Jurassic Coast Hike - Durdle Door to Tyneham Circular
/This route, which makes up part of the South West Coastal Path in Dorset, was a favourite of ours during our Everest Base Camp trek training. It is a spectacular hike starting and finishing at Durdle Door car park, an iconic beautiful landmark near Wareham. It is not an easy hike, there are several steep ups and downs with a total climb of just under 1000 m (3000 ft), and total distance of 19k (12 miles). That said, those who complete it will be rewarded with the most spectacular views across Lulworth Cove, Mupe Bay, and Worbarrow Bay.
The elevation chart above gives an idea about the level of difficulty of this hike, but here's some stats as well:
- Total Distance = 19.3 k
- Total Time = 5.33 hrs
- Moving Time = 4.45 hrs
- Stopped Time = 0.48 hrs
- Total Climb = 919 m
Where does the hike start and finish?
The hike starts and finishes at Durdle Door car park, which is on the Jurassic coast near the town of Wareham, Dorset.
A selection of photographs follow that will hopefully inspire others who live nearby, or perhaps visiting the area, to explore beyond Durdle Door and Lulworth cove. If the weather is fair you could almost be anywhere in the world with so many breathtaking views along the Jurassic coast.
One point to note is that this hike is within the confines of Lulworth Military Firing Range which is only open at weekends with some exceptions. As part of your planning it is therefore necessary to check the Dorset Gov website to ensure that the range walks are open to the public on the dates that you are planning to visit.
As I have noted above, this is a tough route and I would class it as a 'hike' and not a 'walk', and you should prepare for it as such. It will take around 6 hours for the average hiker. Depending on the time of year you plan to go will determine the gear you should take. You will need decent footwear with good ankle support for the inclines and declines. You will also want to take provisions of food and water; I would suggest at least 2 liters of water. A waterproof jacket and trousers during the rainy months is a must as the weather can be changeable on the coast, and of course a day sack to carry everything in! Being part of the South West Coastal Path It is not off the beaten track, however there aren't any shops or places to replenish. You will see other hikers on the trail, and there are plenty of places to stop, rest, eat your lunch, and take in the most amazing scenery.
Route Details
What is a GPX file?
GPX stands for 'GPS eXchange Format' which contains route details that can be uploaded for use with most outdoor sports GPS navigation devices such as a Garmin Handheld, or a smartphone.
How do I use a GPX file with a smartphone?
If you have an iPhone or smartphone there are many walking/hiking apps that will allow you to upload the GPX file via the web for use on your device.
For the iPhone I recommend GB Outdoors for walking and hiking in the UK.