20 Attractions to Explore Near Lulworth Cove

Durdle Door is one of Dorset’s most photographed and iconic landmarks. It is part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and is an extremely popular beauty spot. It was created when the sea pierced through the Portland limestone around 10,000 years ago. Looking west over the beach, isolated stacks out at sea show where an older coastline once lay. The arch has formed on a concordant coastline where bands of rock run parallel to the shoreline.

The Lulworth Estate extends over 12,000 acres of the south Dorset countryside, including 5 miles of the Jurassic Coast and internationally renowned landmarks such as Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door. The fairy tale Lulworth Castle is a great day out for all the family, from the fascinating exhibits in the basement cellars to the incredible views from the tower. The estate is predominantly owned by the Weld family, who have lived there for several generations.

A majestic castle was Built in the 17th century. Originally built as a hunting lodge to entertain aristocracy and royalty, it was for centuries the family seat of the Weld family, the current owners of the Lulworth Estate. Inside the castle is a wealth of fascinating history; walk in the footsteps of King and Queens as you follow the story of the Weld family’s fate and fortune and explore the basement rooms and memorabilia collections. Children can enjoy hunting for the 10 bats hidden around th

Kimmeridge Bay lies within a marine Special Area of Conservation and boasts the best rock pooling and safest snorkeling site in Dorset. The area is popular with surfers and windsurfers for the sea breezes and surf created by the rock ledges underneath the waves. The natural rock ledges extending out into the bay make it easy to view life on the shore and in the shallow waters, making it a wonderful location for rock pooling.

Clavell Tower, which was erected in 1830-31 for the Reverend Clavell in a prominent position on the cliff above Kimmeridge Bay. This four-story, circular tower stands high on the cliff above Kimmeridge Bay overlooking one of the most striking bays on the Dorset coast. It is owned by building conservation charity the Landmark Trust and is its most popular venue with holidaymakers wanting to stay there having to plan almost two years in advance.

Monkey World was set up in 1987 by Jim Cronin to provide a permanent, stable home for abused Spanish beach chimpanzees. The 65-acre park is home to the stars of TV’s ‘Monkey Life’ and ‘Monkey Business, and provides sanctuary for rescued and endangered primates from around the world. Monkey World features the largest group of chimpanzees outside of Africa which are housed in four different social groups.

The Purbeck Hills are one of the finest landscape features in Dorset. They extend from the much eroded Handfast Point (or The Foreland) in the east for some fifteen miles to the cliffs of Cow Corner and the lonely cove of Arish Mell in the west. These chalk hills are not a continuous ridge, but are broken by the gap at Ulwell and the twin gaps at Corfe Castle.

This tiny isolated cottage situated on the slopes of Clouds Hill above Bovington Camp was the peaceful retreat of T.E. Lawrence (‘Lawrence of Arabia’) when he re-joined the RAF in 1925. It was, in fact, a 'pied a terre' used by Lawrence as a quiet retreat to write and entertain guests while he was stationed at the nearby army base at Bovington.

Blue Pool is a flooded, disused clay pit where Purbeck ball clay was once extracted. It is now a lake within the Furzebrook Estate. The Pool is surrounded by 25 acres of heath, woodland and gorse interlaced with sandy paths that seem to take you to another world. The Green Route includes steps up to views of the Purbeck Hills or down to the edge of the Pool.

Bowleaze Cove is a sand and pebble beach just over two miles northeast from Weymouth. In summer the beach is popular with families as well as jet-ski enthusiasts and the water is zoned for the safety of bathers. Children might enjoy paddling in the shallow waters of the cove or in the River Jordan which enters the sea at the beach. A short pier leading out from the beach makes a good spot for fishing and the views towards Portland on a clear evening are quite spectacular.

Corfe Castle stand on a natural hill guarding the principal route through the Purbeck Hills. As you can see it guards the gap between the south of Purbeck, where Purbeck marble was once quarried, and the rest of England. Nothing could pass in or out without going past the Castle. The castle dates to the 11th century and commands a gap in the Purbeck Hills on the route between Wareham and Swanage. It is protected as a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Nothe Fort, a three-tiered fortification on a raised promontory next to Weymouth Harbour, is an unmistakable landmark in the region. Learn about military history and World War II in its museum, which is mostly set in a labyrinth of subterranean passageways. Enjoy the stunning views of the Jurassic Coast from the picnic areas on the ramparts and newly-opened terrace, or go underground and explore the many tunnels and secret passageways beneath the fort, including the spooky ghost tunnel.

Weymouth SEA LIFE Adventure Park offers you an amazing underwater world and takes a fascinating journey to the ocean depths. Meet the world’s smallest penguins in their new interactive Fairy Penguin Island walk-through adventure. It aims to combine modern display technology, biological expertise, and entertainment to provide themed journeys through European and tropical waters.

Greenhill is a suburb to the northeast of Weymouth in Dorset, England, with a sand and shingle beach. Most of the beach is pebbles rather than sand but on the shoreline between tides, there’s plenty of sand for the sandcastle building. The entire beach is bordered by a pleasant promenade, take a lookout for the renovated Victorian lamp stands these were originally the lighting on the main Esplanade.

Weymouth Beach is a curving arc of golden sand adjacent to the town centre, with Weymouth pier at the southern end. Weymouth has had a strong tourism tradition since the 18th century and the beach remains a busy place, home to a sand sculptor, a Punch and Judy show, a helter-skelter, swing boats and donkey rides. One of the family friendly beach in this area and attracts a lot of tourists.

The Esplanade is a wide walkway and street on the seafront at Weymouth, Dorset on the south coast of England. The Esplanade is immediately next to the sandy Weymouth Beach, It is the section of the Legacy Trail that joins wildlife sites in the Lorton Valley Nature Park to Radipole Lake reserve. To the south at the end of the Esplanade are Weymouth Pier,the Condor Ferries terminal for ferry service to the Channel Islands and the Pavilion Theatre.

Weymouth Harbour is a busy harbour at the heart of Weymouth’s Old Town, which retains much of its historic seafaring character, particularly along the seventeenth century waterfront. It is acclaimed for its fresh seafood including crabs, lobster and a range of sea fish landed daily. Weymouth Harbour has included cross-channel ferries, and is now home to pleasure boats and private yachts.

This former brewery site has been converted to a complex including a museum, shops and a public house. The main building dates from 1903 / 1904. Brewing took place on this site from 1252 until the 1980s. There were 3 separate breweries. The building is located at Hope Square, which holds a range of cafes, bars, bistros, while close by is the Tudor House Museum, and facing out to sea is Nothe Fort and its gardens.

RSPB Radipole Lake is an 83-hectare nature reserve owned by Weymouth and Portland Council and managed by the RSPB for wildlife since 1976. It is a quiet ‘wildlife oasis' in the heart of Weymouth and a great place to get close up with nature. Look for otter prints, go pond dipping and visit the bird hides.

The Isle of Purbeck is a peninsula located in south Dorset. The area is home to some of the country’s most well-loved towns and landmarks including Swanage, Lulworth Cove, Corfe Castle, and Durdle Door. One of the unique attractions in this area and it is a nice place to Relax on the beach, explore the South West Coast Path, hunt for dinosaur fossils, or just sit back and enjoy the views of the world-famous Jurassic Coast.