Bell tents with hot tubs in Jurassic Coast

The astonishingly picturesque, 18-mile-long Chesil Beach is arguably the star of Dorset’s western Jurassic Coast, which extends from the rocky Isle of Portland to Lyme Regis near the Devon border. But there’s plenty more—from fossil-strewn footpaths to charming coastal towns and villages such as Charmouth and West Bay—and it’s all set against the grey limestone, Jurassic-era cliffs that define this patch of south-facing coast. The many coast-hugging camping spots in West Dorset are perfect for rounding off a busy day of cycling, swimming, walking, or water sports. Look out for basic, seasonal campsites near the coast, farm campsites with cuddly resident animals, and places where you can park up, hook up, and kick back with fantastic facilities.

A series of cascading, rust-toned cliffs dating back 250 million years, East Devon’s littoral is the oldest stretch of the Jurassic Coast. Overlooking sandy gold beaches and the English Channel, it’s part of the 103-square-mile East Devon AONB and runs from Exmouth to the Dorset border. With scattered campsites and caravanning spots (from unbelievably scenic cliff-top sites to secluded stays on country farms), it makes an ideal outdoor escape. Unmissable stops include Beer’s chalk cliffs and stone quarries, the Regency town of Sidmouth, and Ladram Bay. Coasteering, paddleboarding, kayaking, swimming, and boat trips are all part of the fun, not to mention thrilling hikes and cycles along the cliff-top paths.

If you’re going camping on the Jurassic Coast with the aim of finding fossils, you might want to head for a campsite near a fossil-hunting hot spot—Kimmeridge Bay, Lyme Regis, and Charmouth are all good hunting grounds. Just don’t hammer into the rocks—only pick up loose fossils you find. And if you’re not sure what you’re looking for, how about joining an expert from the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre or the Lyme Regis Museum on an organised fossil-finding hunt? Both also feature fossil displays and lots of information on finds from the past.

Sandy beaches, rockpooling bays, secret and not-so secret coves—the Jurassic Coast is home to the lot. Whatever it is that entices you to this stunning stretch of coastline in Dorset and Devon, you’ll find a beach that meets your needs.

A special area of conservation, Kimmeridge Bay is a great place to rockpool and snorkel with a snorkel trail to follow in the summer months. Charmouth also has charm beyond fossil hunting—its east and west beaches (separated by a footbridge over the River Char) are mainly shingle with sandy expanses at low tide. The gentle slope of the beach and easy accessibility from the beachside car park mean it is a family-friendly place to splash about. Nearby Lyme Regis beach is the place to head to if you want a few more facilities. A small sandy beach sits sheltered by the town’s famous harbour arm, The Cobb, which is backed by cafes, ice cream kiosks, and places to buy buckets and spades.

Perhaps the most photographed and instantly-recognisable beach on the Jurassic Coast is Durdle Door. The background of countless selfies, this limestone arch, formed by erosion, stands just offshore of a shingle beach backed by cliffs. Descend to the beach for a closer view on a well-worn pathway and steep steps, or head to nearby Lulworth Cove to join a boat trip and see it from the water. Boat trip or not, the small-mouthed Lulworth Cove is another of the best beaches along this stretch of coast with a natural harbour. Its pebbly beach is perfect to swim from. For sand, if you’re not near Lyme Regis, which is slap bang in the middle of the Jurassic coast, you might want to look to either end of it. The well-known towns of Swanage, at the Dorset east end, and Exmouth, in Devon, have both been attracting holidaymakers since Victorian times.

If you’re forced into a day off the beach, there are plenty of attractions to visit on the Jurassic Coast. Try the Lyme Regis Museum, visit the Charmouth Heritage Centre, or if you want to find out about the coastline’s heritage, check out the West Bay Discovery Centre (which sits in the town where the TV series Broadchurch was filmed). Away from the shoreline, there’s Corfe Castle and the steam trains of the Swanage Railway that puffs past it. Further inland and also owned by the National Trust, but on an altogether different scale, is Thomas Hardy’s Cottage. This is the site where the writer was born amid the scenery he immortalised in books like Far From the Madding Crowd and Under the Greenwood Tree. For something completely different, kids love Monkey World, while adults might like to sample the fine produce or even a cookery course at Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s River Cottage.