Top things to do in 4 days on the Jurassic Coast, Dorset

The Jurassic Coast, on the South Coast of the UK is one of my favourite parts of the country. Beautiful coastal scenery and fascinating geology make this the perfect location for a long weekend. Here are the top things to do in 4 days on the Jurassic Coast, Dorset.

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The South Coast of the UK is one of my favourite parts of the UK to visit. The scenery is just beautiful, especially if you’re lucky enough to get some sunny weather. There’s a great variety of things to do. There are beautiful beaches, cute and fun towns, historic castles, and also miles of gorgeous cliff paths. You could spend days here and still have more things to do. So here are my top things to do in 4 days on the Jurassic Coast, Dorset.

I’d recommend checking out this guide book for the Dorset coast to help plan your trip (affiliate). There’s a great section on Dorset.

Day 1: Walk from Durdle Door to Lulworth Cove, then watch the sunset at Durdle Door

One of my top things to do in 4 days on the Jurassic Coast, Dorset is to visit Durdle Door, and then walk to Lulworth Cove. It’s definitely one of my favourite walks in the area.

Park at Durdle Door, and take the short walk from the car park down to Durdle Door. You can see the amazing rock formation from the top of the beautiful white cliffs. It’s a great spot for some photos.

For an even better view of the Durdle Door arch, walk down the steps to the Durdle Door beach. The beach is made up of small pebbles, not sand, but it’s still beautiful. You can relax on the beach in the sun, and also take a paddle in the sea if you don’t mind cold water!

When you’ve spent enough time at Durdle Door, retrace your steps back up towards the car park, and then take the well-signposted coast path towards Lulworth Cove. It’s a really clear, well-marked footpath with great views over the cliffs and out to sea.

It only takes about 30-40 minutes to get to Lulworth Cove. The town at Lulworth Cove is really pretty, and it’s worth taking some time to walk around the streets before heading down to the cove. There are plenty of ice cream shops, so it’s definitely worth stopping for an ice cream!

Lulworth Cove is beautiful as well, with its white rocks and pebbles and the amazing circular formation of the cove. Take some time to walk around the beach looking for fossils – you might get lucky and find one! This part of the UK coastline is called the Jurassic Coast because it dates back to the Jurassic period, and loads of important dinosaur fossils have been found here.

You can also walk up the cliff to the side of Lulworth Cove for some great views. From a higher viewpoint, you can really appreciate the unique and amazing shape of the cove.

Retrace your steps along the coast path to get back to Durdle Door in time to watch the sunset. It’s a beautiful place at sunset.

I loved how the warm orange glow lit up the white cliffs and reflected off the sea. A perfect end to a wonderful day in a beautiful part of the world.

Day 2: Studland and Old Harry Rocks

Another of the top things to do in 4 days on the Jurassic Coast, Dorset is to visit Studland and the nearby Old Harry Rocks. Park at the National Trust car park at Studland Beach, and take the short walk down to the beach. It’s a beautiful beach, perfect to relax in the sun. When the tide goes out, have a look in the seaweed and rock pools to see if you can spot and fish or crabs. You can also spend some time just walking long the beach, watching the dogs and children play in the sand.

There’s a great cafe, just up from the beach and car park. Find a bench outside where you can enjoy the beautiful views over the beach and out towards Old Harry Rocks while you enjoy an ice cream or have some lunch.

The walk from Studland to Old Harry Rocks takes around 45 minutes, or a bit longer if you want to stop to take some photos. The rocks at Old Harry are stunning, and it’s also a great place to get some beautiful views back over to Studland. You can walk as far along the coast path as you like, before heading back to your car at Studland.

Day 3: Corfe Castle, Swanage Railway, and Swanage

On your 3rd day on the Jurassic Coast, Dorset, head inland for the morning. The ruins of Corfe Castle are a great place to visit for the morning. Park at the National Trust car park, and then take the 10 minute walk from the car park to the castle entrance. You can find out about the opening times and prices here. Dogs are allowed in Corfe Castle (on short leads), so you can visit here with your dog as well.

