Weekends & Short Breaks
Jurassic Coast Walking Break - Lulworth Cove & Abbotsbury
Explore England’s only natural UNESCO World Heritage Site on foot with this sociable, fully guided break. Based at a comfortable hotel in Weymouth, you’ll discover spectacular coastal scenery, famous landmarks like Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door, and Dorset’s ancient landscapes – all without the need to drive.
Duration: 2 nights
Accommodation: Hotel
Transport: Car-Free Experience
Group Size: 8
Level: Leisurely Plus
Pricing & Accommodation: From £295 per person. Shared rooms, single rooms, twin rooms, and double rooms available - see booking calendar for specific dates and pricing.
Booking Calendar…
Gorgeous coastline and grand company…
The Jurassic Coast is one of the UK’s most celebrated walking destinations – a 95-mile stretch of cliffs, bays and headlands tracing 185 million years of Earth’s history. Awarded UNESCO World Heritage status for its outstanding geology, it offers a remarkable window into our planet’s ancient past, where time is written in layers of rock, fossil beds, and dramatic coastal formations.
This break gives you the chance to explore two very different sections of this coastline on foot, with the comfort of returning each evening to a warm, welcoming hotel in Weymouth. No car needed – we collect you from the station, take care of all transport to walks, and handle the planning, so you can simply enjoy getting outside, meeting new people, and exploring at a relaxed pace.
Expect clifftop paths with sea views, rolling green lanes inland, iconic natural features like Durdle Door, and quieter ridgeways above the coast offering wide Dorset vistas. Our routes are carefully chosen to balance a bit of challenge with plenty of time to pause, soak in the scenery, and enjoy a brew and cake along the way.
Whether you’re coming solo or with a friend, this is a friendly, sociable trip led by knowledgeable guides who love sharing the area’s geology, history and natural beauty.
A group of Large Outdoors walkers at Lulworth Cove.
Suggested Itinerary
Here’s what we’ve got planned - of course, we may have to offer alternatives or make amendments if the weather misbehaves or other unexpected situations arise!
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You are welcome to check-n from 15:00 and we also offer a free pick-up from the train station at 17:30. If you prefer, it’s an easy 20-minute walk to the hotel. After check-in, your Large Outdoors host will meet you and your and fellow walkers at 18:00 for a relaxed welcome chat about the plan for the days ahead. We will then enjoy dinner in the hotel. This is not included.
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After a good hotel breakfast, we travel to Lulworth to begin our 10-mile circular walk through one of the Jurassic Coast’s most iconic landscapes.
We start inland, following green lanes and rolling countryside paths that give us a gentler warm-up and introduce the wider landscape that surrounds the coast. These lanes take us across fields and quiet tracks, giving a real sense of Dorset’s rural character before we approach the dramatic cliff edge.
Reaching the South West Coast Path, we turn towards the sea, where the route reveals spectacular views of the chalk and limestone cliffs. From here, the path undulates steadily along the cliff top, offering a series of manageable climbs and descents with expansive views out to sea.
Our route brings us to the famous Durdle Door, the natural limestone arch that has become a symbol of the Jurassic Coast’s geological heritage. Created over millions of years of erosion, it’s a textbook example of the processes that make this coastline so significant and one of the key reasons for its UNESCO World Heritage status.
From Durdle Door we follow the coastal path east, enjoying views towards Swyre Head, Bat’s Head and the white limestone cliffs before our final descent into Lulworth Cove itself. This perfect horseshoe bay is a highlight of the walk, with clear geological features that tell the story of tectonic shifts and erosion over time.
There’s time to relax in Lulworth, grab a well-earned brew and cake, or explore the village before we return to Weymouth. Back at the hotel there’s time to freshen up before heading out for dinner which is not included.
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After breakfast, we travel west to Abbotsbury, a historic village with medieval abbey remains and the famous swannery. Our 9-mile route begins with a steady climb onto the South Dorset Ridgeway, an ancient trackway lined with prehistoric burial mounds and field systems.
As we follow the ridge, wide views open up over the Jurassic Coast, Chesil Beach and the Isle of Portland. It’s a strikingly different side of Dorset – less sheer cliffs, more rolling landscape, but every bit as memorable.
We descend gently towards West Bexington, where the countryside meets the long sweep of shingle beach at Chesil. Turning east, we join the South West Coast Path for a return route that follows the coastline back towards Abbotsbury.
