Section: Ferrybridge to Lulworth Cove

Length: 14 miles (23km)

Distance from Minehead to Ferrybridge: 577.2 miles (923.6 km)

Distance from Lulworth Cove to Poole: 28.3 miles (45.4 km)

Grading: Easy to moderate to strenuous

Height gained (and also lost): 2513ft (766m)

Summary:

This fantastic section of the South West Coast Path crosses a diverse landscape from the rugged rocks of Portland, to the hustle and bustle of urban life in the seaside resort of Weymouth, followed by quiet rural paths leading to high, undulating chalk cliffs on the way to Lulworth Cove.

Walking becomes progressively harder as you leave Weymouth and set off along the impressive cliffs of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. There are some particularly steep ascents and descents on the way to Lulworth Cove, but your efforts are certainly rewarded. As you approach Lulworth be sure to look back to the breathtaking views of the limestone arch of Durdle Door, the high cliffs of White Nothe and Weymouth Bay and Portland beyond. A good selection of restaurants and pubs also await your arrival after a long day on the Coast Path.

Highlights along the path:

• Portland harbour: This is said to be one of the largest man-made harbours in the world. The harbour is very sheltered and therefore an ideal home for the National Sailing Centre and a natural choice for the venue for the sailing in the Olympics of 2012.
• The remains of Sandsfoot Castle: Built in the 1530s as one of Henry VIII’s many coastal defences, the castle remains contain fragments of medieval stone from Bindon Abbey at Wool.
• Weymouth: You may want to allow extra time to enjoy some of the attractions of this seaside resort, such as Nothe Gardens and Nothe Fort, the pretty, thriving port, King George IIIs statue, the famous Jubilee Clock and the Georgian Esplanade.
• Lodmoor Nature Reserve. The grassland, saltmarsh and reed beds make perfect habitats for a large number of birds throughout the year, including bearded tits and Cettis warblers. Lodmoor also boasts one of the largest common tern colonies in the South West. For further details see the RSPB website.
• Osmington and Osmington Mills: This area of Dorset was visited by the great landscape painter John Constable, who actually stayed in Osmington during his honeymoon. A painting of the Bowleaze Cove hangs in the National Gallery (Click here to see a copy). This is a good place to stop for refreshments. You could try the 13th century Smugglers Inn which was the headquarters of the famous French smuggler Pierre Latour, known locally as French Peter, or the cliff top cafe.
• Ringstead Bay: This peaceful pebbly beach is a great spot for rock pooling and is also popular with fossil hunters. Just east of here is the deserted medieval village of West Ringstead. There was once quite a large settlement here, but it is not known exactly why it was abandoned - destroyed by pirates, struck by the Black Death or poor economy? In the correct conditions, remains of the cottages and streets can still be made out.
• The views from White Nothe: This is one of the highest cliffs along the Dorset Coast and offers superb views of Weymouth and the Isle of Portland.
• The extraordinary geology of Bat’s Head and the views of Durdle Door beyond.
• Durdle Door: This perfect limestone archway is undoubtedly one of the most well known and well photographed points of the entire South West Coast Path.
• The spectacular views from Hambury Tout.
• Looking out for the Lulworth Skipper - a golden-brown butterfly discovered near Durdle Door in 1832.
• 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.

Worth a look (interesting places close to the path):

• Portland Castle: Built under Henry VIII in the early 1540's to defend the island from French and Spanish invasion, the castle was also used in the D-Day preparations of World War II. It is open to visitors between March and October. For further details tel: 01305 820539.
• The well preserved remains of a Roman temple on Jordan Hill, 2 miles north-east of Weymouth.

Shorter option:

Stop at Osmington Mills (8.2 miles, 13.2 km)

Longer option:

Due to lack of accommodation we suggest you end your walk at Lulworth Cove.

Public transport info:

South West Trains run regularly between Dorchester and Weymouth. There is also a mainline train station in the cathedral city of Exeter. The First Dorset X53 runs from Exeter to Weymouth. The X53 also runs regularly from Weymouth’s Esplanade to Osmington. National Express coaches run from Weymouth to London, Birmingham and Liverpool. There are limited buses out of Lulworth Cove. These travel north to Wool, where you can pick up a train or bus to Dorchester or Poole. For further details visit Traveline or phone 0870 6082608.

Refreshments:

Weymouth has a wide range of pubs, shops, restaurants and cafes. There are pubs and cafes at Bowleaze Bay and Osmington Mills and there may be seasonal refreshments around Durdle Door. At Lulworth Cove you will find a good selection of pubs, shops and restaurants.

Nearest Car park:

Weymouth, inland from Durdle Door and Lulworth.

Toilets:

Weymouth, Osmington Mills and Lulworth.

More information:

Weymouth Tourist Information Centre Tel: 01305 785747, Lulworth Heritage Centre Tel: 01929 400587. To find out more visit the Jurassic Coast website.

Booklets available: A 64 page guidebook to ‘A Walk through Time’ is available from local Tourist Information Centres or can be purchased online from the South West Coast Path Association webshop for £4.95.

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