Dorset Short Break
Book your short walking break in Dorset and follow this stunning leg of the South West Coast Path.
Dorset Short Break
https://www.contours.co.uk/Dorset-Short-Break
A selection of short walking holidays along the iconic South West Coast Path
From £350 per person
The below routes have been devised by Contours to give our walkers the chance to enjoy a taste of the world-famous South West Coast Path. Those with less available time can complete one of these short breaks in just a few days, while others may wish to try a short stretch of the trail before tackling a full section, making these walks an ideal starting point for building your confidence.
Each South West Coast Path Taster Break offers its own unique ambience, fascinating history and fantastic sights to discover. Learn more by selecting a route below.
Dogs are welcome on select routes along this trail. Look for the pawprint icon when choosing your holiday.
From £500 per person
The perfect quick getaway to explore the Dorset coastline. This shortened itinerary showcases the best highlights of the region, including the sandy beach and chalk-white cliffs of Lulworth Cove and the mesmerising arch of Durdle Door.
The fossil museum at Kimmeridge gives these landscapes a good deal of context. It marks the walk’s progression onto a rollercoaster of ascents and descents: a healthy challenge that rewards you well with fine views from Durlston Head.
Code | Tour | Duration | Price per person | |
---|---|---|---|---|
DORSB | From Weymouth to Swanage | 3 days walking | £500 |
Code | Tour | Duration | Price per person | |
---|---|---|---|---|
CACNSB | From Clovelly(L) to Bude | 3 days walking | £480 |
Please Note: The Dorset Taster Break goes through the Lulworth Ranges. These are normally open most weekends and around Easter, May Bank Holiday, Spring Bank Holiday and most of the summer period.
If your walk between Lulworth Cove and Kimmeridge falls when the ranges are closed, it will be necessary to take a detour inland. There are various options available for this detour and all of them are given in our information pack.
More information on the Lulworth Ranges can be found on the MOD website. Before booking please check that the ranges will be open. A list of opening times can be reached by clicking here.
Travel to Weymouth where your first night's accommodation will be booked
Weymouth to Lulworth Cove. 12 miles (19.5km) / 1729 ft (527 m) ascent
Lulworth Cove to Kimmeridge(L). 7.5 miles (12km) / 1752 ft (534 m) ascent
Kimmeridge(L) to Swanage. 14.5 miles (23km) / 1932 ft (589 m) ascent
Depart from Swanage after breakfast
This itinerary lists our preferred overnight stops for this tour. Sometimes there may be a shortage of available accommodation in a preferred location, in which case we will transfer you from the trail to your accommodation and back again at no extra charge. Overnight stops marked with a (T) will always require transfers as standard.
Overnight stops marked with an (L) have very limited accommodation, and therefore more often than not will also require a transfer, particularly on bank holidays and weekends. We will use non-transfer accommodation wherever possible.
The daily mileages quoted are average trail miles only and do not include the distance from the trail to your accommodation. We do not expect you to have to travel more than a mile from the trail to your accommodation in most cases; should your accommodation be further than this, transfers will be provided as standard if practical. A very limited number of stops will require you to travel on foot up to two miles off the trail, however these instances will be clearly communicated to you if applicable.
Further transfers may also be required due to some accommodations having a two-night minimum booking policy, especially at weekends.
Below are the additional costs that may apply depending on your requirements. Dog-friendly tours are subject to a Daily Dog Charge, which will be listed below if applicable. Our standard prices per person are based upon two people sharing a room; if you are on your own, or are part of a group but require a room of your own, then the Solo Traveller or Single Supplements apply respectively:
You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:
Learning about the fascinating geological history of the Jurassic Coast.
Wandering along a mixture of sandy beaches and clifftop paths, and breathing in the fresh sea air.
Admiring the break-taking scenery from a range of viewpoints, and spotting the famous Durdle Door after Swyre Head.
You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:
To find out more about the weather forecast for your chosen holiday's general location, please see the following websites: