Stage 51 of 52 · South West Coast Path

Lulworth Cove to Worth Matravers

Lulworth Cove → Worth Matravers
11.7 mi
Distance
18.8 km
Metric
6 h 36 min
Walking time
Hard
Difficulty
968 m
Ascent
908 m
Descent
169 m
Highest point
Coastal
Terrain

Elevation profile

Climbs 968 m and descends 908 m, topping out at 169 m and dropping to 2 m. Measured along the mapped route.

0 km5 km10 km15 km 169 m

Underfoot

What you walk on, by distance (from OpenStreetMap way types).

Footpath 88% · 17.4 kmTrack 8% · 1.6 kmRoad & lane 4% · 0.7 km

Difficulty breakdown

Four axes rated 1–5 — the single rating above is only the headline.

Terrain grade · SAC T2Some steep, rough or uneven ground
Physical3/5 Moderate
Fitness — distance & ascent
Terrain3/5 Moderate
Underfoot — rock, steps, scrambling
Navigation2/5 Modest
Route-finding — waymarking, open ground
Remoteness4/5 High
Exposure — escape routes, signal

Conditions & season

Best months
March to October
When this leg is usually at its best
Water
Moderate — 5 mapped water points on this stage
Refill points along the route
Shade
Minimal
Open cliff-top walking has little cover
Terrain grade · SAC T2
Moderate
Mountain hiking — some steep, rough or uneven ground
⬇ Download this stage (GPX) ⬇ Whole route (GPX)

The strenuous Lulworth Ranges (when open) past Tyneham ghost village, Kimmeridge and St Aldhelm's Head to Worth Matravers.

Highlights

Know before you go

Planning guides for this stage

Best Time to Walk the South West Coast Path, Month by MonthCamping on the South West Coast Path: Wild Camping Law and CampsitesHow Much the South West Coast Path Costs: Camping to B&BThe Hardest Sections of the South West Coast Path, Ranked by AscentSouth West Coast Path Maps and GPX: OS Sheets, App, GuidebooksWalking the South West Coast Path with a DogAll South West Coast Path guides

On this stage

Places on this leg with a full history, and free audio guides you can read or hear.

St Aldhelm's Head Chapel
Norman (12th century) ♫ 1 audio guide
On the wild, flat-topped headland of St Aldhelm's Head (also called St Alban's Head) stands a remarkable little Norman chapel, a squat, square building of…
Tyneham Ghost Village
20th century (abandoned 1943) ♫ 1 audio guide
Tyneham is a poignant 'ghost village' in a remote Purbeck valley within the Lulworth military ranges. In December 1943 its entire population was evacuated…

Questions about this stage

How long is the walk from Lulworth Cove to Worth Matravers?

Lulworth Cove to Worth Matravers is 11.7 miles (18.8 km). Allow about 6 h 36 min of walking, before stops.

How much climbing is there between Lulworth Cove and Worth Matravers?

Stage 51 climbs about 968 m and descends about 908 m, with a high point of about 169 m. On the South West Coast Path the ascent, not the distance, is what decides how long a day takes — the route repeatedly drops to sea level and climbs straight back out.

How hard is Lulworth Cove to Worth Matravers?

It is graded hard. Rated out of five: physical demand 3/5 (Moderate), terrain 3/5 (Moderate), navigation 2/5 (Modest), remoteness 4/5 (High). On the SAC hiking scale it is T2 — some steep, rough or uneven ground.

What is the path like underfoot on Lulworth Cove to Worth Matravers?

By distance the surface is footpath 88%, track 8%, road & lane 4%. Percentages come from the mapped way types along the route.

When is the best time to walk Lulworth Cove to Worth Matravers?

March to October is the usual window for this leg. Outside it, daylight is short, some estuary ferries stop running and cliff-top wind and rain make an exposed route much harder work.

Is there drinking water on Lulworth Cove to Worth Matravers?

Water on this stage is moderate. We map 5 refill points on the leg — mostly pubs, cafés and taps in the villages the path passes through. Shade is minimal: this is open cliff-top walking, so carry more than you think in summer.

What is there to see between Lulworth Cove and Worth Matravers?

Highlights on this leg are Lulworth Ranges & Tyneham, Kimmeridge Bay, St Aldhelm's Head chapel. It also passes 2 places we cover in depth: St Aldhelm's Head Chapel, Tyneham Ghost Village. There are 2 free audio guides between them.

What should I know before walking Lulworth Cove to Worth Matravers?

Lulworth firing ranges — check opening times. Strenuous with few exits.