Planning the best things to do in Dorset for a Jurassic Coast road trip?
The Jurassic Coast is famous for sightseeing Durdle Door, a monolithic gem along the UK coastline in Dorset. If you haven’t been to this World Heritage Site, you’re in for a real treat!
This southern England region along the English Channel coast is an outdoor enthusiast’s playground. It’s truly a UK destination like no other with far more to offer than just a quick glimpse.
The Jurassic Coast is loaded with fun things to do to keep you busy for far more than a weekend away, but there are a few activities to do in Dorset that you simply must not miss.
In this post, you’ll find fun the best things to do in Dorset for families to explore the Jurassic Coast, with a concentration on what to do near Lulworth Cove. All in 2 days!
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TL;DR
If you don’t have the time to read the details, the highlights of this 2 day Jurassic Coast trip in Dorset include:
- Jurassic Coast is 2.5 hours by car from London
- Book accommodations to stay in Lulworth Cove
- Climb to the top of Stair Hole, Jurassic Park
- Walk to Durdle Door and plan on 145 steps down & up again
- Buy Dorset fudge at The Dolls House in Lulworth Cove
- Visit Corfe Castle and Corfe Village
- Buy a Jurassic Coast chocolate lobster at Chococo – UK’s top chocolate shop in 2019!
- See Old Harry Rocks in Swanage
- Stroll Tyneham Village
- Visit Weymouth for the most colorful canals in Jurassic Coast
- Feed the Queen’s swans at Abbotsbury – the most unique thing to do in Dorset, even in the rain
- Walk on Chesil Beach – it’s 100% pebbles
- Visit Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens
- Book restaurant reservations as soon as you start planning your Jurassic Coast trip
Best Things To Do In Dorset For A Jurassic Coast Road Trip
In chronological order, here are the best things to do in Dorset to experience the very best of the Jurassic Coast and surrounding area with kids in 2 days.
Nautical colors of Lulworth Cove
Explore The Sands Of Lulworth Cove
Start your Jurassic Coast road trip where I consider the sweet spot: Lulworth Cove.
Get up early to start exploring this Dorset seaside gem. Make it a point to get up early on each day of your trip to capture photos of the breathtaking landscape and coastline. With light and weather conditions, you never know what you’ll see so take advantage of early morning conditions to capture the best of the area.
Walk to Lulworth Cove first and let the kids meander around the beach looking for interesting shells or fossils. This area of Jurassic Coast is not known as a destination for finding fossils in particular, but its pristine location makes you want to linger and look anyway.
Lulworth Cove, Jurassic Coast of Dorset
Enjoy a coffee or a fresh crab sandwich at The Boat Shed while watching the waves break. For brave souls, consider a very brisk swim (even in October).
Along Lulworth Cove, follow the various paths (marked with what resembles more of a tombstone than a coastal marker) to get glorious views of the entire coast and Lulworth Cove Village. Nearly all coastal paths are well marked, but there are exceptions. In particular: Stair Hole.
Climb To The Peak Of Stair Hole
Stair Hole is immediately west of Lulworth Cove.
How to find the Stair Hole path on the Jurassic Coast:
- Stand directly above Lulworth Cove, over The Boat Shed
- Face Lulworth Cove
- Turn 180° around
- Look for a point above the two pools with a tree line that extends from the peak nearly down to the village. There is a faint path that can be seen through the grass, and another faint path through the hedges and trees.
Hike to this point in West Lulworth
Evaluate both paths to see which one is safest.
The path through the trees might be nothing but deep mud. And the green grassy path might resemble a mudslide.
We chose the green grass path and very carefully took our time, particularly with kids. Evaluate and use your best judgment before making the ascent. Wellies or hiking boots with treads are highly recommended.
Despite my hesitation and consideration of turning back at least a half dozen times, the Jurassic Coast view from Stair Hole peak made the effort beyond worth it.
Stair Hole, Jurassic Coast
Walk To Durdle Door
From the base of the West Lulworth car park, hop on the coastal path to Durdle Door. Although it’s only 2 miles round trip, it feels like a much longer walk uphill. Once to the top of the hill, it levels out a bit before walking down another hill towards Man O’War Beach and Durdle Door.
Man O’ War Beach, Jurassic Coast
Upon arrival at Durdle Door, there are 145 steps down to the beach….and back up again.
Durdle Door, Jurassic Coast
The weather conditions, particularly in fall or winter, might make you reconsider entertaining a round trip walk to Durdle Door and back, but it’s worth it. With two kids (7 and 10 years old) and even winds at the top reaching 60mph (we visited during a stormy weekend), the round trip walk only took 70 minutes.
