Start Point: Durlston Country Park, Lighthouse Road, Swanage, BH19 2JL
Finish Point: Shell Bay National Trust Car Park
Start at the dramatic Durlston Castle for what is actually the last leg of the 630 mile South West Coast Path. High, level cliff walking between St Aldhelm’s Head and Durlston Head is followed by fairly easy walking along the promenade of the seaside town of Swanage.
As you walk through open grassland and woodland around Studland, keep a look out for bottlenose dolphins and take time to enjoy the beautiful seasonal wildflowers and butterflies and the spectacular views of the chalk stacks of Old Harry. Three miles of sandy beaches running all the way to South Haven Point offer plenty of opportunities to rest and take in the views across Poole Bay to Bournemouth and the Isle of Wight.
Just before the ferry to Sandbanks the famous steel sculpture marks the end of the Challenge route and the end of the South West Coast Path.
