Jurassic Coast
United Kingdom · South West England · 20 m
Description
The Jurassic Coast is a 155-kilometre stretch of coastline in Dorset and East Devon and England’s only natural UNESCO World Heritage Site. The dramatic coast reveals around 185 million years of Earth’s history, from the Triassic through the Jurassic to the Cretaceous, and is renowned for its fossils and extraordinary rock formations. Durdle Door, a natural limestone arch, and the almost perfectly circular Lulworth Cove are among its most iconic landscapes. The coastal town of Lyme Regis is closely associated with fossil hunter Mary Anning and the early development of modern palaeontology. The South West Coast Path traces the varied coastline of cliffs, coves and beaches.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 2 to 5 days (optimal 3 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: May – September
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Durdle Door & Jurassic Coast (UNESCO)
- Lulworth Cove
- Old Harry Rocks
- South West Coast Path
- Lyme Regis & Mary Anning's fossil coast
- Charmouth fossil hunting
- Corfe Castle ruins
- Golden Cap
- Chesil Beach
- Portland Bill & Isle of Portland
- Weymouth Beach & harbour
- West Bay cliffs
- Kimmeridge Bay
- Stair Hole & Man O'War Cove
- Abbotsbury & Swannery
- Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens
- Bridport & West Bay
- Sidmouth & Jurassic Coast cliffs
- Beer & Beer Quarry Caves
- Dorset Seafood Festival, Weymouth (July)
Getting there
- Train stations:
- Weymouth
- Seaport:
- Reachable by ship or ferry