Walk - Lulworth Cove to Worth Matravers

Highlights

• The beautiful horseshoe bay of Lulworth Cove. Just east of Lulworth is Stair Hole where the sea is washing away the limestone to form a cove in probably the exact same way as it did at Lulworth millions of years ago. From here you can also see the extraordinary folds of rock known as the Lulworth Crumple.
• The Fossil Forest: designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest, the beach at the foot of Bindon Hill has the most complete fossil record of a Jurassic Forest in the world. Look out for the round, bulbous lumps of rock near the sea which are thought to be
  135 million years old.
• Enjoying the spectacular view back over Lulworth Cove from Pepler’s Point.
• Looking out to the sea birds around Mupe Rocks and the sweeping view round the bay to Wolbarrow Tout.
• Flower’s Barrow: the visible remains of an Iron Age fort, which interestingly has never been excavated. The combination of the dramatic effects of coastal erosion, the geological folding and the remains of the Fort make this an extraordinarily breathtaking sight.
• Looking down to the limestone beds around Pondfield Cove.
• Searching for fossils and watching the marine life on Kimmeridge Beach. The layered cliffs here provide such a clear record of geological activity that geologists throughout the world use the term ‘Kimmeridgian’ as the term for rocks of this age.
• Visiting the Fine Foundation Marine Wildlife Reserve: this is the longest established Voluntary Marine Nature Reserve in the UK. The centre is open daily from 10.00-17.00 until September. For further details see the Dorset Wildlife website.
• The Clavell Tower: visible for miles, the tower was built in the early 1830s as a folly and observatory and has inspired a number of writers, including Thomas Hardy and P.D. James. The tower has recently undergone major restoration works, which included moving it 82ft inland.
• The high outcrop of St Aldhelm’s Head, also known as St Alban’s Head. The Norman chapel of St Aldhelm is one of the oldest churches in England and was named after the Bishop of Sherbourne who died in 709AD. The chapel was built quite some way from Worth Matravers which suggests that it was also intended to serve as a marker for seafarers. Near here you will also see the contrasting structures of the National Coastguard lookout and a memorial to the radar research which took place on St Aldhelm’s Head during WWII.
• Enjoying refreshments in Worth Matravers. This pretty, small village dates back to pre-Roman times. Limestone cottages are built around a central green and pond and the Norman Church of St Nicholas is one of the oldest in Dorset.

Shorter option

It is not easy to shorten this walk due to lack of accommodation. You could walk out a distance and then return to Lulworth Cove, or alternatively follow one of the circular routes.

Longer option

Continue to Swanage.

Public transport

There are limited bus services to and from Lulworth. There is a railway station at Wool, which is between Dorchester and Poole, and you will be able to catch a bus from here to Lulworth Cove.
During the summer there is a limited bus service from Worth Matravers to Swanage. For timetable information, zoom in on the interactive map and click on the train station and bus stop symbols, visit Traveline or phone 0871 200 22 33.

Parking

Lulworth Cove (BH20 5RQ), Tyneham, inland on Whiteway Hill, Kimmeridge Bay, inland in Kimmeridge, inland from Chapman’s Pool and Worth Matravers.