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Jurassic Coast Weekend 3 days • UK

Trek
Trek Camping
Camping Terrain
Terrain YELLOW 3
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About the Challenge

Stretching between Old Harry Rocks in Dorset, to Orcombe Point in East Devon, the Jurassic Coast – England’s first Natural World Heritage Site – is the most geologically diverse coastline in the world. The exposed cliff sections allow you to look back through 185 million years of time; dinosaur remains have been found here, and it’s a fossil-hunter’s paradise. With a more recent history of mining, shipwrecks and smuggling, this is a fascinating stretch of coastline.

Over two days, we trek a section of approx. 23 miles, taking in some of the Jurassic Coast's most dramatic scenery, including the renowned natural stone archway of Durdle Door and beautiful circular Lulworth Cove. Our route is strenuous, and there's very little flat as we hike up and down the steep hills and headlands that make this coastline so beautiful! We camp at a lovely campsite a short distance from our route.

Dates & Prices

Beccy - September 2020

I had a fantastic weekend completing the Jurassic Coast Challenge. It was the perfect mix of tough trekking, beautiful scenery and chatting to lovely people. Can’t wait to plan the next one!

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Itinerary

Jurassic Coast Weekend


OPEN • 3 DAYS

  • We meet at our campsite near Wool, Dorset, for a trek briefing, and get to know the rest of the group over dinner and an evening in camp.

    There will be transport arranged to pick you up from Wool railway station if required.

  • After a good breakfast, we transfer (approx. 30 mins) to Durlston Head, a Country Park on the cliffs above Swanage. Setting off, we can pause at the impressive Globe, an enormous limestone sphere engraved with an 1880s world map. There are fabulous views from the Globe, which accompany us as we walk west along the hilly coastline. This area was long used for mining famous Purbeck Marble and Portland Stone, which is evident from the old quarries other remains we pass. The stone was often lowered by crane and taken away by boat, and you can still see ‘rut-ways’ cut into the rock-bed at spots like the beautiful Dancing Ledge. Smuggling stories abound in this area and the rocky coastline had a large number of shipwrecks.

    We continue west, over slopes cut into distinctive lynchets, or terraces, dating from medieval times, enabling the steep slopes to be farmed. Seagulls, cormorants and guillemots wheel overhead and wild flowers grow in abundance. Our route dips down to reveal small bays and ledges with access to the sea, before climbing sharply up again … and again, and again! Finally we see Kimmeridge Bay in the distance, with the distinctive Clavell Tower, and our route flattens out a little. The bay is home to the most amazing rock-pool and, tide permitting, there will be time for a paddle or to look for fossils before we are transported back to our campsite (approx. 20 mins).

    Trek approx 12.5 miles / 20.1km

  • After breakfast we set out to rejoin the coastal path and continue walking west. It’s not long before we enter Lulworth Ranges – land used as Army firing ranges. Not always open, this region is abundant in flora and fauna that, despite the military presence, has been protected from the development of farming, building and roads. It’s also notable for its steep sections as we follow the contours of the cliffs, but the remarkable views over Worbarrow Bay are worth the effort! Time permitting, we can detour inland to the poignant village of Tyneham, deserted in the 1940s when the War Office commandeered the land. The church and schoolhouse are now museums, and many houses remain. The villagers were not permitted to return once the war had ended.

    Continuing, there are more steep sections before us, but we are approaching famous Lulworth Cove, and our first view of this almost perfectly circular bay is breath-taking. Formed by glacial waters melting on the way out to sea, this area of the Jurassic Coast is a geologist’s dream. We have time to take in the amazing twisted rock layers around the cove before conquering our last steep uphill, over the white crumbling limestone cliffs that take us to Durdle Door, a clear arch in the rock carved out by the pounding waves. The sea is remarkably clear here, and it’s an outstandingly beautiful place to finish our tough weekend’s trek. After a group photograph at the finish point, we transfer back to our campsite to pack up and head for home after an exhausting but exhilarating weekend!

    Trek approx 9.8 miles / 15.7km

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Dates & Prices

Prices may vary depending on date.

