Durdle Door beach: 7 tips for planning your visit

If the stress of your day-to-day living is getting you down, there’s nothing quite like a trip to the seaside for some relaxation. Wave goodbye to your cares and hassles and head back to nature with a Durdle Door camping trip. An iconic Jurassic Coast landmark on the Dorset coast, Durdle Door is a rock arch within the sea created through water erosion. The suggestions below should help you to make the most of your fun and soothing trip to this stunningly beautiful location. 

1. Plan your route so you know exactly where to go.

Durdle Door is between Weymouth and Lulworth Cove on the Jurassic Coast. If you’re driving from Bournemouth, follow the A35 heading in the direction of Dorchester and turn left onto the A351 in the direction of Wareham. Next, you should head onto the A352 travelling in the direction of Wool, after which you should look for signs that will indicate the direction for Durdle Door. If you are coming from Dorchester, use the A352 heading towards Wool and keep an eye out for the Durdle Door signs.

In order to reach Durdle Door, look for Durdle Door Holiday Park. You will find a nearby cliff-top car park. A footpath from the car park will take you to Man O War Bay with views of its lovely beach (which is next to Durdle Door beach) and from there another path will lead to Durdle Door.

Be sure to pick your Lulworth Cove campsite here.

2. Spring and summer are ideal times to visit.

The car park that is near the Durdle Door Holiday Park is not open all year round but is accessible from 1 March to 31 October. Visiting Durdle Door between these dates enables you to make the most of the warmer weather by going for swims or sunny walks.

3. Make use of the facilities.

The pay and display Durdle Door car park has a range of prices depending on your stay duration. Two hours costs £3, 4 hours costs £4, 6 hours costs £5 and more than 6 hours costs £7.50. You can also get a weekly ticket for £15. Motorbikes can park free of charge. The car park is available from 7am to 7pm. There are toilets and a shop at the holiday park. The nearby Lulworth Cove Heritage Centre has toilets and baby changing facilities. The dog friendly beaches are great for bringing along your furry friend too.

4. Check out nearby accommodation for quick access to Durdle Door.

There are a number of convenient camping and caravan sites nearby. Availability will depend on the time of season. Most campsites will be very crowded (and perhaps even fully booked!) during the summer holidays, so be sure to book in advance.

5. See the sights.

The Lulworth Cove Heritage Centre has an interesting exhibition that includes fossils, displays on sailing and smuggling and an abundance of information on the Jurassic Coast. There are several pubs and dining venues in Lulworth Cove if the sea air gives you an appetite. There is a car park conveniently located next to the heritage centre, with Durdle Door car park tickets acceptable here as well.

If you’d like to swap sea for land, Lulworth Castle and Park is well worth checking out. There is an opportunity to look around the castle and a chapel close by. Wander through the park and perhaps enjoy a tasty packed lunch.

6. Get active with outdoor activities.

The footpath from Lulworth Cove to Durdle Door is a beautiful walk. Alternatively, you can enjoy walks right on the various beaches while marvelling at the spectacular views.

If all the walking is getting you hot and tired, the whole family can enjoy cooling off in the sea at Man O War or Durdle Door beach, which are breathtaking places to swim. There are boat trips and rock climbing on offer as well as the ability to swap walking for cycling by hiring bikes.

7. Pay attention to safety warnings.

Though the Man O War beach can be easily accessed, the Durdle Door beach has limited access as a result of a land slide. Part of the South West Coast Path was destroyed due to a cliff fall that occurred in April 2013. Where there are warning signs within the area, these should be adhered to for the safety of yourself and other visitors.

Seaside delights for everyone to enjoy.

Taking a Durdle Door camping trip as a family, couple or on your own is a brilliant way to experience the fantastic splendour of this natural landmark with its stunning surrounding scenery. Whether you enjoy strolls along the beaches, dips in the ocean or the interesting nearby attractions, this really is an unforgettable way to experience Dorset.