South West Coast Path Pictures
Dorset, England

The start/end of the South West Coast Path at Shell Bay, Dorset.

Get to the beginning of the path from either Poole or Bournemouth [100 mins by train from London] by bus to Sandbanks ferry. Don't take the bus across the ferry, the walk starts immediately on the other side of the short crossing.
Alternatively walk the 5 miles or so from Bournemouth along the delightful promenade, past all the chines and onto Sandbanks, where the ferry runs across Poole Harbour entrance.
From Poole is also a fair walk; less scenic but quite interesting, around Poole Harbour - through Poole Park, Whitecliff, Lilliput, Evening Hill, past the board surfers and onto Sandbanks peninsula.

A Dorset council map of Studland, with the South West Coast Path marked with green dashes.

Several miles of the first part of the walk will be on firm sand along Studland beaches before heading up to the clifftop at South Beach, along to Old Harry Rocks and around to Swanage.

Much of the Dorset section of the South West Coast Path will look something like this, though not neccessarily with a blue sky topping.

Traditional Dorset dry-stone walls and cow-proof gate. But what's that weird sculpture about?

It's a cow warning. Dogs and cows, especially when calves are present, are a dangerous combination. Cows will attack if they feel the little ones are endangered, so carry small dogs and find another route with big dogs.

Durlson Castle - a Victorian folly on the coast path - and its fascinating Great Globe, about 1 mile from Swanage town.

Stair Hole, Lulworth, with the SW Coast Path visible going over the hill to Durdle Door.

England Pictures | Photos of Cornwall's Coast Path

Information: UK Tourist Map | England Guide | Dorset Beaches

Dorset photos © bugbog.com