Corfe Castle dates back over 1000 years. It was built by William the Conqueror, and for centuries it was an important royal castle, with kings and queens visiting and living here. In the English Civil War in the 1600s, Corfe Castle was one of the last royalist strongholds in the South of England. It came under attack, and the ruins we see today are the result of the heavy fighting in the English Civil War.

Take your time walking around the castle and reading the information boards to learn about the history. It’s amazing to be walking around somewhere with so much history, walking where kings and queens once walked hundreds of years ago.

The village of Corfe Castle is worth a short visit as well, after visiting the castle. It’s only small, so won’t take long to look around. But it’s a really pretty little village. I’d definitely recommend visiting the sweet shop – the fudge was amazing! There are several tea rooms in the village as well, so you can stop for lunch.

After spending your morning at Corfe Castle, head to Swanage for the afternoon. It’s only a short drive away, or you could take the Swanage Railway. This steam train travels between Corfe Castle and Swanage, and is a great alternative to driving. Check out the times and prices here, as it’s best to book in advance.

Swanage is a really pretty seaside town. Unfortunately it started to rain heavily as soon as I arrived, but I could still appreciate the beauty of the town and also the beach. The sandy beach is beautiful, and I could see how much fun it could be on a sunny day. I loved the colourful beach huts behind the beach as well.

Swanage has loads of fun seaside activities as well. There are ice cream shops and arcade games, and also a priate-themed gold course. The town centre has lots of shops and places to eat. I really enjoyed spending the afternoon in Swanage.

4. Visit Chesil Beach and the town of Weymouth

The last of my top things to do in 4 days on the Jurassic Coast, Dorset is to visit Chesil Beach and the town of Weymouth for the day. Start your day at Chesil Beach, parking in the car park next to the beach. Chesil Beach is an 18-mile long shingle beach. The tall ridge of pebbles is like its own peninsula, with water on both sides.

It’s really hard work to walk along the pebbles, as well as very loud! The beach is tall in places, so you might need to walk up the hill of pebbles and then down the other side. But it’s an amazing place to visit. The views are great, and it’s amazing how the sea caused such a huge formation of pebbles. Relax on the beach and listen to the waves crashing onto the beach. But don’t try to swim in the sea off Chesil Beach, as strong currents can make swimming in the sea dangerous here.

After visiting Chesil Beach, head over to nearby Weymouth. Weymouth is one of my favourite seaside towns on the South Coast of the UK. It’s the perfect place for a day out at the seaside. The sandy beach at Weymouth is huge, with pretty town houses and shops just behind the beach.

The town centre in Weymouth is pretty as well. There are lots of independent shops to browse on the narrow lanes, and you can pick up some souvenirs from your holiday.

Weymouth also has plenty of fish and chip shops. I’d definitely recommend ‘Fish n Fritz’ on Market Street. You get a huge portion of delicious fish and chips, which you can take to sit on the beach to eat. Days out at the seaside don’t get better than this!

Weymouth also has plenty of arcade games and other typical seaside entertainment. After lunch, have a go on some of these games and see what you can win!

Behind the beach, Weymouth also has a beautiful marina and harbour. I loved walking around here, looking at the lifeboat and all the yachts and other boats. The view from the bridge over the coloured houses was really special. It’s the perfect place to end your day, and to end your 4 days on the Jurassic Coast, Dorset.

Enjoy my top things to do in 4 days on the Jurassic Coast, Dorset! Remember to check out this great guide to Dorset to help you plan your trip (affiliate). If you’re visiting with your dog, check out my guide to visiting Dorset with your dog. If you’re looking for more places to visit in the UK, why not check out the great city of Oxford and nearby walks in Oxfordshire. Or for more gorgeous coastal scenery, visit North Devon or the Gower Peninsula, Wales.