British Beaches

Visitor information for every beach in the UK

"Where the sea meets the moon-blanched land"

Durdle Door East Beach

Dorset, England

☆☆☆☆☆
Rate this beach!
Approximate Location Map

Use two fingers to pan or zoom the map

Durdle Door East Beach, a picturesque cove on the Dorset coast, is renowned for its iconic limestone arch and stunning natural beauty.

Durdle Door East Beach is a narrow strand of mixed shingle, gravel, and sand, forming part of the Lulworth Estate and the Purbeck Heritage Coast. The beach is approximately 580 metres wide and is backed by high cliffs. The eastern end of the beach, known as Durdle Door Cove, is protected by the magnificent limestone arch, while the rest of the beach is partially sheltered by a submerged offshore reef.

The main feature of this iconic cove is the limestone arch, which separates Durdle Door from Man o'War Bay. The arch was formed by thousands of years of pounding waves sweeping against the headland. The beach is also known for its high limestone cliffs, which are part of the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Fossils such as ammonites and belemnites can be found along this stretch, although visitors are advised to exercise caution under the cliffs due to occasional rock falls.

During the summer months, the crystal-clear waters make the beach a popular spot for swimmers and snorkelers. However, there is no lifeguard on duty, and children need to be closely supervised as the sand in the bay shelves suddenly in places. The beach is also a great spot for relaxation, with a pay-and-display car park at the cliff top and toilets with disabled facilities available at the nearby Durdle Door Holiday Park from March to October.

The beach is owned by the Welds family, who own 12,000 acres in Dorset as part of the Lulworth Estate. The estate is open to the public, and the beach is dog-friendly all year round. Visitors can reach the beach by walking over the cliff from Lulworth Cove, and the area offers plenty of walks with well-signposted footpaths, including the South West Coast Path.

Durdle Door East Beach is on the Purbeck Heritage Coast and the Jurassic Coast, and adjacent to the South West Coast Path.

Shingle

Weather and tides for Monday 5 October

Today
Chance of rain %
Max temperature 20°C
feels like 22°C
Wind 6mph
Max UV Index
Tonight
Chance of rain %
Min temperature 11°C
feels like 11°C
Wind 4mph

The tide at Durdle Door East Beach is currently falling. Low tide will be at approximately 7:21 AM, and the next low tide will be at approximately 7:21 AM.

Today's air pollution levels are forecast to be Low

Detailed weather and tides »

Other beaches nearby

Upload Photo

Location: Lulworth Cove

Location type: Village

OS Grid: SY804802

Coordinates: 50°37'19"N 2°16'39"W

Mapcode: GBR 10Q.T4M

What 3 Words: vowing.petrified.documents

Coordinates and location codes are for an approximate mid-point of the beach, and may not reflect the best access point or the most popular part of the beach.

County: Dorset

Country: England

Local Authority: Purbeck

Parish: West Lulworth

Nearest postcode: BH20 5PU

(for sat-nav purposes only, a beach does not have a postal address!)

Important! Beach information is compiled from a variety of different sources and is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of compilation. However, information may be incorrectly supplied by our sources or go out of date after publication. BritishBeaches.uk makes no warranty as to the accuracy of any information on this page.

Visitor information for Durdle Door East Beach, Dorset, England. Weather, tides, visitor comments, beach facilities, photos, nearest postcode, beach information and nearby accommodation.

British Beaches is a Good Stuff website.

216.73.216.115 Mon, 05 Oct 2026 06:36:52 +0100