Book Review
Geology of the Jurassic Coast.
The Isle of Purbeck. Weymouth to Studland. 978 1 907701 00 9.
This is the latest Jurassic Coast Trust publication, companion volume to the Red Coast (which covers east Devon). This is a wonderfully illustrated book with many annotated photographs, a lot of which...
Millions of years ago the Jurassic Coast was under water. Creatures that swam in these waters have since turned into fossils. These can still be discovered by a keen eye, making for a wonderful holiday memento.
We have visited the area before, and in fact I grew up here, but...
It is possible to reach St Oswald’s Bay via the private road that leaves Lulworth Cove behind the Heritage Centre. Alternatively you can take the coastal footpath from the Heritage Centre car park or you can drive to the Durdle Door car park and walk down the footpath from there. There are fine views along the...
Kimmeridge has much of interest and one of the things to look out for is the oil well that has been producing since 1961. Despite being on the cliff top it is not particularly noticeable and is well camouflaged by drab paint. One of the most obvious things at the site is a nodding donkey pump...
The Trip Advisor Awards 2017 voted three Dorset beaches in the top 10 with Weymouth at Number 1. However, given the responses of locals these awards are covering up not just cracks but giant chasms in the reality of not only Weymouth but Bournemouth too. Top 10 Beaches: 1....
Moving west from St Aldhelm’s Head the coast cuts north to form Chapman’s Pool. Here the Kimmeridge Clay is at sea level and erosion exposes interesting fossils, especially ammonites. These extinct creatures are related to Nautilus which can still be found in modern oceans but have survived for around 400 million years with...
The west side of Worbarrow Bay has more of interest. As with Worbarrow Bay mentioned in article 6 it is only accessible during most weekends and school holidays when the Lulworth Ranges are open. The area can be accessed from Lulworth Cove. Walk around the Cove and use the steps on the east side to reach the coastal footpath. Go through...
This walk is best attempted when there is a low tide, especially a low spring tide (which occur around midday when there is a full moon and new moon).Slippery rocks also occur in places especially round the foot of Sandsfoot Castle so care should be taken.
The coastal section is on the southern side of a geological...
Walking up the steps from St Oswald’s Bay you can return to the Coast Path or walk down into Durdle Cove. This is I think the unofficial name, the Ordnance Survey maps do not seem to give it a name!
You are likely to notice the remains of steps down to the beach...
Another good location to see Gad Cliff is from WorbarrowTout which is accessible from Tynham, the abandoned village between Kimmeridge and Lulworth. It lies within the Lulworth Army Firing Range and was evacuated during the Second World War for defence training purposes and has remained empty ever since. However, it is possible to visit when the...
