No, this promenade does not take you to some Harry Potter or Lord of Rings-like locations, even though the names are quite mystic and mysterious. Lulworth Cove to Durdle door is, in fact, a popular walk linking two geological landmarks: one is a door to the sea and the other one is a pool inside the land. No need to bring a Nimbus 2000 (Harry Potter fans would know what I mean), just a good pair of walking shoes and poles to enjoy this iconic coastal walk!
This walk forms part of the Jurassic Coast Path, a 99.2-mile-long (160 km) trail from Corfe Castle to Loodmoor near Weymouth, Dorset. Whilst I did a much longer walk from Weymouth to Lulworth, I am only focusing on the most renowned part of the trail in this post: Lulworth Cove to Durdle Door.
If you are looking for a longer route in the area, don’t hesitate to contact me, I have just what you need!
Logistics of the Lulworth Cove to Durdle Door Walk
- Distance: 2.8 miles (4.5 km)
- Ascent: 764 ft (233 m)
- Highest Point: 410 ft (125 m)
- Lowest Point: – 7ft (- 2 m)
- Walking Estimate: 1 hour and 45 minutes
- Difficulty: Intermediate due to the ascent
- How to get there:
- By car only. There is a car park at West Lulworth and another one at Durdle Door, depending on where you want to start the walk
- Find out more information about the car park fares in the article below
- What to pack:
- Comfortable clothing and footwear. You will be going up and down cliffs
- Backpack
- Snacks
- Headcover because it can get windy to the top of the cliffs
- Rain gear if you are going on a rainy day as the path is exposed
- Sunscreen and sunglasses if you are going on a sunny day for the same reason as above
- Swimwear if you are planning to take a dip
- Hiking poles are advisable
- Additional Information
- There are public toilets in West Lulworth on the Main Road between the Cove Fish and the Lulworth Lodge
- Public toilets are also available at Lulworth Visitor Centre
- Public toilets are available at the Durdle Door car park
- Where to eat and drink:
- Lulworth Cove Inn, West Lulworth, Dorset
- Finley’s Cafe, West Lulworth, Dorset
Highlights of the Lulworth Cove to Durdle Door Walk
- West Lulworth
- Lulworth Cove
- West Point
- Stair Hole
- Durdle Door
- Lulworth Visitor Centre
The Lulworth Cove to Durdle Door Walk
So now we covered the basics, let’s get to the walk!
West Lulworth
Welcome to West Lulworth, a village in Dorset. The most important landmark, where we are heading on this walk, is Lulworth Cove. West Lulworth is located on a strip of clay and limestone which the water eroded, creating a basin inside the land.
The village is comprised of many amenities, such as a visitor centre where you can find a souvenir shop and a coffee shop, 1 pub on the main street and a few beach shops to gear up for building sand castles.
There is no train station in West Lulworth, so your only option is to drive there. We start our walk at West Lulworth car park.
Unfortunately NO. A charge applies for the car park, see the table below.
| Up to 4 hours | £5 |
| All day | £10 |
| Motorbikes | £1 |
| Oversized Vehicles | £10 |
Lulworth Cove
Once in the car park, you need to go down to the village’s main road to get to Lulworth Cove. The site is very well indicated all along. Once you arrive at the basin, you have two options:
- Go to the beach
- Climb to the top of the cliff
The cove attracts around 500,000 visitors each year, most of the traffic being around July and August. The cove is located on the Jurassic Coat, a 99.2-mile trail along the South West coast. The water of the cove is bright blue, making it a popular spot for beachgoers during the summer. Victim of its fame, the site suffered much damage from visitors, and fences had to be put in place to preserve the site.
I chose to walk up to West Point, passing Stair Hole, a smaller version of Durdle Door.
Related Content: Isle of Portland Walk
West Point is at the very end of the cliff, overlooking the cove. There is only one way in and out, making it the perfect viewpoint for outstanding pictures (and selfies). On your way back down, you can go down to the beach to take a different route.
Fun fact: Scenes of the Hollywood production, World War Z (2013), starring Brad Pitt, were shot at Lulworth Cove.
Walk back to West Lulworth car park to start our journey to Durdle Door.
Durdle Door
The walk to Durdle Door starts with a flight of stairs leading to the top of Hambury Tout. This part of the walk is the most strenuous as you gain 345 ft (105 m) of altitude in 0.4 miles (0.6 km). Once you get to the top, the path gradually descends and at the end, you reach the Durdle Door car park.
Unfortunately, the Durdle Door car park is not free of charge. The same charges apply to the Lulworth Cove car park. Please see the table below for more details.
| Up to 4 hours | £5 |
| All day | £10 |
| Motorbikes | £1 |
| Oversized Vehicles | £10 |
| Coaches are not allowed | X |
Take the footpath on your left going down towards Durdle Door and the beach. You then have two options:
- Going down to Man O’War Cove on your left
- Going down to Durdle Door on your right
Related Content: Camber Sands to Rye Walk
What is Durdle Door?
Durdle Door is a 120 m long strip of limestone going into the sea and attached to the chalk cliff. The rock eroded with the power of the waves crashing on it and it created an arch in the middle. The zone is classed World Heritage Site by UNESCO alongside landmarks such as Yellow Stone National Park and the Great Wall of China.
Originally called “Dirdle Door“, the name comes from the old English word “Thirl” which means drill.
How many steps are to Durdle Door?
If you choose to get a closer look at the limestone arch, there are 88 steps to go down (and then up) to the beach. They have been repaired recently making them easier to navigate.
Can you walk on the beach from Lulworth Cove to Durdle Door?
No. Your only available options are by foot following the trail described above which takes around 30 minutes to complete or by car, which is a 10-minute drive between the two locations.
Related Content: Horsey Beach Seal Watching
What Can You Do in West Lulworth?
After taking a closer look at this impressive icon, it is time to retrace your steps to the Lulworth Cove car park. Before driving home, take the time to roam through the village and enjoy an ice cream at the Ice Cream Parlour or Finley’s Cafe. Don’t leave without something to remember the day! Head to the souvenir shop inside the Visitor Centre.
Word of caution: Shops and cafes close at 4.30 pm! Make sure you time your walk properly to ensure you can enjoy the town at the end.
Bon appetit!
Lulworth Cove to Durdle Door Wak Map
Do you want to do the same walk? Get the GPS map of the walk by clicking on the Download link below. Check out my step-by-step guide here to learn how to upload the map onto your navigation app.
Final Thoughts on the Lulworth to Durdle Door Walk
If you are in the mood for more coastal walks, check out my Best Coastal Walks near London selection and get access to detailed walking guides and free GPS maps from the renowned trails.
And you, what is your favourite coastal walk? Let me know in the comments below.
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