcompensate your entire journey’s carbon footprint including flights - for free.

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FROM PRICE PER TRAVELER

$1,590.00 USD