The importance of the Jurassic Coast is underpinned by outstanding geology of International significance, spanning the 185 million years of Mesozoic Earth History and beyond.
The almost continuous rock record sequence, active coastal erosion and textbook examples of geological structures and features such as stacks and arches remain of global importance.
A pebble’s journey through time on the Jurassic Coast.
The almost continuous Mesozoic geology of the Dorset and East Devon coast spans 185 million years from the Triassic (252 – 200 million years ago), through the Jurassic (200-145 million years ago) and through the Cretaceous (145-65 million years ago).
The rocks here preserve a vast array of environmental conditions experienced by a range of species throughout the changes that occurred during this time period. Many of these species living in these different environments left their fossilised remains contained within the rocks, ready to reveal their life stories when they emerged from their burial places.
Yet others may be lost in time, at least for now. These variable environmental conditions were largely a result of the impact break-up of supercontinents and continental drift of the area away from the equator to eventually reside where it currently lies on what is now the South Coast of England. The appearance of the rocks and coastline as a whole are the result of considerable geological processes and continued coastal erosion.
This unique geology of the Jurassic Coast, and the fossils contained within, make it one of the most significant teaching and research sites for understanding our Earth history in the World.
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Free, History & Heritage, Outdoor
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Attraction, History & Heritage
Activity categories: History & Heritage, Outdoor
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Beaches, Families, Free, History & Heritage, Outdoor
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Beaches, History & Heritage, Outdoor
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Attraction, History & Heritage
Activity categories: Free, History & Heritage, Outdoor
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Attraction, History & Heritage
Activity categories: History & Heritage, Outdoor, Parks & Gardens
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Activity
Activity categories: Families, Group Friendly, Outdoor, Walking
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Activity
Activity categories: Families, Garden, Group Friendly, Outdoor
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: History & Heritage, Outdoor
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Activity
Activity categories: Activities, Families, Group Friendly, Nature & Wildlife
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Activity
Activity categories: Beaches, Group Friendly, Outdoor Activity/Pursuit Centre, Watersports Centre
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Activity
Activity categories: Beaches, Boat Trips, Group Friendly
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Activity
Activity categories: Beaches, Diving / Snorkelling, Group Friendly, Outdoor, Rock Pooling, Surfing
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Animal Collection, Families, Nature & Wildlife, Teenagers
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: History & Heritage
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Animals & Nature, Families, Nature & Wildlife, Railway, Transport Attraction
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Museums & Visitor Centres
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Swimming, Waterpark
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Animal Collection, Animals & Nature, Families, Free, Group Friendly, Nature & Wildlife
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Eating Out
Activity categories: Afternoon Tea, Cafes & Coffee Shops, Families, Farm Shops, Local Produce, Seafood, Veggie & Vegan
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Eating Out
Activity categories: Cafes & Coffee Shops, Pubs & Bars, Restaurants
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Eating Out
Activity categories: Afternoon Tea, Cafes & Coffee Shops, Farm Shops, Local Produce, Seafood, Veggie & Vegan
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Botanic Garden, Families, Garden, Group Friendly, Nature & Wildlife, Outdoor
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Attraction
Activity categories: Animals & Nature, Families, Group Friendly, Nature & Wildlife, Outdoor
beer, exmouth, Jurassic Coast, seaton, sidmouth
Accommodation category: Self-Catering
chesil-beach, golden-cap, Jurassic Coast, west-bay
Accommodation category: Bed & Breakfast
chesil-beach, golden-cap, Jurassic Coast, west-bay
Accommodation category: Bed & Breakfast, Inn, Restaurant with Rooms, Self-Catering
charmouth, golden-cap, Jurassic Coast, lyme-regis
Accommodation category: Agency (Self-Catering), Cottage, Self-Catering
dorchester, durdle-door, Jurassic Coast, lyme-regis
Accommodation category: Cottage, Self-Catering
chesil-beach, golden-cap, Jurassic Coast, west-bay
Accommodation category: Cottage, Self-Catering
beer, exmouth, Jurassic Coast, seaton, sidmouth
Accommodation category: Self-Catering
Jurassic Coast
Accommodation category: Agency (Self-Catering), Cottage, Self-Catering
charmouth, Jurassic Coast
Accommodation category: Camping, Holiday Park
Jurassic Coast, lulworth-cove, lyme-regis, west-bay
Accommodation category: Agency (Self-Catering), Self-Catering
Jurassic Coast
Jurassic Coast
charmouth, golden-cap, Jurassic Coast, lyme-regis
Accommodation category: Agency (Self-Catering), Cottage, Self-Catering
Jurassic Coast
charmouth, golden-cap, Jurassic Coast, lyme-regis
Accommodation category: Self-Catering
durdle-door, Jurassic Coast, kimmeridge, lulworth-cove
Accommodation category: Self-Catering
charmouth, golden-cap, Jurassic Coast, lyme-regis
Accommodation category: Cottage, Self-Catering
abbotsbury, chesil-beach, Jurassic Coast, west-bay
Accommodation category: Apartments, Cottage, Self-Catering
dorchester, durdle-door, Jurassic Coast, lyme-regis
Accommodation category: Camping & Caravan Site, Self-Catering
beer, exmouth, Jurassic Coast, seaton, sidmouth
Accommodation category: Self-Catering
beer, exmouth, Jurassic Coast, seaton, sidmouth
Accommodation category: Holiday Park, Self-Catering
chesil-beach, Jurassic Coast, lyme-regis, west-bay
Accommodation category: Hotel
beer, exmouth, Jurassic Coast, seaton, sidmouth
Accommodation category: Camping, Glamping
charmouth, golden-cap, Jurassic Coast, lyme-regis
Accommodation category: Camping & Caravan Site
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Activity
Activity categories: Boat Trips, Families, Group Friendly
Jurassic Coast
Activity type: Activity
Activity categories: Boat Trips, Families, Group Friendly, Outdoor
abbotsbury, chesil-beach, Jurassic Coast, west-bay
Accommodation category: Camping, Holiday Park
abbotsbury, chesil-beach, Jurassic Coast, west-bay
Accommodation category: Cottage, Self-Catering
dorchester, durdle-door, Jurassic Coast, lyme-regis
Accommodation category: Cottage, Self-Catering
durdle-door, Jurassic Coast, kimmeridge, lulworth-cove
Accommodation category: Camping, Lodge / Beach Lodge, Self-Catering
abbotsbury, chesil-beach, Jurassic Coast, west-bay
Accommodation category: Cottage, Self-Catering
charmouth, golden-cap, Jurassic Coast, lyme-regis
Accommodation category: Camping, Self-Catering
beer, exmouth, Jurassic Coast, seaton, sidmouth
Accommodation category: Hotel
Jurassic Coast
exmouth, Jurassic Coast, seaton
Accommodation category: Camping & Caravan Site, Holiday Park
Jurassic Coast
Accommodation category: Agency (Self-Catering), Cottage, Self-Catering
abbotsbury, chesil-beach, Jurassic Coast, west-bay
Accommodation category: Camping, Holiday Park
beer, exmouth, Jurassic Coast, seaton, sidmouth
Accommodation category: Camping, Glamping
abbotsbury, chesil-beach, Jurassic Coast, west-bay
Accommodation category: Self-Catering
durdle-door, Jurassic Coast, kimmeridge, lulworth-cove
Accommodation category: Agency (Self-Catering), Self-Catering