Dorset towns

Bournemouth | Lyme Regis | Poole | Weymouth |

Neighbouring counties

Dorset, England, UK Shore

The Dorset coastline is notable for it's 'Jurassic Coast' designation. The Dorset and East Devon 'Jurassic Coast' World Heritage Site is England's first natural UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) World Heritage Site. It covers 95 miles of beautiful and varied coastline from East Devon to Dorset (stretching from Orcombe Point near Exmouth in East Devon to Old Harry Rocks near Swanage in East Dorset), with rock cliffs recording 185 million years of history spanning the Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous and Mesozoic periods.

Erosion of the cliffs, beaches, and sea stacks gives a ready supply of fossils to the beaches, particularly along the West Dorset coastal area.

Notable natural coastal features in Dorset include the imposing natural arch at Durdle Door, the cove and limestone rocks at Lulworth Cove and the nearby Isle of Portland.

Coastal towns and cities within Dorset include Poole, Weymouth and Bournemouth.