St Oswald's Bay

The walk down to St Oswald's Bay from West Lulworth is proper coastal drama - you're descending through chalk grassland with the English Channel suddenly opening up below you. The bay itself is a horseshoe of golden sand and grey-white cliffs, and the whole spot feels quieter than Durdle Door, which sits just to the east. It's genuinely worth the effort if you've got an hour to spare and reasonable legs.

What you're looking at is geology and nothing else - there's no cafe, no facilities, no touristy nonsense. Walkers absolutely get the most from this; the clifftop path gives you proper views across Lulworth Cove and beyond, and the descent rewards you with a beach that feels properly remote even in summer. Kids will manage the walk if they're used to hills, but it's not a gentle slope - you earn your swim here.

The real appeal is escaping the crowds. Everyone heads to Durdle Door's iconic arch, but St Oswald's remains relatively peaceful. You can paddle, scramble on rocks, and sit with your packed lunch while looking at some of the Jurassic Coast's most dramatic geology. Allow at least two hours return if you're walking from Lulworth village.

If you're camped at Durdle Door Holiday Park - literally a stone's throw away - you've got no excuse for missing this. It's free, it's unfussy, and it's the kind of place that reminds you why Dorset's clifftops are worth more than a quick Instagram stop.