Dorset coast

Durlston Country Park is a nature reserve located just west of Swanage on the Isle of Purbeck. It is part of the Jurrasic Coast world heritage site. The purbeck coastline has been quarried during the 19th and 20th centuries and mineshafts can be observed such as the Tilly-Whim caves. The small castle and Globe depicting the 1880s world map were constructed by George Burt in 1887.

The park contains a range of habitats including woodland, chalk downland and meadows. Species of note include the Early Spider Orchid,Green-winged Orchid, Early Gentian, Strawberry Clover, Great Green Bush-cricket, Lulworth Skipper, Adonis Blue and Chalkhill Blue,

The castle probbaly pre-dates the 11th century, however the oldest surviving structures date to the 11th century. During the 13th century the castle was used as a storehouse for royal treasure and as a prison. It was eventually sold by Queen Elizabeth I to the Lord Chancellor, Sir Christopher Hatton.

The castle was eventually bought by Sir John Bankes, Attorney General to King Charles I in 1635. Twice during the civil war the castle was beseiged by Parliamentarian forces, succumbing in 1646. As a result the castle was destoyed to preventit becoming a royalist stronghold again. Restoration of the monarchy permitted the Bankes family to regainownership and they donated the castle and surrounding lands to the National Trust in the 1980s.

Old Harry Rocks are situated at Handfast Point just off Ballard Down near Swanage and a short walk from Studland Bay. The collection of rocks are formed by erosion of the chalk cliffs. Old Harry refers to the sea arch, whilst Old Harry's Wife refers to the stack.

Legend reports that the Devil slept on the rocks, hence the term 'Old Harry'.

Durdle Door (Images 3 and 4) is a natural sea arch formed from wave erosion of the limestone rock. The rock bands are identical to those seen at Lulworth Cove, however, at Durdle Door the rock beds have been cut by a fault and are thinner. The 400 foot band of rock connecting the Purbeck limestone arch to the shore is composed of Portland limestone and thin layers of clays and sandstone before connecting to the chalk beds. Essentially the hard limestone is protecting the clays and sands from further erosion. Eventually the arch will collapse forming a sea stack.

It is near the village of West Lulworth and forms part of the Jurassic Coast world heritage site with Lulworth Cove.

Man o'War Bay (Image 2) is a picturesque bay just past Durdle Door and depicts an early stage in the formation of a sea arch.

Lulworth Cove is situated near the village of West Lulworth on the Dorset coast. It is a popular visitor attraction and one of the finest example of a sea cove in the world. It was formed due to the sea breaching the hard limestone band and eroding away the soft clay and greensand layer before hitting the more resistant chalk band.

The stair hole just to the west depicts the early stages in the formation of a cove. Whilst to the east lies the Purbeck fossil forest.