The spectacular Jurassic Coast, England’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, is famous for its rocks, marine fossils, remarkable landforms and stunning natural beauty.

It spans over 180 million years of geological history, being the only place on earth where due to extremely active marine erosion, rock formations from the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods can all be seen in one location.

Impressive natural features include arches, pinnacles, hollowed out coves, crumbles, stack rocks and a fossilised forest.

The Jurassic Coast makes up a 150 kilometre stretch of the English Channel coastlines of Dorset and Devon, and forms a section of the longer South West Coast Path walking trail.

The relaxed and pretty seaside town of Weymouth (photo Weymouth harbour) makes an enjoyable base from which to explore the area, and is an easy couple of hours from London by train or car. Local buses from Weymouth to the nearby Jurassic Coast destinations mentioned below are plentiful and inexpensive.

Chesil Beach is breathtaking, a dramatic steeply-shelved shingle ridge beach stretching for kilometres (29) from the Isle of Portland into the distance, and comprised of millions of pebbles and stones (mainly flint and chert from and Jurassic rocks) of different shapes and colours, some as large as potatoes.

Author John Fowles described it as “above all an elemental place, made of sea, shingle and sky, its dominant sound always that of waves on moving stone: from the great surf and pounding … of sou’westers, to the delicate laps and back-gurgling of the rare dead calm….”.

Beautiful Lulworth Cove is a favourite spot for fossil hunters and the gateway to a breathtaking coastal path featuring a range of eye-catching natural rock formations, such as Stair Hole and Durdle Door.

Over time the power of the sea cut through the resistant Portland limestone layer at the mouth of the cove, with waves then bending into an arc shape when pushing through the cove’s mouth, thereby creating its horseshoe-shape.

Striking Durdle Door, which resembles a dinosaur drinking (very fitting for the ‘Jurassic’ Coast), is an example of a natural limestone arch, and a lovely place for a fresh dip on a warm summer’s day, after an exhilarating walk along the scenic coastal path to reach it.

Durdle Door and its surrounds have been featured in a range of music videos, films and TV programs.

Bellinda Dunn, Kiama