Dorset Coast and Countryside
Dorset is well provided with places to explore for those who enjoy getting out and about.
Walking Trails
The South West Coast Path follows the entire coastline of Dorset on its way to Devon and Cornwall.
- Jurassic Coast - the Dorset coast from Studland to Devon has been awarded World Heritage status for its geologic importance. Visitors can try their hand at hunting for fossils or join a guided fossil walk.
- Chesil Bank and The Fleet - A striking shingle beach stretching 8 miles from Portland to Abbotsbury, Chesil Bank protects a shallow lagoon called The Fleet from the ravages of the sea. The Bank and Fleet provide habitat for a variety of bird and plant life, as well as a large colony of mute swans at the Abbotsbury Swannery.
- Durdle Door - A natural stone arch which allows the sea to pass through. Located just to the west of Lulworth Cove.
- Lulworth Cove - Lulworth Cove is a horseshoe-shaped harbour within the grounds of the Lulworth Estate. The region is a geologist's dream, featuring some of the finest geomorphology and folding strata in Europe.
- Purbeck Heritage Coast
The heritage coast runs from Arne, in Poole Harbour, along the southern shore of the Isle of Purbeck to Weymouth Bay. - West Dorset Heritage Coast
The heritage coast extends from Seaton in the west almost to the Bill of Portland in the east. This is excellent walking country. The South West Coast Path runs along the clifftops, but there are also numerous waymarked trails looping inland from the coast.
Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
This AONB takes in the heritage coasts of Purbeck and West Dorset (see above), and stretches inland to cover the broad chalk valleys and ridges of central Dorset. For information, visit the Dorset AONB Partnership website at www.dorsetaonb.org.uk/ or telephone them on 01305 224279.
Also partly in Dorset is the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs AONB. More information at www.ccwwdaonb.org.uk/
Arne RSPB Nature Reserve covers almost 1,400 acres on the southern shore of Poole Harbour. Seven colour-coded trails lead through woodland, heath, and salt marshes and there are bird hides along the shore.
Arne, Dorset, England, BH20 5BJ
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Heritage Highlight: 13th-century Arne Church stands inside the reserve.
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Brownsea Island is set in the middle of Poole Harbour and is famous for three things; its wildlife, its red squirrel population, and its role as the birthplace of the scouting movement. Heath and woodland cover the island, which offers a network of trails and viewpoints for observing wildlife and natural habitat.
Poole Harbour, Poole, Dorset, England, BH13 7EE
Attraction Type: Countryside - Island
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Heritage Highlight: Brownsea is known as the birthplace of Scouting
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The Chesil Beach Centre near Portland tells the story of the region's unique geology through a series of interactive displays. Visitors can also take a trip on the glass-bottomed Fleet Observer boat to examine the marine world of Chesil more closely.
Chesil Beach Visitor Centre, Portland Beach Road, Portland, Dorset, England, DT4 9XE
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The coast between Studland Bay, Dorset, and Exmouth, Devon is an area of exceptional geological and archaeological interest. The 95 mile stretch of coastline boasts some of the best places in Britain to find fossils, many of them laid down in the Jurassic period, roughly 200 million to 145 million years ago. For that reason, the coastline has been popularly dubbed The Jurassic Coast. Probably the easiest place to try your hand at finding fossils is Charmouth, West Dorset. The Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre offers interpretive walks, or you can just wander down the beach and explore.
Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre, Lower Sea Lane, Charmouth, Dorset, England, DT6 6LL
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