Dorset's Jurassic Coast

The world renowned Jurassic Coast should definitely be one of the places to visit during your stay in Dorset.

It stretches for 95 miles from Exmouth in East Devon to Old Harry Rocks in Studland Bay in Dorset and is a fantastic place to explore the geological features of this dramatic coastline - England’s first natural UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Visit the iconic landmarks of Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door and the pretty seaside towns of Swanage, Lyme Regis and West Bay.

Dorset – the real ‘Jurassic Park’

You’ve seen the film, now visit Dorset for a Jurassic themed holiday!

Dorset’s Jurassic Coast is world renowned for being one of the richest heritage sites for prehistoric remains. Join a fossil hunting walk and you could find your very own piece of a dinosaur, or even discover a new species!

Visit the Dorset County Museum’s Jurassic Gallery and gaze upon the world’s biggest bite – the Weymouth Bay Pliosaur and see real life bones of the magnificent beasts that roamed our planet millions of years ago.

For families, the Dinosaur Museum in Dorchester will excite any young dinosaur fan with life sized replicas and lots of interactive fun! We can guarantee you’ll have a T-Rexiffic time!

Millions of years of history

Dorset’s Jurassic Coast was granted its UNESCO status for its outstanding geology, revealing 185 million years of Earth's history along its 95 mile stretch of coastline. For this reason, it is a hot bed for fossil hunting with hundreds of specimens having been unearthed from the cliffs and beaches.

At Kimmeridge, the Museum of Jurassic Marine Life is home to a collection of fossils all found and preserved by one man - Dr Steve Etches MBE. He even discovered a new species! See the fossils, learn about how they were collected and if you're lucky you'll even see them being cleaned and conserved in the museum lab and workshop.

Find your own piece of history

There are many opportunities to take part in fossil hunting along the Jurassic Coast. Many of which are based around Lyme Regis and Charmouth, which was the stomping ground of Mary Anning, one of the world's most famous fossil hunters. 

You can take part in a supervised fossil hunting guided walk and learn the skills that Mary developed over 100 years ago.

Walk in the footsteps of giants

The Jurassic Coast is a living breathing history walk. You'll find evidence of times gone by, when giants roamed the earth and may just find your own dinosaur fossil.

This stretch of coastline provides some of the most jaw dropping scenery and views that will live long in your heart, and is a favourite destination for walkers and nature lovers alike. So put on your walking boots and explore this fascinating and inspiring wonder of the natural world.

You can literally walk in the footsteps of dinosaurs near Swanage. Keates Quarry has over 100 fossilised tracks, which are preserved in a flat layer of rock. There is an information board telling the story of the footprints and the dinosaurs that made them.

Looking to plan a visit to the Jurassic Coast?

If you think the Jurassic Coast is all about fossils, think again! With stunning sea views, gorgeous sandy beaches and miles of coastal walks, why not make a holiday of it?

With the Jurassic Coast being roughly 95 miles in length, there are plenty of things to do, events to see, and towns and villages to visit.

If you are thinking about what you will do for accommodation, you are in luck as the Jurassic Coast has accommodation perfect for any taste or budget. Whether you are looking for luxury hotels, quirky bed and breakfasts, exclusive holiday cottages or family friendly campsites, caravan parks and holiday parks - you will not be dissapointed!

The Jurassic Coast also has an amazing array of places to eat such as restaurants, cafes and gastro pubs, many with fantastic views of the coast.

If you plan to travel around the Jurassic Coast, you will some of the best beaches, gardens and golf courses in the UK.

Important Information

It is vital you keep yourself and others safe while visiting the coast, please take moment to read the information below.

• The risk of landslides and rock falls increase following severe weather and sea conditions. Residents and visitors to the county are encouraged to follow safety advice along the coastline as landslides and rock falls can occur quickly and without warning. Tides have also re-shaped and stripped beaches around the coast meaning it is easier to be cut off by the incoming tides. More information about landslides and rock falls can be found on the Jurassic Coast website.
• Walking along coastal paths may also be muddy and slippery in places so people should keep to official routes and follow warning signs at all times.
• You can find more information on World Heritage Sites in South West England, including the Jurassic Coast, the City of Bath, Cornish Mining and Stonehenge and Avebury, as well as the North Devon Biosphere and English Riviera GeoPark UNESCO sites, by visiting the Visit England website.
• Why not view our stunning video footage of the Dorset Coastline, truly amazing! 
• Explore the Jurassic Coast by bus! The hop-on hop-off Jurassic Coaster bus is a perfect way to visit one of the Jurassic Coast attractions, walk a section of the South West Coast Path or just sit back and marvel at the views from the top deck.