Sometimes what you’re looking for comes when you’re not looking at all.
The past few weeks have been hectic and overwhelming at times, to say the least. When Felix suggested to join him on a trip in England after a business meeting in London I wasn’t sure if I yet wanted to hop on a plane. All I was wishing for was a calm and relaxing weekend, preferably in bed. But then again, I got second thoughts because I know myself. And I know that I can’t stand sitting at home all day long.
So we decided instead of staying in London like we usually do, we would go somewhere else in England. Somewhere calm and relaxing. Far away from all the hustle and bustle of a big city. We more or less randomly decided to go to Dorset’s Jurassic Coast. I think our decision was based on a pretty picture Felix saw on Instagram. It turned out to be the best decision in a long time.
Dorset and the Jurassic Coast are quite busy and a popular weekend destination among British in summer. Finding accommodation last minute was a challenge but we ended up in the best Airbnb ever, in a super tiny cottage house located on a farm surrounded by the sound of horses, cows, sheep and bird. We were joined by two friends from London who recently bought a drone and immediately liked the idea of going on a little photography and drone trip in Dorset and along the Jurassic Coast.
So for 2 full days we explored every little corner of the Jurassic Coast. We got up at 4.30 a.m. to catch the first sun rays, hiked up and down the hilly landscape to find amazing spots, felt the rough cold winds in one moment and warmed up in the warming sunshine the next. And all while being in awe of the beautiful scenery. It sometimes felt that at every turn our expectations of England’s South Coast were exceeded.
I wish we would have had a few more days of weak cell phone coverage, hearty pub food and fresh air. But in the time we travelled up and down the Jurassic Coast we found some gorgeous places. I’ve made a small guide to Dorset’s Jurassic Coast with all my favorite photography and drone spots. Some are well known, to some you need to hike and some others might seem touristy at first but have their charm.
Dorset’s Jurassic Coast : A Drone & Photography Guide
Durdle Door
Come to Durdle Door for sunset when the warm sunlight brightens the Durdle Door. If you want to drone walk away from the main area and up the hills.
Old Harry Rocks
Old Harry Rocks is best for very early sunrise. If you come by car, park it in Studland as there is no road for cars. The walk to Old Harry Rocks is 20-30 min.
Lulworth Cole
Lulworth Cole is one of the busier areas and usually filled with quite a lot of people. But in comparison to other popular holiday destination it’s still fairly empty and quite. Walk away from the crowds and up the hill for a beautiful view of the cove, even if you don’t have a drone.
Mupe Bay
Mupe Bay is just a 20-30 min walk away from Lulworth Cove and is much less busy but offers stunning views too.
St. Aldhelm’s Chapel
St. Aldhelm’s Chapel is probably my favorite spot of the Jurassic Coast. The church itself is not in any of my photos but what I really loved about it is its surrounding. The location is breath taking and I seriously envy the people living in that white cottage.
Chapman’s Pool
Chapman’s Pool is just a stone-throw away from St. Aldhelm’s Chapel. The panorama is breathtaking and took us all by surprise. Walk down and up the hill again for a good exercise and another extraordinary lookout over the pool.
Studland, Swanage & Co
The small villages of Studland, Swanage, Corfe Castle and West Luleworth might be something to easily overlook when marvelling at the impressive landscape. But they do have their cozy charm, especially during the early morning hours when most tourists are still asleep and locals come out to have their first coffee of the day in the sun.
Sleeping & Eating
We stayed at an Airbnb which was just a 5-10 min drive away from Durdle Door. the host was absolutely lovely, we slept like babies in the comfortable bed and even made new friendships with the farm animals.
Lulworth Cove Inn Pub served delicious, good quality British pub food. Think seasonal fruit crumble, hand battered fish with chips, vegetarian Sunday roast and award winning beef pie.
When in England, eat scones. I’m not a scone expert but the ones at Corfe Caste Model Village Courtyard Cafe were fresh and tasty. They also offer homemade breakfast sandwiches and meals. The courtyard is usually filled with biking and hiking tourists but the atmosphere is tranquil and pleasant.