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WHAT'S INCLUDED

  • All food, accommodation and camping equipment
  • Transfers within trek
  • Discover Adventure leaders; cooks and drivers
  • Full vehicle support
  • Optional pick-ups or drop offs from Wool Railway Station

WHAT'S EXCLUDED

  • Travel insurance (optional)
  • Personal items such as drinks, snacks and souvenirs
  • Sleeping bag and sleeping mat
  • Transport to/from the event
  • Entry to any optional sites or activities
  • Any applicable surcharges as per Terms and Conditions

On the Trip

  • Your trip will be led by experienced Discover Adventure leaders and support crew. Our leaders are selected for their knowledge and experience, friendliness and approachability, sense of humour and ability to safely and effectively deal with any situation that arises; they are also trained in first aid. You are in very safe hands with a Discover Adventure leader. The crew will have mobile phones and/or radios where appropriate, medical kit and other safety apparatus where necessary, as well as vehicle support.

  • Your safety, and that of the rest of the group, is our highest priority. Our trips are designed and planned with safety in mind. Your crew will be equipped with communication devices (eg phones, radios and/or emergency satellite phones), medical kit and other safety apparatus appropriate to the destination. Our leaders always have access to our 24-hour emergency UK back-up. They are responsible for safety on the trip, and will make any changes to the itinerary they deem necessary, should local conditions dictate. Pre-trip administration - such as medical questionnaires and travel insurance as appropriate - is all done with your safety in mind.

  • We camp in shared two-man expedition-style tents (ie sleeping-room only!) There are ‘glamping’ options (shepherd huts / tepees) should you wish to upgrade; these are limited in number and available on a first-come first-served basis once you have booked

  • Our trips are sold on a shared accommodation basis, usually twin-share. Occasionally we may use hostel-style accommodation.
    You can tell us if you are travelling with someone else on the trip when you book or within your passenger portal, and we will do all we can to accommodate this request. It is important that both people complete the room share request on their bookings. For customers booking and travelling together, including same-sex couples, a double bed can be requested if available.
    If you're not familiar with anyone in the group, rest assured, we always pair you with someone of the same gender (as per the information you provided when booking, or passport markers), and a similar age where possible. We're actively working to improve our system's gender restrictions to be more inclusive, and we've recently made significant strides in this area. If you identify differently from the gender marker on your passport and would like to discuss this before booking, please feel free to reach out to us.

  • In most standard hotels, we can usually offer a limited number of single rooms. This is upon request, on a first-come, first-served basis, and additional charges apply. In more communal accommodation, single rooms are rarely an option.

    When it comes to tent sharing, we do not offer a single option unless there are exceptional circumstances, for logistical and safety reasons.

    We do not charge a single supplement if you are a solo traveller in a shared room.

  • The food provided is plentiful and will give you plenty of energy. Where lunch is included, it may be a buffet-style lunch-stop, or a packed lunch. Dinners and breakfasts are generally eaten at our accommodation. Being vegetarian or having other dietary requirements is not usually a problem provided you let us know well in advance. If you know there are plenty of foods you cannot eat you may wish to bring extra snacks from home so you can top up your energy supply.

  • Your main luggage will remain at our accommodation (camp, hostel or hotel as appropriate) and you will not have access to it until the end of each day. You should carry a small daypack for items needed during the day.

Preparing for the Challenge

  • This is designed to be a challenge, and it is vital that you train sufficiently for it. We will supply you with a thorough training guide once you have registered. We expect all participants to train hard in advance, but we respect everyone’s limits and do not expect everyone to maintain the same pace. Inadequate training is likely to have an impact not just on your chances of completing the challenge, but enjoying it too - and we want you to have the time of your life!

    Our challenges attract people of all levels of experience, fitness and ability as well as all ages and backgrounds. We design our challenges so that everyone can go at their own pace: this is not a race. If you have concerns about your fitness or if you have reduced mobility please do contact us for a confidential chat about whether this challenge is appropriate for you.

    For logistical and safety reasons we sometimes need to re-group, so the front-runners may find themselves waiting for the slower ones. Please relax, and remember that this is a team effort that enables people to achieve their personal goals and earn sponsorship.

  • We plan our trips around the optimal weather conditions, but could still be exposed to bad weather at any time. It is vital you are prepared for all conditions. We provide you with a detailed packing kit-list on registration, with plenty of information, and we are always available if you need advice.

  • Travel insurance for UK weekends and one-day events is not compulsory but you might like to consider taking out cover in case of cancellation or loss of belongings.

    Once your travel insurance is arranged, just remember to let us know the policy number and 24-hr medical emergency phone number provided by your insurers.

