Best Dog Friendly Beaches Jurassic Coast – There are plenty of great dog-friendly weekend getaways within a few hours of London. If beautiful year-round dog-friendly beaches, unusual coastal scenery and countryside are on your bucket list, Dorset’s Jurassic Coast is a great place for dogs. Last summer we decided to take a two-day trip there from London to see Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove, taking Argo the dog with us of course. In this post, we’ll give you the lowdown on the area and some tips for your dog (and what to avoid) to help you plan your next trip to the Jura Coast with your four-legged friend.
If you google “Durdle Door” and “Lulworth Cove” you’ll find some amazing photos of Mediterranean scenery far from London. However, Lulworth Cove (and nearby Durdle Door) is a 2.5 hour train ride from London Waterloo and a 20/25 minute bus ride or 3 hour drive from the city. .
Best Dog Friendly Beaches Jurassic Coast
To our surprise, we discovered that Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door are dog-friendly beaches (!) all year round, making them ideal and popular destinations for dog owners. However, we did not know (although we should have guessed) why the site attracted such a large number of people, especially in August and during public holidays, the time we chose for our trip. This creates some logistical challenges that should not be underestimated, but you can strategically approach your visit to enjoy the Jura coast in all its glory (more on this post).
Dog-friendly Beaches On The Jurassic Coast — A Considered Life
As well as Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door to see in the area, there are many other things to do and dog friendly activities which we will tell you about in this blog post. But let’s start with two “must-sees”.
Lulworth Bay crowns the small village of West Lulworth, which is full of pretty thatched cottages and a few ice cream shops. Lulworth Cove’s crystal clear waters and scenery are unlike any other UK beach we’ve ever seen (except perhaps Cornwall). Its rocky beaches, surrounded by gentle hills in the shape of a volcanic cone, remind us of the Italian coast and the Mediterranean Sea. If you come early in the morning, you will find less people and you can have a nice swim and play with your dog without worrying about people nearby disturbing you.
Access to the main beach at Lulworth Cove is easy (it has a Durdle Gate which has a steep descent and several steps). From West Lulworth there is a small path that gently descends to the beach and in just a few steps you are on the rocky beach. There is a very small dog free area on the west side of the beach, but dogs are welcome on the rest (main beach).
On the other side of the western slope of the bay is a small rock pool surrounded by the Lulworth Crumple, which takes its name from the beautiful layer of rock visible on its side.
Jurassic Coast Dorset
A steep descent leads to the sea, where you will meet people kayaking and rock climbing. We checked and found that there doesn’t seem to be any company that offers kayaking/SUP with dogs at this location, but it would be a lot of fun.
You can even find fossils on the rocks if you look hard, and there are several vantage points with breathtaking panoramic views.
There is an uphill running track from Lulworth Cove that takes you to Durdle Door (the track goes up and then down and takes about 35-40 minutes if you’re fit, longer otherwise). The descent to Durdle Door is steep, so good sturdy walking shoes are recommended (avoid flip-flops at all costs!) and can be quite challenging for people with mobility issues and dogs.
Durdle Door is impressive. But don’t be fooled by the idyllic images that present it as a lost paradise: its charm makes it a truly popular destination. When we visited in August, it looked like a bustling beehive with crowds of people jostling for beach towel space, dark streams like an army of ants marching down the path, and queues for photos from the best views. . I have to assume that the pictures we’ve seen online are probably taken in the winter! My husband was confused by this detail and didn’t like it very much. I can still appreciate the place, but I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t say that the crowd is a bit overwhelming. We both agreed that the worst part was waiting an hour and a half for a bus after our arrival at Woolen station to get to Lulworth Cove and nearly two hours at Durdle Door to get back – not the best use of time. A very short trip like ours.
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Before Durdle Door there is a much less beaten track which continues up the cliff which can be a good opportunity to walk the dogs away from the crowds – which leads us to see some good dog things to do near Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove. , on the coast of Jura.
After visiting the two iconic sites mentioned above, there are other things to do with your dog on the Jurassic coast of the Isle of Purbeck – the peninsula that is home to Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove. We’ll look at dog-friendly places within 35 minutes/hour and a half of West Lluworth by public transport.
From Lulworth Cove you can take a 7 mile (11.3 km) circular walk that takes you to Durdle Door and White Nothe. You need good legs and breath as this is a tough hike. You can find routes and details on the South West Coast Path website. When walking on cliff tops, keep your dog on a leash and close to you and do not get too close to the edge of the cliff to ensure your safety and the safety of your dog.
You can park your car in the car park at Lulworth Cove (pay and display – more details at the bottom of this blog post). If you’re traveling by public transport, the X54 or X55 bus or the 30 Breezer bus (last summer only) departs from Wool station. If you can, the best way to travel is by pre-booked dog-friendly taxi (below).
Winter Dog Friendly Beaches In Cornwall
Fossil Forest is on the south-west coast road, but east of Lulworth Cove. As this area is part of the Lulworth Ranges, this part is only available at certain times. Please double and triple to avoid putting yourself in danger. You can find the official release times webpage on the government website here, but they also advise you to call to check as last minute changes can happen.
The area is currently closed due to a small rockfall, and they hope to soon restore access and make it safe (their post updated on January 16, 2020).
As mentioned, Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove are dog-friendly all year round, but there are other dog-friendly beaches in the area. If you want to visit other beaches, there is a wide choice and some always allow dogs, while others restrict their access in high season: see the list here on the Jurassic Coast Trust website. Unfortunately, to our knowledge, contrary to our expectations, there are no dog friendly kayaks or SUPs at Lulworth Cove and nearby beaches. Mupe Bay beach, which can only be accessed without shooting, seems like a small paradise and less crowded than the more famous ones.
Nestled in a deep clay bowl between forest and marshes, Blue Pond is a stunning pond with turquoise water and 20 acres of natural beauty along its banks. Both people and dogs are prohibited from entering the water. The site is open seasonally (it will reopen on March 1) and there is an entrance ticket, the cost of which will be confirmed on the site before the opening date.
Best Dog Friendly Places In Dorset
There are also on-site tea rooms where dogs are welcome on leashes (both outside and inside) and can be the perfect opportunity for buns. The teahouse will reopen on Easter. Finally, you can also visit a small museum with your dog.
Lulworth Castle is right next to Lulworth Bay, Lulworth Castle is a 10 minute drive away. If you’re walking it will take a little over an hour (I can’t confirm if full sidewalks are available). Only dogs are welcome in the park if they are on a leash. Only useful dogs
