Dorset Trail Running

Run the Dorset section of the South West Coast path - 75 miles from Lyme Regis to Poole. We provide accommodation, luggage transfer, maps and guidebooks.

Code	Tour	Duration	Difficulty	Price per person
R-DOR1	From Lyme Regis to Sandbanks, Poole Harbour(T)	4 nights, 3 days running	Moderate / Demanding	£460
R-DOR2	From Lyme Regis to Sandbanks, Poole Harbour(T)	5 nights, 4 days running	Moderate	£570
R-DOR3	From Lyme Regis to Sandbanks, Poole Harbour(T)	7 nights, 6 days running	Easy / Moderate	£745

Important information

Please Note: The Dorset Coast Path goes through the Lulworth Ranges. These are normally open most weekends and around Easter, May Bank Holiday, Spring Bank Holiday and most of the summer period.

If your run between Lulworth Cove and Kimmeridge falls when the ranges are closed, it will be necessary to take a detour inland. There are various options available for this detour and all of them are given in our information pack.

More information on the Lulworth Ranges can be found on the MOD website. Before booking please check that the ranges will be open. A list of opening times can be reached by clicking here.

Additionally: The South West Coast Path concludes at Sandbanks, after a short ferry ride over from Shell Bay. After disembarking from the ferry, you will be taken by taxi to your final night's accommodation, either in Poole or Bournemouth. The cost of this transfer is included in the cost of your tour.

Start

Travel to Lyme Regis where your first night's accommodation has been booked

Day 1

Lyme Regis to Abbotsbury. 20.5 miles (33km) / 2671 ft (814 m) ascent

Day 2

Abbotsbury to Lulworth Cove. 25.5 miles (41km) / 2595 ft (791 m) ascent

Day 3

Lulworth Cove to Sandbanks, Poole Harbour(T). 30 miles (48km) / 4236 ft (1291 m) ascent

Finish

Depart from Sandbanks, Poole Harbour(T) after breakfast

Your Itinerary

This itinerary lists our preferred overnight stops for this tour. Sometimes there may be a shortage of available accommodation in a preferred location, in which case we will transfer you from the trail to your accommodation and back again at no extra charge. Overnight stops marked with a (T) will always require transfers as standard.

Overnight stops marked with an (L) have very limited accommodation, and therefore more often than not will also require a transfer, particularly on bank holidays and weekends. We will use non-transfer accommodation wherever possible.

The daily mileages quoted are average trail miles only and do not include the distance from the trail to your accommodation. We do not expect you to have to travel more than a mile from the trail to your accommodation; should your accommodation be further than this, transfers will be provided as standard.

Below are the additional costs that may apply depending on your requirements. Dog-friendly tours are subject to a Daily Dog Charge, which will be listed below if applicable. Our standard prices per person are based upon two people sharing a room; if you are on your own, or are part of a group but require a room of your own, then the Solo Traveller or Single Supplements apply respectively:

A note about transfers

£50.00 per person / per night

£45.00 per person / per night

You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:

£65.00 per person / per night

£70.00 per person / per night

What's included?

4 nights' accommodation in en-suite rooms (where available) in selected B&B’s, hotels, inns and guesthouses along the trail, or a short distance away via taxi provided at our expense.
Breakfast each day.
Door to door luggage transfer.
Maps with the route marked on and a guidebook or route notes describing the trail.
An information pack containing an itinerary, instructions on how to find your accommodation each night and a kit list.
Detailed travel instructions on how to get to the start of your holiday and back from the end of it.

Extra Nights & Rest Days

An extra night gives you the chance to explore some of the towns and villages along the trail or to simply relax and give those weary legs a rest.

Lyme Regis, with its beautiful harbour, fascinating museum and parish church with its amazingly large chained bible, is a good choice for an extra night.

Poole is a fantastic option for an extra night or two, and would make for the perfect end to your holiday. With its rich history and wealth of fine buildings, including the beautiful Old Town and a variety of museums to visit, Poole is a fantastic resort for budding historians and those wanting to learn more about the town?s fascinating heritage. As well as all of the usual amenities, those seeking more active pursuits can take advantage of a range of attractions including water parks, Jet Ski hire, animal parks and even a Go Ape treetop adventure site.

You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:

£65.00 per person / per night

£70.00 per person / per night

Tour Facts

Total distance: 79.5 miles (127 km)
Duration: 4 nights, 3 days running
Minimum daily distance: 20.5 miles (33 km)
Maximum daily distance: 30 miles (48 km)
Code: R-DOR1 Grade: Moderate / Demanding
Season: 1st March - 31st October
Start of holiday: Lyme Regis
End of holiday: Sandbanks, Poole Harbour(T)

Route Profile

Travel Information

Useful information and travel links that will assist you in your plans to travel to the start of the holiday and back from the end of it are sent to you with your full tour pack. A summary is given below:

By Air - The most convenient major city and international airports are Exeter and Bristol.

By Rail - The nearest rail station to the start of the trail (Lyme Regis) is at Axminster (about 6 miles away). There is a rail station at the end of the trail (Poole, or at nearby Bournemouth). The most convenient station will depend on where your accommodation is booked.

By Bus - Buses run to Lyme Regis from Axminster Monday to Saturday only, so a taxi would be required on a Sunday. Various buses run from Poole or Bournemouth. There is also a bus service between Poole & Bournemouth, although the train is much quicker.

From London - Trains run from London Waterloo station to Axminster. From here a bus/taxi will be required to Lyme Regis.

Return To The Start - The easiest way to return to the start of the trail from Poole is to take the train to Dorchester South & then the bus to Lyme Regis Monday to Saturday only. On a Sunday, take a train to Weymouth, followed by a bus to Lyme Regis.
From Bournemouth, take the train to Dorchester South or Weymouth (which is best will depend on the day and time you are travelling), followed by the bus to Lyme Regis (the bus from Dorchester to Lyme Regis does not run on a Sunday and the buses from Weymouth to Lyme Regis are very infrequent, so you may need to consider using a taxi to complete your journey).

These journeys vary at different times of the day and week. A taxi may be better option.

Weather Information

To find out more about the weather forecast for your chosen holiday's general location, please see the following websites:

MetCheck - This website allows you to look up detailed weather information for specific locations as far as six months in advance.
Met Office - This website shows regional area forecasts a few days in advance, with a general UK forecast description of up to 30 days in advance.
Mountain Forecast - This website shows what the forecast is like up on specific hills and fells, and offers forecasts a few days in advance.