Walking The Coastal Path From Lulworth Cove To Durdle Door

I had heard that Lulworth Cove to Durdle Door was a lovely walking, so after committing myself to walking 22 miles for charity, I decided that I should see what the route was going to be like.

Lulworth Cove is located in the village of West Lulworth in Dorset. The cove attracts millions of visitors every year. Famous for its unique geology including Stair Hole and the Lulworth crumple. The ever changing geology over time has changed the once flat sedimentary beds into twisted shapes and patterns.

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In an effort to see just what a small section of walking the Jurassic Coast would look like, and also to see how steep the inclines are, a visit to Lulworth Cove was in order.

Lulworth Cove is a lovely place to visit in any weather but when the sun is out, the views are truly spectacular. There are plenty of things to do at Lulworth, making it a whole day out, from enjoying a drink in the Lulworth Cove Inn, to spending time on the beach and visiting the fresh fish shop on the way home.

Where To Park At Lulworth Cove And Durdle Door

There is ample parking at both Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door, and the prices are the same. If you enjoy views from the car then I would recommend parking at Durdle Door where the car park sits on top of the cliff.

Car park address – Durdle Door Holiday Park, WEST LULWORTH, Dorset, BH20 5PU

However I prefer parking at Lulworth Cove as Lulworth beach is easier to access than Man of War beach at Durdle Door.

Lulworth Cove car park postcode – BH20 5RQ

You can park in either car park and your ticket is interchangeable for the duration of your ticket meaning you can spend the whole day and visit both places if you didn’t want to walk between the two places.

There is also limited free parking on the road side by Holy Trinity Church, Church Road, West Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5RY. I would recommend arriving early if you want to get a spot however as it gets very busy, especially in peak season.

Parking at the church will require approximately 5 minutes walk to Lulworth Cove.

Can you swim in Lulworth Cove?

Whilst the beach is shingle and large pebble making it difficult to walk on at times, the cove is perfectly fine for swimming in. If you chose to you could swim across to Man Of War beach at Durdle Door, but it could take up to an hour. Personally I prefer to walk it.

Lulworth Cove To Durdle Door Walk

I discovered the walk from Lulworth Cove to Durdle Door was shorter than I realised at just over a mile.

The path leading out of Lulworth Cove towards Durdle Door is quite steep and I began to realise just how unfit I actually am. You can spot the path in the distance when you park in the large car park.

The hill looks more daunting than it actually is so don’t let it put you off before you begin. We were very lucky with the weather as at home it was raining, but we were being treated with glorious sunshine which was providing some amazing views.

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At the top of the incline the terrain levelled out a little, however there were tree roots poking out of the ground. I was starting to wonder what I have signed myself up to. Still it’s for a good cause, and my walking boots and poles were a good decision.

I recommend these walking poles

We were soon at the descent for Durdle Door which is right next door to Durdle Door holiday park. It was a lot closer to Lulworth Cove than I realised, and I wished we had taken the time to do this walk more in the past.

The loose stones on the ground did make the walking slightly treacherous on the steep decline, and I was thinking it was almost safer to walk uphill than down at one point.

The original steps down to Durdle Door beach have eroded quite a lot and new steps have been added in another section of the cliff down to the cove. We were treated to an almost empty cove area which was lovely as Lola had a good run and we were watching the waves crash over the rocks.

Making our way back up the Jurassic Coast path was quite tough on my legs, my calves were burning, and I found my feet walking on a slant as I was trying to stay straight with the ground.

This taught me that I am going to need to invest in walking boots with ankle support very soon so I can wear them in before the big day.

As we reached the car again, we discovered that the walk between Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door and back again had taken us just over an hour, we had walked 6,000 steps and just over 70 inclines according to our Fitbit watches.

This is great but my legs and knees were sore at the end so I can tell I am going to have to increase my fitness a lot to be able to complete my 22 mile trek comfortably.

Places To Stay Near Lulworth And Durdle Door

Some of the best hotels near Lulworth Cove include

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the walk between Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door pushchair friendly?
- It will be difficult with a pushchair on the terrain you walk. It’s not impossible but I think it would be easier without a pushchair.

Can you take bikes along the coastal path walk?
- I wouldn’t recommend bikes especially for children as the terrain is unpredictable and the inclines and descents quite steep in places

Are there toilets along the walk between Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door?
- There are toilets at Durdle Door campsite and also at Lulworth Cove Visitor Centre.

How far is the walk from Lulworth Cove to Durdle Door
- From the visitor centre at Lulworth Cove to the camp site at Durdle Door is 1.3 miles and will take approximately 35 minutes to walk.

How far away is Lulworth Castle?
- Lulworth Castle is three miles away from Lulworth Cove and will take approximately 12 minutes to drive.

Is it possible to enjoy a day trip to Durdle Door from London?
- It is quite a trek from London to Durdle Door via public transport, however it is possible. The nearest train station is at Wool.