Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door Mini-Coach Tour from Bournemouth

Durdle Door

Durdle Door is a natural arch of Portland limestone that juts into the sea from the Dorset cliffs, formed as waves slowly wore through the rock. With its curving shingle beaches on either side and water that turns emerald and turquoise in sunshine, it is the most photographed landmark on the Jurassic Coast and a highlight of any Durdle Door day trip.

The tour stops first at the clifftop above Durdle Door, where you have free time to walk down the steep path to the beach or enjoy the view from above. The steps are steep, so take your time and wear good shoes. Mornings and late afternoons are the best time to visit Durdle Door for softer light and fewer people on the beach.

Lulworth Cove and the Lulworth Crumple

Lulworth Cove is an almost perfectly round bay, created when the sea broke through a band of hard limestone and then scooped out the softer clays and sands behind it. Its calm water, pebble beach and small fishing boats make it one of the most picturesque places in southern England, and it is a textbook example of coastal geology.

Just to the west, at Stair Hole, you can see the Lulworth Crumple, layers of rock folded into dramatic zigzags by the same earth movements that formed the Alps. You have free time at the cove to walk the beach, look at the rocks and find a café in the village of West Lulworth before the coach heads back.

The coastal path over Hambury Tout

Between Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove runs a short stretch of the South West Coast Path, climbing over the chalk hill of Hambury Tout. The walk takes about 35 minutes and gives sweeping views along the cliffs, back to the arch and down to the cove, with the sea far below.

The walk is optional and the ground is uneven in places, so it suits travellers with a reasonable level of fitness. If you prefer to rest your legs, your guide offers an alternative and you can go straight to Lulworth Cove. Strong shoes and a light rain jacket are best, as the weather on this coast can change quickly.

The Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site

The Jurassic Coast stretches about 150 kilometres from Exmouth in Devon to Studland in Dorset, and its cliffs record around 185 million years of Earth's history in the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. In 2001 it became England's first natural UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its fossils, arches and coves.

Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove are its best-known sights, and many visitors ask how to get to Durdle Door from Bournemouth without a car. This Jurassic Coast tour from Bournemouth solves that, with your guide explaining the rocks and fossils you see along the way and information booklets to read as you explore. Keep an eye on the cliffs and beaches: fossils are often exposed after winter storms.

Scenic drive from Bournemouth via Sandbanks and Poole

The day begins with a scenic drive past Bournemouth Pier and along West Overcliff Drive, with views across the sandy beaches of Bournemouth and Poole Bay. The route continues to Sandbanks, a narrow peninsula at the mouth of Poole Harbour lined with golden beaches, and to the historic Poole Quay.

Poole Harbour is one of the largest natural harbours in the world, dotted with islands and sailing boats, and the drive gives you a good look at it before the road heads into the green Dorset countryside. After about 40 more minutes you arrive at Durdle Door, and at the end of the day the journey back to Bournemouth takes about an hour.