Charmouth to Golden Cap Circular Walk

6.5 miles (10.5 km)

This circular walk takes you from Charmouth to the Golden Cap Estate. Starting in Charmouth you head east to Stonebarrow Hill and Chardown Hill before climbing to Golden Cap.... The route then returns to Charmouth along the coast path, passing Cain's Folly on the way.
This rewarding walk explores one of the finest sections of the Dorset coast, combining high cliff-top viewpoints with peaceful inland hills and a return along the dramatic coastline. Much of the route passes through the National Trust's Golden Cap Estate, where open grassland, ancient hedgerows and small woodland areas support a rich variety of wildflowers, butterflies and farmland birds throughout the year.
The ascent to Golden Cap is the highlight of the walk. At 191 metres above sea level, it is the highest point on England's south coast, offering extensive views across Lyme Bay, the Marshwood Vale and the surrounding Jurassic Coast. Stonebarrow Hill and neighbouring Chardown Hill provide further panoramic viewpoints across the rolling Dorset countryside and the striking cliffs between Charmouth, Seatown and West Bay.
The return follows the South West Coast Path beneath some of the tallest cliffs on the south coast. This stretch of shoreline is internationally renowned for its geology, with rocks dating from the Jurassic period exposed in the cliffs and along the foreshore. The route passes Cain's Folly before descending into Charmouth, one of Britain's best-known fossil-hunting destinations. The village is home to the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre, where visitors can learn more about the area's remarkable geology, fossils and natural history before exploring the beach. *golden cap