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Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Home Dorset South The Coastline - Dorset South

The Coastline - Dorset South

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...

Discovering Kimmeridge (2)

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...

Discovering St Aldhelms Head

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...
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...
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...
Returning from Bacon Hole to Lulworth Cove there are steps down to the famous Fossil Forest section. Unfortunately, no trees are still preserved there but you can see where the trees have been. The rocks exposed are the top of the Portland Limestone and the lowest part of the...
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...
The next section of the coast is not particularly accessible and unless you have a canoe or some other water craft you can’t access the beach until you get west of White Nothe. However it is well worth the walk either from Lulworth or from the National Trust car...
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...
Working west from Osmington Mills access to the beach from Osmington via a minor road is either down the steep path from the Smugglers’ Inn car park or from the coast path and steps just to the east of the pub. As with the previous section from Bran Point to Osmington Mills, a low tide is necessary to...