Nestled along the southern coast of England, the Jurassic Coast is a spectacular UNESCO World Heritage site that spans 96 miles from Exmouth in East Devon to Studland Bay in Dorset. This ancient coastline is famed for its dramatic cliffs, unique geological formations, and rich fossil heritage. This area of England is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful regions to explore and somewhere I’d recommend everyone visit – whether you’re a local to the country or visiting from further afar!
We headed to this popular coastline for a 3 day road trip and attempted to explore what we could around the area, while still having plenty of time to relax on the beach (which is important in these parts!). Read on for our full itinerary and experiences exploring this beautiful part of England, and enjoy your time visiting the magical Jurassic Coast!
Top Tips and Information for your 3 Day Jurassic Coast Road Trip
Best Times to Visit the Jurassic Coast
The Jurassic Coast is beautiful year-round, but the best time to visit is during the late spring to early autumn months (May to September). During this period, the weather is generally warm and pleasant, ideal for outdoor activities and exploring the coastline. If you prefer a quieter experience, consider visiting during the shoulder seasons of late April or early October when the weather is still favourable but the crowds are thinner.
How to Get Around the Jurassic Coast
Generally you’ll find across much of rural England the public transport is not the best and buses can be few and far between. With the right planning you can certainly explore the area by bus, but you’ll be limited in the places you can reach and the time spent in each place.
The Jurassic Coaster bus service, operated by First Bus, covers many coastal towns and villages. Key routes include:
- X51 and X53: Connects Exeter to Axminster and Lyme Regis, then continues to Bridport and Weymouth.
- X54: Runs from Weymouth to Poole via Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door.
However, I’d fully recommend renting a car to make the most of the area!
Why is the Jurassic Coast so Special?
The Jurassic Coast stands out for its unparalleled geological significance spanning 185 million years of Earth’s history, featuring rock formations and fossils from the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods. Its fossil-rich cliffs have yielded significant discoveries, including ancient marine reptiles and dinosaur footprints, contributing invaluable insights into Earth’s past and evolution.
Jurassic Coast Road Trip Day One
As we were driving from Bristol we woke up pretty early to make sure we could really make the most out of the day (it’s around a 2 hour drive). Our first Airbnb was located in Wareham and consisted of the most adorable little Shepard’s huts situated right next to a large lake, perfect for watching the sunset in the evening… but I’m getting a little ahead of myself as we still had a few stops to make en route before settling in for the night!
Lulworth Cove
The cove is situated next to, and aptly named after, the village of West Lulworth. We parked the car here and meandered down to the shore, which was only around a 15-minute walk. While there is a visitor centre and car park right next to the cove, I’d really recommend you don’t skip out on having a little look at the village itself. Filled with thatched-roofed cottages and winding narrow lanes it provides a real taste of the English countryside, right by the sea.
As you reach the cove itself, if it weren’t for the freezing sea temperature, you’d be pretty hard pressed to know you weren’t somewhere in the sunny Mediterranean. The crystal clear waters and pretty pebble beach at the base of a curved white cliff come together to form a little bay where you can gladly spend a morning relaxing.
Right by the beach there are a couple of cafes which make for an idyllic spot to grab some lunch and get your energy up before walking over to Durdle Door.
Durdle Door
There’s a very easy-to-find and follow coast path that starts right by the visitor centre in Lulworth Cove and allows you to take in some stunning scenery as you follow it along to the next stop, Durdle Door.
The path you follow means that the first glimpse you get of this site is from above, and it’s easy to see why this is one of Dorset’s most iconic landmarks.
We headed on down to the famous pebble beach and took in the scenery around us for a few hours before heading to our Airbnb in Wareham for the evening, where we enjoyed a wonderful BBQ and watched the sun set over the water.
Jurassic Coast Road Trip Day Two
Not only were the Shepherds’ huts super cute and situated right next to a large lake, they also came with some wonderful hosts who let us borrow their kayaks to take out on the water in the morning. This provided us with a great and peaceful start to the day before checking out and heading on day two’s adventures!
Corfe Castle
Our first stop was around a 10-minute drive from Wareham to the town of Corfe Castle. Partially blown up in 1646 by Oliver Cromwell as part of the first English Civil War, the castle now boasts a very interesting architecture and sits above the village of the same name.
While you can pay to enter the castle and have a wander around, we decided a whistle stop tour around the village itself and a gaze at the castle from slightly further away (though you can actually get pretty close without needing to pay!) was enough, as we had plenty else planned for the day.
Old Harry Rocks
Around another 15-minute drive from Corfe Castle, you’ll reach Studland, a good place to leave your car and have a bite to eat before starting the walk to Old Harry Rocks.
These three chalky rock formations make up the Eastern point of the Jurassic Coast and the coastal cliff path you’ll follow takes you right up to the rocks and loops around some amazing scenery. It takes a good few hours to complete so bring some snacks!
After finishing the walk we set off to our second AirBnb, a charming little cottage just outside of Weymouth, before heading into the city to have a walk around and some great burgers at ‘The Dorset Burger Company’.
Jurassic Coast Road Trip Day Three
The final leg of our trip before starting the drive back to Bristol saw us journey from our Airbnb near Weymouth over to Lyme Regis, the prettiest little fishing village the English coast has to offer, in my opinion.
Lyme Regis
Set on the westernly edge of the Jurassic Coast and just before the border of Devon, this little town is known as the ‘Pearl of Dorset’ and it really is my favourite place in the area. Lyme Regis is known for being a great location to find fossils along its shore and in the surrounding cliffs, so there are plenty of fossil shops around, where you can browse and pick up a rare gem or two if it takes your fancy. The obvious choice for lunch is, of course, fish and chips, luckily there’s plenty dotted around the town and from my experience they’re all wonderful!
Charmouth Beach
After our lunch in Lyme Regis we wanted to chill out for a bit before heading back to Bristol. Around a 10-minute drive away is the town of Charmouth and alongside it, Charmouth Beach. This long beach is also famous for fossils and has a mixture of sandy and pebbley spots depending on your preference. There are also a couple of cafes/kiosks where you can pick up an ice-cream to help cool you down in the sunshine (wishful thinking for the UK, I know).
Thus concludes our whistle-stop tour of the Jurassic Coast! If you’re interested in finding out more, check out my guide on YouTube.
