Photo: Saffron Blaze, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Durdle Door is a natural limestone arch on the Jurassic Coast near Lulworth in Dorset, England. It is privately owned by the Weld family, who own the Lulworth Estate, but it is also open to the public.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Walk down the road from the car park to the cove. Alternatively, walk along the cliff path for a good view of the cove and Stair Hole, another geological feature. It is possible to walk along the hills that surround the cove or along the shingle beach. Access to the area east of the cove is restricted as it is part of a firing range. It is normally only open at weekends and throughout August.
Castle dating from the 17th century, which was destroyed by fire in 1929 and rebuilt in the 1990s. 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. Climb the tower for spectacular panoramic views of the Purbeck countryside and towards the Jurassic Coast. Visit the 18th-century Roman Catholic Chapel and the 15th-century Church of St Andrew. Extensive parkland, woodland walks, and a children’s playground. The Castle Tearoom offers homemade cakes, cream teas and souvenirs. Pay & display parking gives access to the park and grounds, with a separate admission charge for the Castle (children under 4 free).