Durlston Country Park and Anvil Point Lighthouse
Dorset
Durlston Country Park covers 320 acres of clifftop grassland and woodland on the Isle of Purbeck, a National Nature Reserve on the Jurassic Coast just south of Swanage, where a wide lower path gives a dog good freedom away from the unfenced clifftop edge. The Victorian entrepreneur George Burt built the castellated Durlston Castle here in the 1890s, along with the 40 tonne Great Globe of Portland stone that sits nearby. This walk of around 3.7km leaves the car park, passes the castle and joins the South West Coast Path along the clifftop to Durlston Head, then continues past Tilly Whim Caves to Anvil Point, where a lighthouse has warned ships off the ledges since 1881, before looping back through the park's woodland. There is around 135 metres of climbing, on a mix of tarmac, gravel and grass paths.
This is a dog friendly walk throughout the park, with a wide lower path giving good freedom for a dog with reliable recall away from the cliffs. The clifftop itself is unfenced, so keep dogs close or on a lead near the edge, and clip on if they will not come back immediately when called. Well behaved dogs on a lead are also welcome in Durlston Castle, the visitor centre and the cafe. There is no livestock on the reserve. Waste bins are dotted throughout the park, and there is a wooded section away from the cliff edge that suits nervous dogs better than the open clifftop.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 3.7 km (2.3 miles)
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Duration
- 1 hr 15 min
- Walk Type
- Coastal, Historic
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- Moderate
- Livestock Risk
- None
- Facilities
- Cafe, toilets and visitor centre near the car park; dogs on a lead welcome in the castle, visitor centre and cafe.
- Parking
- Durlston Country Park car park, pay and display, off Lighthouse Road, Swanage.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Durlston Country Park and Anvil Point Lighthouse, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
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All dog friendly stays in DorsetFrequently Asked Questions
Is Durlston Country Park and Anvil Point Lighthouse dog friendly?
Yes, Durlston Country Park is a welcoming spot for dogs throughout its 320 acres of clifftop grassland and woodland on the Jurassic Coast. Well-behaved dogs on a lead are even welcome inside Durlston Castle, the visitor centre and the cafe, and waste bins are dotted throughout the park.
Can dogs be off lead at Durlston Country Park and Anvil Point Lighthouse?
There is a wide lower path that gives dogs with reliable recall good freedom to roam away from the clifftop edge. The clifftop itself is unfenced, so you should keep your dog close or on a lead near the edge, and clip on if they won't come back immediately when called — the drop is unforgiving.
What should I know before visiting Durlston Country Park and Anvil Point Lighthouse with my dog?
There is no livestock on the reserve, which is a bonus, and the wooded section of the park away from the cliff edge is a good option if your dog finds open clifftops unsettling. The walk covers around 3.7km with about 135 metres of climbing on a mix of tarmac, gravel and grass paths, so it's worth coming prepared with water for your dog. Parking is pay and display at the Durlston Country Park car park off Lighthouse Road, Swanage.
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