But if walking seems out of the question, there is a car park access to Durdle Door and Man Of War beach.
Eat Fudge From The Dolls House In Lulworth Cove
Upon return to West Lulworth, take a break for lunch and grab a well-deserved treat at Mansfield Farm Ice Cream Stand (gin and tonic sorbet) or Dorset-made fudge at The Doll House. (We did both!)
The Dolls House, Lulworth Cove
Fun Things To Do Near Lulworth Cove To The East
After taking in West Lulworth and Lulworth Cove, tackle the best things to do in Dorset by organizing your day with everything east of you and then everything west of you, or vice versa.
Explore Corfe Castle & Village
If you have to pick between two castles to visit, go to Corfe Castle over Lulworth. As you enter Purbeck Hills, you’ll quickly understand why. It feels like you’re stumbling upon a Harry Potter movie set with the stone houses, shops and restaurants adjoined one right after the other, sitting below a very impressive castle that you can see from afar.
Built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, Corfe Castle is now a National Trust site. It costs money to enter, but you can enjoy views of the stone castle and the way of life without spending money by walking along the river path just to the left of the Corfe Castle tea room.
There are fun facts along the path to educate how life was, and the soay sheep grazing the hills make it incredibly picturesque.
Cottage in Corfe Castle Village
Eat A Chocolate Lobster In Swanage
You can’t go to Dorset without a stop in Swanage. Between surf watching (even on super cold days), Old Harry Rocks, and enjoying some of the best chocolate in the UK, Swanage is a must visit after the Jurassic Coast walks.
There are two places you must try: Love Cake and Chococo. Grab one of many cake choices at Love Cake, and be sure to purchase your Jurassic Coast souvenir at Chococo.
My favorite British gift ideas from Dorset are the basket of chocolate fish and chips and this lobster one. Or opt for one of their international gold winners making Chococo a top UK chocolate shop in 2019.
See Old Harry Rocks
And while in Swanage, you must see the Old Harry Rocks. If the schedule is getting pushed for time to drive to Old Harry Rocks, I recommend seeing it this way – particularly with kids if they are running out of adventure steam.
Catch Old Harry and where he hid his pirate ship from the end of Swanage Pier. Arrive before 5p before the pier closes to the public.
For a peek at Old Harry Rocks with kids, go to Swanage Pier
Stroll Tyneham Village
Time permitting and whether or not it’s open, a visit to Tyneham Village is a fascinating thing to do in Dorset on the way back to West Lulworth when most other venues are closed. It’s a village that was taken over by the British Army for training during WW II. The inhabitants were evacuated and never allowed to return.
Sadly, Tyneham is like a lost village stuck in time, 1943 to be exact. Although many of the buildings are in ruins, the schoolhouse and church exist as they were nearly 100 years ago.
Tyneham Village Schoolhouse in Dorset
Other things to do near Lulworth Cove to the east (if you have the time):
- Lulworth Castle – Not open on Saturdays, so plan accordingly.
- Durlston Country Park and Museum – There is a small museum and picturesque walks along the cliffs.
- Kimmeridge Bay – Recommended as the best place for fossil hunting. There is a fee to enter.
Fun Things To Do Near Lulworth Cove To The West
There are many things to do west of Lulworth Cove, but if you only have a day to explore, choose these must-visit spots for your Jurassic Coast of Dorset road trip.
Visit Weymouth
If you love picturesque colorful canals with plenty of shopping and diverse food choices, then Weymouth is a must-do. You can easily spend an entire day in Weymouth exploring but if you’re interested in just a taste of what Weymouth has to offer, then park at the Weymouth Pavilion.
Use Weymouth postcode DT4 8BE to have a wander around the colorful Weymouth Harbour, take in some light shopping (check out Heart Deco) and make your way in a circle back around to the Pavilion.
Weymouth Harbour Marina
Climb The Portland Bill Lighthouse
Visit the Isle of Portland which was home to sailing events for the 2012 Olympics.
Make your way to the Portland Bill Lighthouse, and climb to the top for 360° views before earning lunch at the Lobster Pot. The lighthouse closes at 4pm and tours are scheduled throughout the day.
Feed The Swans At Abbotsbury
Admittedly, going to the Swannery wasn’t on my top list of things to do in Dorset but the kids really wanted to go and I’m so glad we did.
Abbotsbury is a gem. There is so much goodness packed into this small area of Dorset that we were beyond thrilled as we neared the Swannery.
The village is picturesque, St Catherine’s Chapel is mysterious, and there are surprises on nearly every tight turn as you drive your way around (carefully).