  • In the unfortunate circumstance that you need to cancel your booking, we would ask that you notify us in writing either by email or post.  Your cancellation will be considered effective from the date the notice is received. Registration, administration and amendment fees are non refundable and, depending on your payment option and how close it is to your challenge departure date, you may be liable for a cancellation charge.

    Full details of all cancellation charges may be found in the Terms and Conditions of booking.

  • Your booking is part of a group challenge, and the tour costs and fundraising targets listed on our website are based on a minimum number of participants which is shown on the challenge  Our typical groups run with approximately 15-25 participants; however you may find your group is smaller or larger than this.

    We will confirm at least 12 weeks prior to departure that your challenge is guaranteed to run. Occasionally it may be possible to still run the challenge with less than the minimum numbers, subject to a small group supplement.  If we think a small group supplement may be necessary, we will discuss this with you as soon as possible, usually 5 months before your departure date. 

    Minimum numbers and groups sizes may vary on Bespoke Charity challenges.  If you are booked onto a bespoke challenge please contact your charity for full details.

  • We have a Passenger Portal which will give you more details of the challenge itself. It also enables you to see any outstanding information we need, the countdown to your challenge departure, see your outstanding balance, make payments and update your contact details. You can access this via the following link - Passenger Portal Log in.

    We have a passenger portal which will enable you to see any outstanding information we need, the countdown to your challenge departure, see your outstanding balance, make payments and update your contact details. You can access this via the following link - Passenger Portal Log in.

The DA Ethos

  • We believe that travel is a force for good, and it should be safe and accessible for everyone to take on any of our adventures, regardless of sexuality, gender, race or religion. We are committed to ensuring our travellers face no discrimination on any part of the trip we control. However, we operate in some parts of the world that are less accepting. We encourage customers to be aware of local laws and customs in their destinations for their safety and comfort.
    We don’t tolerate any form of discrimination, violence or harassment, either between travellers or involving our leaders, partners or local people. Any behaviour that disrespects our customers, leaders or local communities, makes others feel unsafe or breaks local laws may result in removal from a trip or denying their booking.

  • We are committed to an ethos of responsible travel here at Discover Adventure; this means sustainable tourism, ethical travel, community engagement, cultural respect, wildlife protection, fair trade practices, carbon footprint reduction and more. We have been on a 30-year journey with this as one of our core principles, and it continues to evolve; you can keep up to date with what we are up to and what all of this translates into on a DA trip here.
    From 2024, we will offset our entire carbon footprint, including the flights, via a carbon credit scheme (see more here). We must do all we can to be on the right side of history. Our offsetting brings peace of mind to many of our customers, but we think it is essential that our customers are aware of their impact; with this in mind, we encourage our participants to donate to World Land Trust’s Buy an Acre project when they book an adventure.

  • Our brilliant group dynamic is fundamental to us. We have become synonymous with it over our 30 years of adventure: the supportive nature and group camaraderie are always listed as one of the trip highlights in our feedback. You’ll meet people of widely varying backgrounds, motivations and experiences. Under these unique circumstances, you are more likely to open up about your story and form lifelong friendships. You’ll likely find something that resonates with everyone in the group. This is a unique way of travelling, after all, and that’s what brings you all together.
    We have travellers from 18 – 80 across all of our challenges, with the average age of our participants being in the mid-40s.
  • Many people opt to take on our adventures on their own – maybe they are keen to do something for themselves, love to travel this way or feel that this is an important part of the challenge. The great news is, you’re never really a ‘solo traveller’ when you travel with us as you’re travelling with a group of like-minded people, all ready to take on the adventure of a lifetime by your side.
    Unlike many travel companies, we do not apply a single supplement to your booking unless you request a single room. You will be placed into a room-share arrangement with someone of the same gender (as per the information you provided when booking, or passport markers), and a similar age where possible.

  • Over the years, people with wide-ranging abilities have achieved personal goals on our adventures that they may have previously assumed were out of their reach.
    We must be aware of any circumstances that may affect your ability to take on the trip, whether you have concerns about fitness, health conditions or disability. This way, we can ensure we are providing the best advice and support. You will be asked to sign a medical declaration upon booking.

    Whilst we will always try our best for you, by the nature of adventure, not all of our challenges are accessible, and we are not an operator specifically offering adapted adventures. If you would like to have a confidential chat with the team about anything before booking, please give us a call or an email; we will be more than happy to help.

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