Jurassic Coast

An iconic and ancient landscape, that offers perfect walking through England’s only natural World Heritage Site. Starting in East Devon at Exmouth, known as the gateway to the Jurassic Coast, you’ll follow the acorn along the Coast Path that will lead you through 185 million years of history. A geologist’s playground, a wildlife haven, this prehistoric path is an ideal choice for your next coastal adventure.

On this stretch, exposed cliffs reveal the Earth’s history whilst you walk. From the striking red cliffs at Sidmouth, to the creamy-grey limestone at Beer and soft white chalk at Old Harry Rocks. Other landscape highlights include the great shingle bar of Chesil Beach, the semi-freshwater lagoon at Fleet, the fortress-like monolith of the Isle of Portland and the iconic arch of Durdle Door.

In addition to fascinating heritage, the Jurassic Coast stretch oozes classic seaside holiday charm, with places like Exmouth, Sidmouth, Lyme Regis, Weymouth and Swanage.

Deck chairs at Sidmouth. Photo Malcolm Stone

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1: Exmouth to Sidmouth (12.5 miles)
Day 2: Sidmouth to Seaton (10.3 miles)
Day 3: Seaton to Seatown (14.2 miles)
Day 4: Seatown to Abbotsbury (12.4 miles)
Day 5: Abbotsbury to Ferrybridge (10.9 miles)
Day 6: Isle of Portland Circuit (13 miles)
Day 7: Ferrybridge to Lulworth Cove (14.5 miles)
Day 8: Lulworth Cove to Worth Matravers (13 miles)
Day 9: Worth Matravers to Studland (12.3 miles

The geology of this coastline however, is both a blessing and a curse. The cliffs here are vulnerable to slippage, especially in the Sidmouth area and in the Undercliffs in West Dorset. So we are working vigilantly with partners like Dorset County Council to ensure access to the Path is safe and protected for all to enjoy. If you are planning to walk this section of the South West Coast Path we recommend checking our route changes page at part of your planning.

How we're helping to look after this stretch

Chesil and Fleet access improvements to limit bird disturbance

The footpath at Hive Point, East Chickerell, was wet and almost impassable in places without wearing wellies resulting in walkers leaving the line of the path and walking on the foreshore causing bird disturbance. Approximately 475m long/3m wide footpath surfacing was completed making the path accessible all year round. Works started at the end of September, but the heavy rain and high tides meant the project was not completed until the end of November. The total cost came to £14,700 of which the SWCPA contributed £7,350.

Peak Hill and Orcombe Point

At Peak Hill near Sidmouth an old soft wood kissing gate, which had started to fail, was replaced with a new oak kissing gate. At Orcombe Point the path had become very narrow due to vegetation encroachment. The narrow path became very muddy and slippery underfoot in wet weather. A roboflail was used to remove a strip of scrub which has increased the width of the path for walkers and increased the amount of sunlight and airflow reaching the path to keep it drier. The total cost came to £3,747 of which the SWCPA contributed £1,874.

Portland signage

After completing a full signage audit of the Isle of Portland it was identified that 15 fingerposts were needed to replace existing damaged or missing posts as well as 3 new waymarkers. The project includes the production of all the new fingerposts and waymarkers in oak wood, installing the new signage as well as cleaning and repainting stone mile markers and using Coast Path stickers on appropriate existing metal posts. The final cost of the project is estimated £4,000 with a kind donation already being received towards this project.