South West Coast Path: Dorset & the Jurassic Coast
The last seven stages, and the most geologically famous coast in Britain. Golden Cap is the highest point on the south coast of England; Chesil Beach runs eighteen miles to Portland; and beyond Durdle Door and Lulworth the path crosses the Lulworth firing ranges, open only when the army is not using them. It finishes at the marker at South Haven Point on Poole Harbour.
- 7Stages
- 96 miDistance
- 154 kmMetric
- 3,190 mTotal ascent
- 51 hWalking time
- ~8Days at 12–13 mi
Every stage in Dorset & the Jurassic Coast
Stages 46–52 of 52, Seaton to South Haven Point. Ascent is the number that decides these days, not distance — the path drops to sea level and climbs back out many times over. Every row links to the full stage guide with an elevation profile, surface breakdown, water points and what to see.
| Stage | Route | Miles | km | Ascent | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | Seaton to Seatown | 15.2 | 24.4 | 785 m | Hard |
| 47 | Seatown to Abbotsbury | 12.3 | 19.9 | 181 m | Moderate |
| 48 | Abbotsbury to Ferrybridge | 10.8 | 17.3 | 196 m | Moderate |
| 49 | Isle of Portland Circuit | 13.8 | 22.2 | 360 m | Moderate |
| 50 | Ferrybridge to Lulworth Cove | 14.0 | 22.6 | 486 m | Moderate |
| 51 | Lulworth Cove to Worth Matravers | 12.3 | 19.8 | 737 m | Hard |
| 52 | Worth Matravers to South Haven Point | 17.1 | 27.5 | 445 m | Hard |
Ferries & crossings in this section
1 of the stages here depend on a boat or a low tide. Full detail, seasons and detours are on the ferries and tidal crossings page.
| Stage | Crossing | Runs |
|---|---|---|
| 52 | Studland–Sandbanks chain ferry | Year-round |
Places on the Dorset & the Jurassic Coast coast
10 places along this section have a full history on this site, and 10 free audio guides between them.
Common questions
How long is the South West Coast Path in Dorset?
The Dorset & the Jurassic Coast section runs 96 miles (154 km) over 7 of the path's 52 stages, from Seaton to South Haven Point. At a typical 12–13 miles a day that is about 8 days' walking.
How much climbing is there on the Dorset coast path?
About 3,190 m of ascent across the section — an average of 456 m per stage. The hardest single leg for climbing is Seaton to Seatown, at 785 m.
Which stages of the Dorset & the Jurassic Coast section are hardest?
3 of the 7 stages here are graded hard: Seaton to Seatown, Lulworth Cove to Worth Matravers, Worth Matravers to South Haven Point.
Are there ferries on the Dorset coast path?
Yes — 1 crossing in this section: Studland–Sandbanks chain ferry. 1 run year-round; the rest are seasonal or tide-dependent, and the inland detour when they are not running is long.
When is the best time to walk the Dorset coast path?
March to October is the usual window across these stages. Outside it, daylight is short, seasonal ferries stop and this exposed coast takes the weather full on.
What is there to see on the Dorset & the Jurassic Coast section?
We cover 10 places along it in depth, with 10 free audio guides between them: Lyme Regis & The Cobb, Abbotsbury & the Swannery, Golden Cap, Portland Bill & the Quarries, Durdle Door & Lulworth Cove, St Aldhelm's Head Chapel, Tyneham Ghost Village, Corfe Castle, Old Harry Rocks, South Haven Point - The Finish.
Walking this section? The free South West Coast Walk app carries all 52 stages offline — GPS navigation, elevation profiles, mapped water points and the audio guides — and the accommodation guide covers where to sleep along the way.