Itinerary #8 - Purbeck Coast - West Crown copyright 5 7 1 2 6 3 8 9 4 The District of Purbeck as well as all of August. The Purbeck Coast is bounded to the south by a upside is that this large area dramatic chalk ridge from the of coastline and heathland has - West White Nothe to Old Harry remained undeveloped for 70 The White Nothe Rocks, broken by bays and years, preserving its wildlife. to Tyneham valleys in places. The whole western coastline described The Purbeck Hills From here is criss-crossed by lanes, Worbarrow Bay eastwards the 1. White Nothe 187, 204 track and footpaths. These al- chalk ridge forms the Purbeck Burning Cliff 187 low free access all the way from Hills, the backbone of the “Isle”. Smuggler’s Path 187 Ringstead Bay to Lulworth Tyneham is at the westward 2. Swyre Head 204, 212 Cove. end of a fertile clay valley that 3. Durdle Door 204 goes all the way to Swanage in 4. Lulworth Cove 204 Cliffs From the White Nothe the east. Stair Hole 205 to Worbarrow Bay, high chalk Heritage Centre 205 LulworthWalks 204 cliffs dominate the coast, West Purbeck has a great deal 5. Lulworth Castle 205 reaching 175m at the latter. to offer the walker with every- 6. Lulworth Ranges 207 Harder limestone appears at thing from a section of the Fossil Forest 206 Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove South West Coast Path, to Bindon Hill 206 and the Gad Cliffs. Off-lying gentle strolls. The chalk coastal Mupe Bay 206 limestone ledges also occur in ridge is undulating due to “bot- Arish Mell 206 many places at the bottom of toms” such as Scratchy Bottom, 7. Povington Hill 208 the cliffs. Lulworth Cove or Arish Mell. 8. Tyneham 208 Worbarrow Bay 207 Flowers Barrow 206 Lulworth Army Ranges From This means that what looks 9. Gad Cliff 208 Lulworth Cove to Kimmeridge like an easy stroll is in fact quite Tyneham Cap 208 Bay the whole area forms part a strenuous walk. As a result, Brandy Bay 208 of Lulworth Ranges. Access places like Lulworth Cove and is only allowed here when the Durdle Door can be crowded, ranges are closed. This means while a few hundreds metres most weekends and holidays away it may be very quiet. Dorset Guide Book 1st edition by Charles Tait 344 What to Do and See - Dorset ORDNANCE SURVEY 1:50,000 & 1:25,000 MAPS OS Landranger Map 194 Dorchester & Weymouth; Map 195 Bournemouth & Purbeck OS Explorer Map OL15 Purbeck & South Dorset Purbeck Coast - West The White Nothe to Tyneham 1. The White Nothe (page 187, 204) is the most ation; red flags are flown and the gates are locked. westerly point of the Purbeck cliffs. This imposing The Ranges are open at weekends, on holidays and chalk 169m headland offers stunning views over during August. Weymouth Bay and along the coast to the east. All of the following places are within the Ranges: Burning, or Holworth, Cliff (page 187) is a large The Fossil Forest (page 206) is on the coast about area of undercliffs formed by regular landslides. 400m east of Lulworth Cove. Fossilised tree trunks The beach walk from Ringstead Bay to the foot of are surrounded by ancient stromatolites. the White Nothe, can only be done on a falling tide. Bindon Hill (168m, page 206) is a good place to Smuggler’s Path (page 187) is a short but very look for Lulworth Skipper butterflies. There are steep 300m climb from the bottom of the cliff. splendid views over the cliffs and bays to the east. 2. Swyre Head (98m, page 204, 212) is about Mupe Bay (page 206) may be only 2.5mi (4km) 1,200m west of Durdle Door and offers fine views along the coast from Durdle Door, but it feels like in both directions along this spectacular coastline. a world away. Even in high summer there are never 3. Durdle Door (page 204) is one of Dorset’s iconic many people here. From the top of the cliff there natural features, very much photographed, and yet are wonderful views across to Worbarrow Bay and never fails to impress. Perhaps best visited when the beyond, with Mupe Ledges and Rocks in the fore- evening sun is low, the shingle beaches can be fol- ground. The beach is accessible by a steep path. lowed for about 1,000m in each direction. Durdle Though only 2mi (3km) from Lulworth Cove the Door can be reached from the Newland Farm path is very steep in places, making it seem further. carpark or from Lulworth Cove. Arish Mell (page 206), about 1,000m to the east, is 4. Lulworth Cove (page 204) is one of the most vis- inaccessible due to contamination, and must be ad- ited coastal features in Britain. This almost perfect- mired from the coastal path. ly round, shallow bay has a gently sloping sand and 7. Povington Hill (187m, page 208) is the highest shingle beach. There are fine panoramic views from point on the road that follows the Purbeck Hills the cliffs on both sides of the cove. The headland on ridge eastwards from Lulworth. There are panoram- the west side has amazing contortions on the sea- ic views to the south from this and other points. ward side, similar to those at the nearby Crumple. 8. Tyneham (page 208), or “the village that time for- Stair Hole and the Crumple (page 205), about got”, is reached from the ridge road. This isolated 250m from the carpark, has a large natural arch valley, along with its coastline, has a special charm. where the sea has broken through. The limestone The village has a feeling of sadness about it. here has undergone violent earth movements. Worbarrow Bay (page 207) has 1,300m curve of West Lulworth Heritage Centre (page 205) tells sand and shingle, backed by dramatic chalk cliffs. the story of Lulworth, with displays on geology, fos- There is a fine viewpoint at Worbarrow Tout. sils, landscape and local history. There is also a gift Flowers Barrow (page 206) is a large Iron Age shop; it is open all year and has a large car park. hillfort perched 170m above the north side of Lulworth Walks (page 204)can be long or short, Worbarrow Bay. It is slowly being lost to the sea as depending on time and fitness as there is a huge the cliffs are constantly being eroded. number of paths and tracks which can be followed. 9. Gad Cliff (page 208) reaches 130m below 5. Lulworth Castle (page 205) is a partially restored Tyneham Cap page 208). This dramatic 2mi (3km) 17th century mock castle built as a hunting lodge. It rock face looks smooth from the west and like jagged is surrounded by mature woodland and open spaces. teeth from the east. 6. Lulworth Ranges (page 207) are part of the Brandy Bay (page 208), below Tyneham Cap has Armoured Fighting Vehicles Gunnery School at many offlying rocks, including Long Ebb and Broad Lulworth Camp. They are closed when in oper- Bench, over which rough seas break spectacularly. 345 Dorset Guide Book 1st edition by Charles Tait.