Self-guided walking
6 nights,
hotel-to-hotel
Level: 1+
Leisurely plus
10.0Kg CO2e
Headwater
Navigation App
Beautifully varied and wonderfully unspoilt, Dorset's award-winning Jurassic Coast offers 95 miles of idyllic sandy beaches backed by ancient craggy cliffs and meadows carpeted with seasonal wildflowers. In 2001, it gained UNESCO recognition as England's first Natural World Heritage Site charting 185 million years of the earth's history, with rocks and fossils dating to Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous times.
This 6-night Jurassic Coast walk is the perfect introduction to Dorset's wild and beautiful landscape, where the quietly rolling Purbeck Hills stand in stark contrast to the huge falcon patrolled chalk cliffs, and where every climb is rewarded with fantastic sweeping sea views. In the main, your route follows the coast-hugging long-distance South West Coast Path, pitching and swooping from one downland hollow to the next before a gentle descent into Lulworth Cove by way of the panoramic Burning Cliff and the world-famous rock-arch, Durdle Door. The 280-acre Durlston Country Park is a haven for wildlife (including rare red squirrels) and, with over 250 species of birds, is an ornithologist's paradise. On your final stretch of the Jurassic Coast walk, if you're lucky, you may spot bottlenose dolphins and playful seals emerging from the waves beyond Swanage where the procession of sculpted cliffs and towering chalk stacks known as Old Harry Rocks, marks the end of the Jurassic Coast.
As well as outstanding natural beauty, the region is also rich in archaeology with ancient forts and crumbling castles proudly guarding quintessential rural villages tucked into tranquil corners and crammed with traditional sandstone cottages, tempting tearooms and atmospheric old coaching inns serving great local food. The places you'll be staying in are among the best in the region, including a hotel with excellent leisure facilities and within walking distance of the Georgian Esplanade in Weymouth and a family-run property that looks out toward Swanage bay. Breakfasts are included except for in Swanage. There are so many dining options on your doorstep, we've left other meals up to you.
Varied walking mostly on the South West Coast Path but with sections through open meadows and along country lanes. Some steep, but relatively short, ascents and descents along with some clifftop walking, but a head for height is not necessary.
Arrive in Weymouth and take a taxi (5 mins, payable locally) to your hotel close to the town's splendid Georgian Esplanade. Stroll the amazing sands and visit the bustling 17th century harbour.
You stay at Hotel Rembrandt.
Mastercard
Visa
Pool
Hairdryer
WiFi
TV
Minibar
Safe
Tea/coffee
Situated just a few minutes' walk from Weymouth's seafront esplanade, beautiful sandy beach and town centre, the Hotel Rembrandt, part of the Best Western group, offers 78 comfortable rooms with contemporary decor. All rooms offer an ensuite bathroom, tea and coffee-making facilities, 24-hour room service, flat screen TV and fibre Wi-Fi.
Guests have complimentary use of the hotel's Leisure Club, an ideal place to relax that features a heated swimming pool, gym, sauna, steam room, spa bath and sun bed. For those aching muscles, there is also a spa treatment room (open Mon-Sat) and a choice of massage and health & beauty treatments (payable locally).
After plenty of sea air to swell your appetite, the hotel's Gallery Restaurant offers wholesome, freshly prepared dishes using locally sourced ingredients. The Gallery Bar is ideal for pre- or after-dinner drinks.
Take the bus (payable locally) to Portland and from the Olympic Rings walk past the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, and along Chesil Beach back to Weymouth. For a longer walk take the bus (payable locally, operates high season only) to Portland Bill where you start your walk along the South West Coast Path before joining the shorter route along Chesil beach.
You stay at Hotel Rembrandt.
MastercardVisaPoolHairdryerWiFiTVMinibarSafeTea/coffee
Situated just a few minutes' walk from Weymouth's seafront esplanade, beautiful sandy beach and town centre, the Hotel Rembrandt, part of the Best Western group, offers 78 comfortable rooms with contemporary decor. All rooms offer an ensuite bathroom, tea and coffee-making facilities, 24-hour room service, flat screen TV and fibre Wi-Fi.
Guests have complimentary use of the hotel's Leisure Club, an ideal place to relax that features a heated swimming pool, gym, sauna, steam room, spa bath and sun bed. For those aching muscles, there is also a spa treatment room (open Mon-Sat) and a choice of massage and health & beauty treatments (payable locally).
After plenty of sea air to swell your appetite, the hotel's Gallery Restaurant offers wholesome, freshly prepared dishes using locally sourced ingredients. The Gallery Bar is ideal for pre- or after-dinner drinks.
