The 8 Most Stunning Beauty Spots on the Jurassic Coast
100 miles of sweeping cliffs, picture-perfect beaches and spectacular rock formations, backed by panoramic Ocean vistas, the Jurassic Coast is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular stretches of coastline on the planet!
England's only natural UNESCO World Heritage Site, the coastline boasts no shortage of unique beauty spots, and the best way of seeing all of this up close and personal is with the Bookitlist Jurassic Coast walking tour, a 5-day adventure through 185 million years of history!
From iconic landmarks like the world-famous Durdle Door to lesser-known ones such as Kimmeridge Bay, read on to discover the 8 Most Stunning Beauty Spots on the Jurassic Coast.
Durdle Door
Perhaps the most iconic (and photographed) landmark on the Jurassic Coast, Durdle Door is a world-famous limestone arch, formed some 10,000 years ago when the ocean penetrated the coastal cliffs.
Located just over the hill from Lulworth Cove, the arch is perched at the intersection of two scenic beaches. Access is via a series of steps that ascend from the clifftop which offers spectacular panoramic views of the limestone arch, set against the glittering waters of the English channel!
Corfe Castle
Dating back to the 11th century, Corfe Castle was constructed by William the Conqueror and boasts a rich and storied history encompassing all manner of battles, mysteries and plots.
Discover this fascinating past with a tour of the castle ruins, and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding countryside from its hilltop location. After, enjoy a stroll around the neighbouring village, and explore its litany of charming, independent shops, pubs and eateries.
Chesil Beach
Stretching for 18 miles from West Bay to the Isle of Portland, Chesil Beach is one of the most unique and striking sights in all of England, a 200-m wide shingle barrier that separates the coastal cliffs from the open sea.
Lulworth Cove
One of England's most picturesque beaches, Lulworth Cove is a secluded semi-circular bay, famed for its unique geology and landforms, and postcard-like beauty.
From caves, blow-holes, arches, stacks and stumps, coated in a litany of unique patterns, the cove is home to all manner of fascinating geological sights that offer a unique look at how erosion has shaped this stunning stretch of coastline, whilst the sandy beach and crystal-clear waters will transport you to some paradisical tropical island!
Kimmeridge Bay
Located within a marine Special Area of Conservation, Kimmeridge Bay is renowned for its mosaic of rock pools (which are home to a variety of sea creatures and vegetation) and for its calm, and clear coastal waters which are some of the best for snorkeling in the UK.
On top of that, at low tide, you can encounter all manner of fossils, whilst the Etches Collection Museum in nearby Kimmeridge village features an extensive collection of Late Jurassic fossils collected from the bay.
West Bay
Situated just south of Bridport, at the western end of Chessil Beach, West Bay is known as 'the gateway to the Jurassic Coast' and is renowned for its magnificent sandstone cliffs which tower imposingly over the golden sand beach.
Famously used as the setting for ITV crime drama Broadchurch, the bay is home to a charming fishing village, featuring a postcard-perfect harbour, a promenade, and pier, along with a number of independent cafes, shops and traditional pubs, whilst the clifftops walking routes offer spectacular views over the coastal landscapes.
Fossil Forest
Situated on a peninsula just east of Lulworth, the fascinating Fossil Forest is the remains of a once submerged ancient forest dating back to the Jurassic period.
After the forest flooded, the trees dies, but, over time, their stumps, trunks and roots were preserved by layers of calcareous sediment from the deposits of freshwater algae. thus, today, visitors can unique formations left behind when the trunks rotted away leaving hard, calcareous tufa, ripple marks of an ancient seafloor, fossilized micro bacteria and the amazing layered limestone breccia, known as ‘broken beds’.
Old Harry Rocks
When it comes to natural beauty, the Jurassic Coast has it in bundles, and few landmarks embody this quite like Old Harry Rocks, an extraordinary trio of Chalk formations that rise dramatically from the ultramarine waters and which mark the eastern end of this incredible stretch of coastline.
