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The coast line of East Devon and Dorset is natural and unspoilt, with
hardly any development between the few towns and villages. Its brilliantly
coloured cliffs - red shale, white chalk and yellow-buff sandstones -
are of international importance on account of the almost complete geologic
section through Mesozoic strata, in particular the Jurassic, which they
display. It was at Lyme Regis that Mary Anning made an extensive collection
of dinosaur fossils, and ammonite fossils can still be found (to see picture
on our Location Map page click here).
Scenic highlights include the jungle-like Undercliff, west of Lyme and
the long curving shingle bar of Chesil Bank between Abbotsbury and Portland.
In recognition of the unique landscape and geology of the East Devon and
Dorset coast, the UN cultural and scientific branch UNESCO in 2001
declared this coastline the first World Heritage Site for natural features
on the British mainland. The crest of the coastal cliffs is closely followed
by the South-West Coast Path national long distance trail, making this
coast easily accessible to hikers and walkers.
The settlements along the way are full of character: the genteel Victorian
seaside resort of Sidmouth, the pretty village of Beer where the fishing
boats are winched up the shingle beach, Lyme Regis with its steep streets
and mediaeval 'Cobb' (harbour wall), Abbotsbury with its tithe barn and
swannery (both mediaeval) and 15th C St Catherine's chapel, the busy harbour
of Weymouth. This south-facing coast is known for its mild and sunny climate
and is a good place to hike at any time of year. Route-finding is easy
with our detailed route descriptions, and the days of 12 to 20km (8 to
12 miles) are not strenuous, although there are frequent steep gradients
both up and down. The tour is suitable for reasonably fit hikers with
little or no previous experience of walking tours.
Reading. The mediaeval harbour or 'Cobb' of Lyme Regis has inspired
novelists from Jane Austen (Persuasion) to John Fowles (The
French Lieutenant's Woman). Thomas Hardy's light novel The Trumpet
Major is set in Georgian Weymouth, while his more epic The Well-Beloved
is set among the limestone quarries of Portland.
What a previous customer told us about our Heritage Coast tour:
‘Lovely views and countryside, well-planned walks – just the right
length and time for us.’ - A and S Harper, July 2006.
Jurassic Heritage Coast of Devon and Dorset
- tour details 2008
A Discerning Traveller self-led hiking holiday
Duration. 5 or 8 nights. Tour code: E5 (Exmouth to Lyme
Regis) E8 (Exmouth to Lulworth Cove).
Dates. Start any date April to mid-October. During some periods
accommodation can be heavily booked. Please give alternative dates if
possible.
Grade. Easy/Moderate. Daily distances range up to 20km/13 miles.
Some gradients on the coastal paths are steep and strenuous. However most
days can readily be shortened by using buses or taxis. Route-finding is
generally easy.
Train stations. E5: start of tour Exmouth, end of tour Axminster.
E8: end of tour wool.
Train service. Exmouth is reached by train from London Waterloo
or Paddington, changing trains at Exeter, about 10 trains per day, journey
time 3 hours. Axminster is linked by direct trains with London Waterloo,
journey time about 3 hours. Dorchester South and Wool are linked by direct
trains with London Waterloo, hourly service, journey time about 2.5 hours.
Airports. The nearest international airports are London Heathrow
and Southampton.
Overnight stops. E5: night 1 Exmouth ; 2 Sidmouth; 3 Beer; 4 &
5 Lyme Regis. E8: night 1 Exmouth ; 2 Sidmouth; 3 Beer; 4 Lyme
Regis; 5 Bridport/West Bay; 6 Abbotsbury; 7 Portland; 8 West Lulworth/Lulworth
Cove.
Accommodation. Specially selected guest houses or 'B&Bs'. En suite
or private facilities can be guaranteed throughout the tour on payment
of a supplement. Please enquire for details.
Meals included. Breakfast each morning; other meals can be obtained
locally without pre-booking.
Extra nights. These can be included at any point on the tour at
the time of booking the holiday. A second night at Lyme Regis is already
included on tour E5, and is also recommended for E8. On E8 we also recommend
a second night at Portland, which gives an opportunity to walk the cliff
path to Portland Bill, visit the busy fishing harbour at Weymouth, or
to visit the magnificent iron age hill fort at Maiden Castle. Please enquire
re price of extra nights at any point: we charge cost price plus a small
commission.
Extension along Dorset Coast Path from Lulworth Cove to Poole.
Eastwards from Lulworth Cove the World Heritage Coast and Dorst Coast
Path extend for another 2.5 days (3 nights) walking to Poole. Because
the first day of this extension crosses a military firing zone it is only
open on certain days. Please ask us if you are interested in this extension.
We also offer a separate 5 or 7 night tour called 'Dorset
Coast Path Path and Purbeck Ridgeway' which includes both coastal
and inland routes between Lulworth and Poole.
Factsheet. These are more detailed information sheets, one for
each route, which should be obtained from The Discerning Traveller before
booking. The Factsheet code for our World Heritage Coast of Devon and
Dorset tour is FSE. See Enquiry
form
Top of page
World Heritage Coast of Devon and
Dorset - tour prices 2008
- E5 (5 night tour). £360. Single room supplement: £70.
Single traveller supplement: £85.
- E8 (8 night tour). £500. Single room supplement:
£100. Single traveller supplement: £130.
- Extra nights on E5 and E8: £40 per person per night.
- E5E (5 night tour, en-suite or private facilities throughout:
£400. Single room supplement: £90. Single traveller supplement: £105.
E8E (8 night tour, en-suite or private facilities throughout): £540.
Single room supplement: £120. Single traveller supplement:
£150.
- Extra nights on E5E and E8E: £45 per person per night.
- Note 1. Maximum of 1 single room per booking.
- Note 2: Extra night prices may be higher for single rooms.
- Note 3: This tour is available for single travellers paying the
single traveller supplement rate.
- Prices quoted are per person on basis of two people in double or twin-bedded
rooms. Included in the price are bed and breakfast each night, with
baggage transfers, maps and route directions. ‘ES’ (en suite) facilities
means that there is a private bathroom with shower or tub and toilet
within the main door of your room. ‘Private facilities’ means that the
private bathroom may be outside the main door of your room. When the
booking is made for a party of 3 or 5 customers, a single room supplement
is payable. When the booking is made for a single traveller, a single
traveller supplement is payable.
We also offer coastal walking tours in eastern Dorset
(Purbeck), 2 tours in Cornwall
(Land's End and Tintagel
Coast) and in Pembrokeshire.
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About our self-led walking tours
The Discerning Traveller home
and index page.
Our postal address is The Discerning Traveller,
24 Cardigan Street, OXFORD OX2 6BP, United Kingdom.
Telephone and fax 0(044) 1865 515618. E-mail:info@discerningtraveller.co.uk
www.discerningtraveller.co.uk
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