Thank you! We received your enquiry and will get back to you shortly. Have a great day!

Summary

Self guided walking break on the Jurassic Coast Dorset

Self guided walking break on the Jurassic Coast Dorset. Wonderful walking in the magnificent country around Swanage and this World Heritage Site.

No of Nights: 2-3

Stay: Guesthouses

Grade: Easy-Moderate

Information

A few days of wonderful walking exploring the best of the magnificent scenery surrounding Swanage. The Jurassic Coast Dorset is now a World Heritage Site. Excellent, award-winning accommodation and restaurants. The walks on both days are designed as two loops to incorporate the most stunning scenery and the best features of interest while making provision for a pub lunch half-way. This arrangement also provides an option to walk just the morning or afternoon loop.

Enjoy

  • expertly-crafted flexible walks amongst some of England’s most stunning coastal scenery of the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site
  • a fascinating self guided tour of historic Swanage
  • dramatic seascapes and downland with visits to stone-clad villages
  • visiting Corfe Castle and returning to Swanage on the steam train
  • a choice of three excellent bed and breakfast establishments
Send enquiry

Tour review scores and score breakdown

10 / 10

Based on 2 reviews

Guest reviews are written by our customers after their tour of Jurassic Coast Dorset.

Guest reviews

  • Thanks so much for - as always - a brilliant weekend - great walking, accommodation and food! And the weather was absolutely perfect! It was a great birthday trip with a fitting birthday dinner at 'Chilled Red'. Swanage was a gem I would love to visit again. And I'm so glad I stayed at The Castleton which I really liked. All in all a wonderful weekend.
    - Sue Flanagan, London W11

  • Thank you so very much for such a special weekend in the most beautiful part of England. How I loved the walks, the b&b and, of course, the delicious food. So much to see, but not enough time! A great time and thank you.
    - Maureen Shilston, Kingston-upon-Thames.

Itinerary

Day One
Having settled into your accommodation, we recommend following our fascinating self guided tour of historic Swanage. Listen to the sound of seagulls and smell the salt of the sea as you discover something of the town’s past and its famous personalities. Having enjoyed a little exercise and the pleasures of this charming Victorian seaside resort, we recommend dine at one of the best restaurants in town.

Day Two
Explore the attractive village of Studland with its lovely bay, sheer-sided pinnacles and arches of Old Harry Rocks. Superb sea vistas surround you – over Swanage Bay to the Isle of Wight and to the vast expanse of Poole Harbour.

Discover the village with its ancient church and, after lunch at The Bankes Arms, contrasting landscapes: wild heathland, more seascapes, windswept downs and an airy ridge walk to Corfe Castle. Explore the castle’s romantic and majestic ruins and enjoy a cream tea in the 18th-century tea rooms before returning to Swanage by steam train. (5 or 9 miles/8 or 14.4 km, moderate walking).

Day Three
Today's walk from the attractive stone-clad village of Worth Maltravers explores the best features of the coastal path and surrounding countryside. Dramatic seascapes abound, providing some of the finest coastal walking in south west England.

Discover great wedges of ancient rock pushing against the sea, cliff-side quarries, a tiny 11th-century chapel and visit the Coastguard Station. Here you will learn from the coastguards something of their all-important work. Spot extensive bird life and dancing dolphins as you gaze in awe at 200-million-years-worth of geology laid down, contorted and crammed into this area of some 60 square miles and appreciate why this Jurassic Coast has been awarded the status of a World Heritage Site. (5 or 9 miles/8 or 14.4 km, moderate walking)

Send enquiry

Hotels

The guesthouses we use combine all the comforts of a hotel with the personal service of a guesthouse. The Castleton is an elegant 4-star gold and breakfast award-winning guesthouse a short walk from the town centre. The building dates from the late Victorian era and is located just 100 metres from the beach. All 9 rooms have flatscreen digital TV and DVD players. There is a guest lounge, conservatory breakfast room and small car park. A Great Escape is another highly-acclaimed guesthouse, holding the position of ‘No 1′ on Trip Advisor and awarded a Silver Award by the Tourist Board. Although the house dates back to the 19th century, all the rooms have modern facilities such as flatscreen TVs, fridges, safes and refreshment facilities. Clare House, an elegant 5-star guesthouse conveniently situated in the centre of town and just a short walk from the sea, has a Gold Award and award-winning breakfasts.

Send enquiry

Grade of the walks

The routes are suitable for anyone of average fitness, able to walk around 5 - 9 miles/8 - 14.5 km each day on varied terrain for up to 5 hours with a break for lunch.

Send enquiry

Tour price and costs

Price per person: from £315 for 2 nights, depending on choice of accommodation, room type and season, based on 2 people sharing a twin/double. Please enquire for single occupancy, car-free or more nights.

Price includes:

  • Personalised itinerary
  • High-quality en-suite accommodation
  • Full English breakfasts
  • Recommendations for lunch and dinner and, where applicable, coffee or tea breaks
  • Detailed route directions for in easy-to-handle A5 format
  • Self-guided tour of Swanage
  • Marked-up Ordnance Survey map and map case
  • Commentary notes on features of interest along the way
  • Details of places to visit
  • Nature guide to help identify common species
  • Travel information
Send enquiry

Flights

By rail:  London to Wareham and onward travel by bus or taxi.

By road: total mileage from central London: 130 miles (3 hours). Parking in nearby roads or carparks.

Send enquiry