Lovely Lulworth (Lulworth Cove)

Member Name: faders321

Product:	Lulworth Cove
Date:	02/07/08 (195 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great views and lots to do

Disadvantages: Not very acessable for the disabled

Lulworth Cove is a fantastic day out, it's part of the English south coast in-between Weymouth & Swanage. It is part of the Jurassic Coastline, one of Britain's main tourist sites. Which also includes Durdle door & Stair Hole. Lulworth Village is located a just 10 minute walk from the cove so this isn't too isolated and it can be reached by train the bus or by car.

Lulworth Cove is, as the name suggests a cove in a wonderfully beautiful shell shape. It has been formed by the sea slowly eroding the rocks within the cliffs, this has created a cove. The reason it has the edges which stick out, making it resemble a shell is because there was harder rock in those places which the sea hasn't been able to erode.

This naturally occurring phenomenon has also caused other tourist attractions within a 2km of the cove, these are Durdle Door which looks literally like a door has been cut into an piece of rock which juts out into the sea and Stair Hole, which is a small cove currently the size that Lulworth Cove would have been a few hundred years ago.

Lulworth Cove is split into three different sections. The beach is normally clear of rubbish and covered in rocks both big enough to climb over and small enough to pick up. Because it is a part of the Jurassic coastline there are also a lot of fossils, millions of years old amongst the rocks. The water itself is actually quite clear compared to most coastlines around the UK.

The water is actually quite clear compared to most beaches in the U.K although it does contain a lot of black patches which are very thick patches of seaweed under the surface. The sea is good to swim in but not barefooted as there are still a lot of rocks under the surface so be careful.

The third part of Lulworth Cove is actually on the other side of the hill to the cove, it consists of several sheer cliff faces which seem to drop straight down and twist at strange angles, they are very high and contain a lot of chalk which is easily visible where the cliffs have slipped out of their original alignment. This creates breathtaking views.

The Village of Lulworth, where you have to park your car is only a ten minute walk from the cove itself. It's a very nice little village with 17th century thatched cottages, a church, a food shop, a post office and in the car park a visitors centre where you can buy all the usual tourist items, borrow wetsuits etc and buy fossils, crystals and rocks from the local area whilst finding out all about the history of the area. You can also buy fish and chips, ice cream & wine so you won't go hungry.

There is plenty of things to do here, apart from enjoying the beautiful scenery you can also walk along the countryside paths, explore the woodland, go and see Durdle Door & Stair Hole, visit the beach and look for fossils etc, jet ski, swim or just have a picnic enjoying the views.

I went to visit Lulworth Cove with my husband, two of our friends and their kids. It was a fantastic day out, When we first arrived parking was quite easy, not only was their free parking throughout the village but there was also a car park next to the tourist centre so there was plenty of space.

First we went down to the cliff area and looked at the amazing view there, I really liked the patterns the rocks had made but it was a little high. We headed down to Durdle Door which only took about 20minutes to reach. To get to the door itself and the beach surrounding it we had to walk down some REALLY steep steps. I found that I had to step with my feet sideways as the steps were quite small and like miniature slops as the were so steep. Thankfully there was a handrail to hold onto although it was missing in some places. Our friends kids had to be carried down because it looked pretty dangerous. This is not suitable for disabled people or those who have a serious fear of heights. It was well worth the walk though, it's a fabulous sight.

After making it all the way back up the steps we headed for Lulworth cove, on the way you get a fantastic view which is well worth walking slowly to enjoy. Getting down to the beach was a lot easier than getting to Durdle Door although it would still be very difficult for disabled people. The kids were a little disappointed that there was no sand but they seemed to really enjoy looking for fossils, so did I for that matter. My husband & I managed to climb up onto one of the larger rocks and you get a beautiful view of the cove from there although you can see it all from the ground as well. Please be careful if you decide to climb rocks because it can be really dangerous.

At lunchtime we went back to the cars and got our picnic out. We found a really nice grassy area to sit and eat it in, it was great being able to eat with such a nice view, it's difficult to get a view like that in other parts of the country.

After finishing our picnic our friends & their kids went back to the beach to paddle in the sea (wearing beach shoes) and look for more fossils whilst my husband & I went to look at the boats which were dotted around the cove, we couldn't get very close to any but it's a nice romantic spot to walk round.

At about 3pm we all met up and went to the gift shop. I bought a few crystals there, I really like them and have quite an extensive collection already, the best part about them is that they are local and have come from the cove itself. My husband also bought some fossils which were local too. Our friends bought postcards and their kids bought some rock.

We wandered around having a last look about before going to get an early tea of fish & chips, which was really nice and great quality, you get to eat them in a nice picnic area with picnic tables outside. It was a really enjoyable meal.

Overall we really enjoyed our day and I would recommend it to everybody, except the disabled who may find it difficult to get around. It has stunning views and plenty to do. The perfect day out!!

Summary: A fantastic place to visit