Durdle door

Durdle Door is one of the Jurassic Coast’s most iconic landscapes. It is a natural arch, formed from a layer of hard limestone standing almost vertically out of the sea.

Durdle Door stands at the foot of a steep path followed by a set of wooden steps. It is accessible from above via a car park and the South West Coast Path, from which it is a 15 minute walk down to the beach. At the foot of this path are a pair of shingle beaches – Durdle Door to the West and Man o’ War Cove to the East.

The stretch of footpath between Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove is the busiest in the south west and sees more than 200,000 walkers every year. The walk between the two sites takes 30 minutes up and down a steep, but spectacular, walking path.

Durdle Door is part of Lulworth Estate, which is owned and managed by the Weld family. The Lulworth Rangers operate out of the Lulworth Cove Visitor Centre and are responsible for conservation and visitor management across this stretch of coastline and the wider Estate.

See the below video from Lulworth Estate with everything you need to know about visiting Durdle Door.

How to Get There

Durdle Door is best accessed by car, by turning at the village of Winfrith Newburgh if driving from the west, or at Holmebridge (shortly after Wareham) if driving from the east.

The X55 bus connects Durdle Door and neighbouring Lulworth Cove to Weymouth, The Tank Museum at Bovington, and Wool train station. Taxis to Durdle Door are available from Wool and Wareham stations.

Car Parking and Facilities

Parking is available directly above Durdle Door, and is accessed via Durdle Door Holiday Park. For the latest parking information and costs, visit Lulworth Estate’s website.

It is a 15 minute walk down a steep path then steps from the car park to the beach, so good footwear (not flip flops) is essential.

Please be aware that there are no toilets on or adjacent to the beach at Durdle Door. The nearest available toilets are in the holiday park.

Although Durdle Door beach is accessed by a steep path and steps, the viewpoint from the clifftop can be accessed by all-terrain wheelchairs. There are also accessible toilets available in the holiday park.

Beach Information and Dogs

Bathing at Durdle Door can be dangerous. The beach shelves steeply and there is a strong under-tow. Take care on the shoreline because sudden large waves can engulf people at the water’s edge. This has caused fatalities in the past.

Durdle Door is one of the Jurassic Coast’s dog-friendly beaches and can be enjoyed all year round with your four-legged friend.

Walks Around Durdle Door

Walking the South West Coast Path at Durdle Door offers spectacular views across the Jurassic Coast. We recommend an Ordnance Survey map to accompany a day’s walking.

Walking the coast path to the east of Durdle Door brings you to the famous Lulworth Cove and Stair Hole.

Further afield are the incredible geological formations of Worbarrow Bay and the evocative abandoned village of Tyneham. To the west are the coastal hamlets of Osmington Mills and Ringstead.