The Jurassic Coast from Poole

A World Heritage coastline that starts at Old Harry Rocks, a short boat ride or a four-minute ferry from Poole.

The Jurassic Coast is a 95-mile World Heritage Site, and its eastern end is effectively on Poole's doorstep.

Old Harry Rocks

The chalk stacks beyond Studland mark where the World Heritage Site begins. Reach them on foot from Studland, about a mile and a half each way on the coast path, after a four-minute crossing on the chain ferry.

By boat

Coastal trips from Poole Quay run out through the harbour mouth and west along the cliffs. Seen from the water, Old Harry is a different proposition entirely. See boat tours.

Further west

Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door are around an hour away by road, and are the images most people picture when they hear "Jurassic Coast".

Why it matters

The cliffs expose roughly 185 million years of Earth history in sequence, Triassic through Cretaceous, which is why the designation is for geology rather than scenery.

See Dorset and countryside.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Where does the Jurassic Coast start?

At Old Harry Rocks, the chalk stacks on the headland beyond Studland, which mark the eastern end of the World Heritage Site. From Poole that is a four-minute chain ferry crossing plus a short coastal walk, or a boat trip from the Quay.

Why is the Jurassic Coast a World Heritage Site?

For its geology. The cliffs expose roughly 185 million years of the Earth's history, from the Triassic through the Jurassic to the Cretaceous, in a near-continuous sequence along 95 miles of coast.

Can you see the Jurassic Coast by boat from Poole?

Yes. Coastal trips run west from Poole Quay out past the harbour mouth to Old Harry Rocks and beyond, which is the best way to see the cliffs as they are meant to be seen.

How far is Durdle Door from Poole?

Around 25 miles by road, typically an hour or so depending on the route and the season. Lulworth Cove is next to it.

Planning your visit?

Where to stay in Poole

Sandbanks hotels, harbourside flats a street back from the Quay and the quieter beds out at Hamworthy and Broadstone, with the areas each one suits.

Where to stay →