Southwest coast path passes though Dorset, the Coast Path runs through the town of Lyme Regis where the Cobb breakwater was seen in the film The French Lieutenant's Woman and features on the film's poster.[53] Further east the path passes by Golden Cap, the highest point on the south coast,[54] and on through Charmouth and West Bay (near Bridport), to Burton Bradstock at the start of Chesil Beach, an 18-mile (29 km) long tombolo. At Abbotsbury, the path leaves Chesil beach to follow the shores of the Fleet lagoon, until it reaches the terminus of Chesil beach next to the villages of Fortuneswell and Chiswell on the Isle of Portland. The path circumnavigates the Isle of Portland, passing the lighthouses at Portland Bill and the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy in Chiswell, and returns across Chesil beach to Wyke Regis and along the shores of Portland Harbour to the Nothe Fort in the resort of Weymouth.
In Weymouth the coast path runs along Weymouth Harbour and the Wey Estuary up to Radipole Lake, through the town centre to the Esplanade on the shore of Weymouth Bay, and on to Ringstead Bay, with White Nothe at its eastern end, near the village of Osmington Mills. There is an alternative route around Weymouth and Portland along the South Dorset Downs, which reduces the footpath distance by 19.25 miles (31 km). Just the loop around the Isle of Portland can be omitted, reducing the journey by 13.2 miles (21.2 km).
The Coast path then follows the shores of the Isle of Purbeck - past Bat's Head and Swyre Head, and on to Durdle Door, a natural arch which has been described as "one of Dorset's most recognisable features".[56] This lies just to the west of the Lulworth Cove, "the most visited geological locality in Britain".[57] Further east lies the ghost village of Tyneham, beside Worbarrow Bay, and Kimmeridge, next to Kimmeridge Bay, with its rocky shore and wave cut platform. Between Lulworth Cove and Kimmeridge the path passes through Lulworth Army Ranges, which are not always open to the public.[58] When the ranges are in use a 12-mile (19 km) road detour is needed.
The coast path then reaches St Alban's Head, just to the south of the village of Worth Matravers. Between St Alban's Head and the resort of Swanage is Durlston Country Park nature reserve. North of Swanage is the chalk Ballard Down, the eastern tip of which has been eroded to form Old Harry Rocks - a series of stacks, arches and caves jutting into the sea between Swanage Bay and Studland Bay. This headland marks the end of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. Behind Studland beach, an extensive system of sand dunes have formed a psammosere, stretching for miles across the Studland peninsula. The peninsula forms one shore of Poole Harbour, one of the largest natural harbours in the world. Part of Studland beach is the National Trust's only official naturist beach.[59][60] The South West Coast Path ends at South Haven Point, where there is a commemorative marker. The Sandbanks Ferry links this to the Sandbanks area of Poole on the eastern edge of the harbour.
The South West Coast Path is Britain's longest long-distance footpath and a National Trail. It stretches for 630 miles (1,014 km), running from Minehead in Somerset, along the coasts of Devon and Cornwall, to Poole Harbour in Dorset. Since it rises and falls with every river mouth, it is also one of the more challenging trails.
Lyme Regis , Charmouth , West Bay , Chesil Beach , Chesil Cove , Hallelujah Bay , Church Ope Cove , Portland Harbour Beach , Smallmouth Beach , The Fleet's Beaches , Sandsfoot Cove , Newton Cove , Weymouth Beach , Greenhill Beach , Bowleaze Cove , Ringstead Bay , Durdle Door Beach , Man of War Bay , Lulworth Cove , Mupe Bay , Worbarrow Bay , Pondfield Cove , Brandy Bay , Hobarrow Bay , Kimmeridge Bay , Chapmans Pool , Durlston Bay , Swanage Beach , Studland Beach , Shell Bay , Poole Harbour Beaches , Sandbanks Beaches , Bournemouth Beach , Bedford (Southbourne) Beach , Avon (Mudeford) Beach