Take a short (11 mins) bus transfer to join one of the most scenic sections of the magnificent 630-mile long South West Coast Path. With the dramatic white chalk cliffs as your backdrop, you follow the classic smugglers' route down to picturesque Osmington where the aptly named 13th century Smugglers' Inn does great coffee! A short climb to the top of Burning Cliff is rewarded with the most fabulous views of the fossil-filled Jurassic Coast before continuing on to Durdle Door - one of the most photographed rock arches in the world. Today's final stretch hugs the coast down into gorgeous Lulworth Cove - a great place for lunch, a swim or a journey back through 185 million years of history at the renowned Heritage Centre. A pre-arranged taxi will collect you for the 20-minute journey to Corfe, described as one of the most beautiful villages in England, where you stay overnight.
You stay at Morton's Manor.
MastercardVisaHairdryerWiFiTVTea/coffee
Mortons Manor is a beautiful 16th century Grade 2 Elizabethan manor house hotel and restaurant, located in the heart of Corfe Castle, ideally situated to explore the beautiful nearby Dorset coastline. Mortons Manor has an award-winning restaurant and individually designed rooms. Shops, pubs and restaurants are within 5 minutes’ walk.
Built by William the Conqueror and destroyed by Cromwell's vengeful troops during the Civil War, the dramatic ruins of Corfe Castle - now a National Trust property and the setting for several historical feature films - stand at the gateway to the Isle of Purbeck and its surrounding hills. We've deliberately kept today's walk short to enable you to explore at leisure before setting out on the panoramic ridge high above the village. It's a journey of diverse natural beauty - with Poole Harbour and Bournemouth to your left, the rolling Purbeck Hills to your right and the Isle of Wight clearly visible in the distance - as you follow the pretty Purbeck Way into Swanage, a small Victorian seaside town with a stunning semi-circular bay. You spend three nights at the lovely family-run The Limes, close to the town centre and just a few minutes' walk from the beach.
You stay at The Limes Hotel.
HairdryerWiFiTVTea/coffee
The Limes is a family run, gorgeous hotel, with beautifully decorated rooms and an enviable location overlooking the South West coastal path.
There is an honesty bar where you can help yourself to a drink or snack, and you can relax in the bar, guest lounge or enjoy views over Swanage Bay from the conservatory.
Your stay is room only basis and we will provide you with a list of recommended restaurants within a short two minute walk.
We strongly recommend a circular walk today to Durlston Country Park, a magnificent 280-acre nature reserve of sea-cliffs, downs, meadows, hedgerows and woods. With 250+ bird species, 500+ moths and 33 species of breeding butterfly, few places in the country have the same ornithological appeal as Durlston and, from March to July, hidden deep in the cliffs are sea birds, swifts and swallows. The recently restored Victorian castle boasts a fully interactive Visitor Centre, restaurant and panoramic roof terrace.
You stay at The Limes.
HairdryerWiFiTVTea/coffee
The Limes is a family run, gorgeous hotel, with beautifully decorated rooms and an enviable location overlooking the South West coastal path.
There is an honesty bar where you can help yourself to a drink or snack, and you can relax in the bar, guest lounge or enjoy views over Swanage Bay from the conservatory.
Your stay is room only basis and we will provide you with a list of recommended restaurants within a short two minute walk.
Today's magnificent coastal path hugs Swanage Bay as you climb gently out of the town and up to the famous white chalk sea stacks, Old Harry Rocks. As you continue towards the tiny Purbeck village of Studland, you'll pass 'Dragon's Teeth' tank traps and Fort Henry - a concrete observation bunker built in 1943 and used by Churchill, Eisenhower and King George VI to watch the rehearsals for D-Day. From the gorgeous white sands of Studland take the bus (payable locally) back to Swanage for your final night.
You stay at The Limes.
HairdryerWiFiTVTea/coffee
The Limes is a family run, gorgeous hotel, with beautifully decorated rooms and an enviable location overlooking the South West coastal path.
There is an honesty bar where you can help yourself to a drink or snack, and you can relax in the bar, guest lounge or enjoy views over Swanage Bay from the conservatory.
Your stay is room only basis and we will provide you with a list of recommended restaurants within a short two minute walk.
These tour only prices are based on two people sharing. Single supplement from AU$697.
Take a taxi from Weymouth train station at any time (payable locally) and on return you will need to get a taxi/bus to Wareham station payable locally.
Call now to speak to our specialist team at 0044 1606 720199 or email us at sales@headwater.com for enquiries or to book your trip.
Self-guided walking
6 nights,
hotel-to-hotel
Level: 1+
Leisurely plus
10.0Kg CO2e
Headwater
Navigation App