We were beyond happy that we chose the swannery over other options on the second day of our Jurassic Coast trip. The Abbotsbury Swannery is an absolute must experience while visiting Dorset and the Jurassic Coast.
Jurassic Coast Highlight – Feeding the swans
First impression is that it’s an overpriced garden but as you near the beach where the swans are, you’re immediately stunned by these impressive birds. We arrived during feeding time and lucky for us, we were the only family there giving us the opportunity to feed all 500 swans! All white and one Australian black. Can you spot it?
It seems a bit overwhelming at first to have 500 swans surround you as they discover you’re the one with the food, but our entire family got into it and spent far more time with these birds than we imagined. Visiting the swans turned out to be a highlight for the entire family.
Book Abbotsbury Swannery tickets in advance and get 20% off. The passport includes tickets to the Abbotsbury Children’s Farm and the Subtropical Gardens.
Walk On Chesil Beach
This 18-mile beach is not only 100% covered in pebbles but puts on a crashing wave show like one you’ve never seen. Because the beach is entirely covered in pebbles, it’s a bit wobbly to walk on but that is what makes it so unique. If sand isn’t your thing, this might be the beach for you.
Chesil Beach
Go Tropical At Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens
A great way to conclude your Jurassic Coast Trip is a walk through the Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens at dusk. If you time your visit right, there is an illumination event that highlights the tropical trail. The garden is incredibly lush, making you feel more like walking through a rainforest in Australia than a garden off the coast of England.
Be sure to visit the shop. We found the perfect swan ornament for only £1 to capture the highlights of day 2 on our Jurassic Coast trip.
Other things to do west of West Lulworth if you have the time:
- Charmouth – Known to be the best beach for fossil hunting.
- Lyme Regis – Considered the ‘gem of Dorset’. This beach town offers many pubs to try, charming houses to photograph, and is typically a turning around point for a Jurassic Coast trip.
Map For Jurassic Coast Road Trip
The best things to do in Dorset are organized with Lulworth Cove as the starting point. This is based upon an overnight stay in Lulworth Cove before getting started. Start day 1 in the morning at Lulworth Cove.
However, you can rearrange sightseeing from a different starting point. This Jurassic Coast map illustrates the best things to do in Dorset so you can plan your day or weekend adventure from wherever you choose to stay.
Where To Stay In Lulworth Cove
With only two days to explore the Jurassic Coast, I highly recommend staying in Lulworth Cove. It’s centrally located minimizing the amount of time spent driving. This way you’re equidistant to attractions east and west of you along the Jurassic Coast – a huge bonus when traveling with kids.
A few places to consider staying at include Rudds of Lulworth, Lulworth Cove Inn, Castle Inn & Pub, and Limestone Hotel. Charming cottages are available to rent but typically need further notice and can be a bit more expensive in this area due to its proximity to major seaside attractions, especially during the summer.
Pink cottage to stay at in Lulworth Cove
My best advice is to contact the hotel or booking agent directly, even when the website says no availability.
Where To Eat In Lulworth Cove
All the hotels and pubs offer dining and advance reservations aren’t required for an off-peak Jurassic Coast trip. Even so, I highly recommend booking dining reservations as a safety net while traveling with kids.
For a summer Jurassic Coast trip, book dining reservations ahead. There are few options relative to its popularity during the peak time of year.
For adults: Rudd’s of Lulworth
Between the ambiance, massive wooden chairs to make you feel like a king or queen for the night, and overall freshness, Rudd’s wins hands-down. Although there isn’t a menu for kids, the chef is kindly willing to make a simple dish of pasta or a smaller portion of any main menu item.
For kids: Lulworth Cove Inn
Never have I ever seen a kids meal option be a big pot of fresh mussels. With an actual red beach bucket to chuck shells, and a portion large enough for any adult, my son was in foodie heaven. And so weren’t we watching him.
Kids pot of Dorset mussels at Lulworth Cove Inn
Final Tips For Your Jurassic Coast Roadtrip Or Weekend Away
For an alternative Jurassic route or more Dorset inspiration, buy this Great Britain travel guide written by the top UK blogger duo.
However you choose to spend time on the Jurassic Coast, you won’t be disappointed with the number of amazing things to do in Dorset.
From the UK’s unbelievable coastline to the country’s best chocolate, discover why the Jurassic Coast is one of the most popular destinations in Britain. Plan your visit today!
Have you been to the Jurassic Coast? What did I miss? Please share in the comments.
Looking for more UK road trip ideas?
- Things To Do In Norfolk With Kids
- Things To Do In Stratford-Upon-Avon
- White Cliffs Of Dover: Where To Stay, What To Pack & Best Things To Do
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