Lulworth Cove
Lulworth Cove seen from the green, the stream, the old duck pond and Hambury Tout
Lulworth Cove is the most popular attraction for visitors to this part of Dorset. The Cove is about 425 m by 200 m and 12 m deep in the middle, dropping to about 20m outside the entrance. The water is clear but cold, typically 15 C in the summer, fed by a stream and fresh water run-off from the base of Bindon Hill through the shingle beach. The car park holds many hundreds of cars and it can be very busy on a summer day. The beach can be crowded, especially at high tide when the sea sometimes reaches to the base of the cliffs.
The village is in two parts, West Lulworth and Lulworth Cove, separated by a hundred metres or so of meadows. There are all the amenities that visitors expect: a thatched pub about 3/4 mile up the road, hotels, bars and restaurants near the Cove of varying standards and styles. There's also a fish and chip shop, Dorset cream teas all over the place, several fast food outlets, lobsters and seafood from a fisherman's hut, trips round the bay, bric-a-brac, seasonal clothes, water sports, cafes and fast food outlets and public facilities. Lulworth Cove is no longer the quaint, isolated fishing village of bygone days, but the surroundings and coastal views are outstanding.
Much of Lulworth, including the car park, is owned by the Weld Estate, Lulworth.com. Lulworth Castle, located three miles towards Wareham at East Lulworth, is worth a visit. The Estate organise many activities and entertainments throughout the year such as jousting, horse shows, outdoor jazz, blues, folk and classical concerts, against the back-drop of the Castle - take a picnic and a drink to these first-class events with children welcome.
There are many secluded and beautiful places within a fifteen minute walk of the Cove car park, which few visitors discover: Fiddler's Green, Dungy Head, St. Oswald's Bay, Man O'War, Scratchy Bottom, Bats Head and several quiet beaches inaccessible at high tide. Bacon Hole with the Smugglers Cave and Mupes Bay are well worth the walk, passing the Fossil Forest on the way.