Walking the Jurassic Coast, England

The Jurassic Coast is a 95-mile stretch of coastline from East Devon to Dorset, famous for its rock formations and fossils.

Such is the importance of the area that it is the first UNESCO World Heritage site in England, and it’s part of the South West Coast Path National Trail. This means the route is well-signposted for walkers, and you can just concentrate on enjoying the scenery.

You can take a guide or walk the trail yourself, but if you want to learn about the history of the area you will find a guide is indispensable. Those who want to go it alone should remember the area is eroding and there is a danger of rockfalls, so stay away from cliff edges and bases where possible.

There are some lovely places to stay along the coast, including West Bay, Eype and Lyme Regis. If you’ve got time, it’s worth going slow on the hiking and building in a few days to enjoy some swimming and eating out. Seafood is a particular specialty here, thanks to the clear waters of this part of the English Channel.

Even if you don’t have time to walk the whole thing, it’s worth getting down to the Jurassic Coast for a weekend.