Jurassic Coast Walks: Durdle Door and Man O’War Bay
When you mention the Jurassic Coast, the most iconic and well-known landmark is the famous Durdle Door stone arch.
Man O’War Bay is Durdle Door’s quieter neighbour on the opposite side of the headland and offers a quieter, but equally as breathtaking experience.
Unlike many of our wonderful Jurassic Coast beaches, Durdle Door has its own carpark, which can be found using the postcode BH20 5PU. The parking is quite expensive, however, access to the beaches is free and you can share parking charges with neighbouring Lulworth Cove if you would rather drive between the two, rather than walking – find out more here: lulworth.com/visit/plan-your-visit/parking/
There are public toilets and refreshments at the entrance to the car park but there are no facilities at the beach, so do bear this in mind when you are visiting as it is a long and steep walk down to the beach.
We have had a dry spell recently, so the terrain is quite rocky and uneven and not really accessible to anyone with mobility issues. If you are travelling with a baby, then I would recommend a baby or back carrier.
The first viewpoint you get to is the view over the stunning Man O’War Bay and on a busy day you’ll find lots of people stood at the cliff edge. It is not fenced off, so please keep a close eye on young children and pets.
For here is a nothing couple of minutes walk to the viewpoint over Durdle Door and the steps to either walk down to Man O’War beach or Durdle Door itself.
On the horizon to the left you can see the Isle of Portland, the southernmost point of Dorset and home to some great walks, including Portland Bill Lighthouse and Tout Quarry.
There are 143 stone steps leading down to the beach, which vary in height and size and are definitely feel worse on the way back up.
The beach itself is a fine shingle and there are some cave areas to use if you want to find some shade. Please note that you are not allowed to use drones as they disturb the nesting birds and disposable barbecues are also prohibited.
If you are feeling energetic, I can highly recommend a walk along the beach in its entirety, so you can get a look at Butter rock and Bat’s Head. This is also a good rock pooling site if the tide is out.
Heading back up the steps at Durdle Door end, you can then go down to Man O’War Bay. Beware, the 150 steps are definitely steeper on the other side!
Man O’War beach is definitely quieter and more rocky, but perfect for stone stacking, nature art and skimming stones.
It is also a lot shallower and more sheltered than Durdle Door, perfect for a spot of paddling. Swimming isn’t advise due to shelving beaches and rip currents.
As you head around the bay, there is a tricky rocky outcrop to clamber over and the other side of the beach is more exposed to the elements, making the waves look beautiful as they rise over the rocky shelf.
Like the beach at Durdle Door, the rear section of the beach is perfect for rockpooling, just don’t forget your bucket!
A visit to Durdle Door and Man O’War Bay is definitely worth it and if you are feeling fit, you can head over the top of the hill to Lulworth Cove, which takes around 40 minutes.
TOP TIPS
- Take a picnic, there is nowhere to buy food / drinks once you’re at the beach. A bottle of water is a must after all those steps!
- Wear sturdy shoes – the ground is quite rocky and uneven and the beach is shingle
- Bring sun protection, there isn’t much shelter on the beach
- Take a bag for rubbish and take it back home with you
- Take a ball / games if you’re with the kids
Have you visited Durdle Door before?