On our final approach, we visit St Catherine’s Chapel, the 14th-century hilltop chapel that has guided travellers for centuries. It’s a fantastic spot to pause and reflect before descending to the village. We’ll wrap up with time for tea and cake at a local café before returning to Weymouth station, aiming to arrive for around 16:00.
Essential Information
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Meeting Time:
You can arrive any time from 15:00 - the Large Outdoors host will meet you all in the bar for 18:00. We’ll be eating in the hotel bar tonight.Meeting Location:
Premie Inn Weymouth Seafront,
Lodmoor Country Park,
Preston Beach Road,
Weymouth
DT4 7SXPlease note there are two Premier Inn hotels in Weymouth.
Parking: There is free parking available at the accommodation.
Public Transport:
We are offering a free collection from Weymouth Train Station at 17:30. We will drop you back here for around 16:00 on the last day.Finish Time: We aim to finish on the final day by around 16:00.
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Accommodation:
Premie Inn Weymouth Seafront,
Lodmoor Country Park,
Preston Beach Road,
Weymouth
DT4 7SXRoom Types:
You can book one of the following options, subject to availability:
Bed in a Shared Female Room
Bed in a Shared Male Room
Sole Occupancy Double
Twin Rooms
Double Rooms -
Included:
2 nights accommodation at Premier Inn, Weymouth Seafront
A Large Outdoors host/guide to welcome you, deal with meal preparation and the logistics for your experience.
Two days of guided walks.
All travel during the trip.
Breakfast buffet provided at the hotel
The chance to make new friends and meet like-minded people - Large Outdoors is all about making outdoor adventures sociable.
Pre-event support from the Large Outdoors team - give us a shout if there’s any advice or information you need and check out our Blog for useful articles too.
Not included:
Travel to and from the meeting location.
Packed Lunches - we will stop at a local shop each day and you can purchase what you wish.
Evening Meals.
Any extra (i.e. not mentioned above in ‘Included’) excursions or activities that you may partake in which incur a cost.
Alcoholic drinks - please feel free to bring something with you to enjoy at the accommodation.
Any food, drinks or goods you choose to purchase at any shops, restaurant, pubs or cafés visited.
Travel/activity insurance - we recommend having insurance to cover, at a minimum: cancellation and curtailment; medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation); personal accident; injury and death.
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Please see our Residential (Walking) Kit List.
The compulsory items are selected for your safety, which is of paramount importance to us at Large Outdoors. Each participant should be carrying the items listed.
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What level of fitness is needed?
This trip is rated as Leisurely Plus.Can I attend on my own?
Absolutely. The majority of our participants are solo travellers and adventurers. Plenty of fun, laughter and numerous long-term friendships (and a few marriages!) have begun on Large Outdoors experiences since 2008, so there’s no need to feel worried about your first experience, or indeed trying a new type of outdoor activity, with us.I am currently on a specific diet / have an allergy - can you cater for me?
Unfortunately, we are generally unable to cater for a wide variety of diets or food preferences due to the nature and cost of our catered trips and/or the use of shared kitchens. However, we can offer vegetarian, vegan, and/or provide meals with gluten free ingredients - these options can be selected when booking.
Please see our FAQs for more information about dietary options.Can I bring my dog?
Dogs are not allowed on this trip, except for trained assistance dogs. If you wish to bring your trained assistance dog on an experience, please let us know in advance of booking so we can discuss the itinerary and any activity/equipment/accommodation, and of course additional safety requirements or considerations that may be necessary.
UNESCO Jurassic Coast
Renowned the world over as a fossil hunting Mecca and as an incredibly beautiful stretch of coastline. We’re very lucky to have it right on our doorstep, and with miles of walking trails taking us to all parts of the coast and great sites inland, it’s perfect for walkers to explore.
The jewels in the crown along this ‘Jurassic Coast’ are the natural bay of Lulworth Cove and the rock arch of Durdle Door. You’ll almost definitely have seen photos of these two features, but being there is even better, piecing together the area’s history, seeing how the rock formations fit into the landscape, or just gazing out to sea on a relaxing Sunday morning. Formed over the last few millions of years, this coastline is protected for its unique heritage, making a special place to visit regardless whether your interest is geological or purely aesthetic.