West Bay Harbour – Thorncombe Beacon loop from West Bay

Hiking trails & Routes

West Bay Harbour – Thorncombe Beacon loop from West Bay

Moderate

4.9

(35)

224

hikers

West Bay Harbour – Thorncombe Beacon loop from West Bay

04:09

13.6km

470m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 6, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Dorset National Landscape

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

286 m

West Bay Harbour

Highlight • Settlement

Part of the Jurassic Coast in Dorset, West Bay is a beautiful harbour settlement. Originally designed as a commercial harbour for nearly Bridport to export fishing nets, West Bay declined …

Tip by

1.89 km

Eype Beach

Highlight • River

Be advised the car park is no longer an honesty box. it is run by euro car parks with an ANPR camera. the machine and signage have been heavily vandalised

Tip by

3.46 km

Thorncombe Beacon once formed part of a chain of beacon sites along the South Coast to warn of the approach of the Spanish Armada in 1588. These days, you can still enjoy wonderful coastal views from this great vantage point.

Tip by

4.77 km

View over Seatown and Eype Beach

Highlight • Beach

Coming down the path from Ridge Cliff, you have stunning views down onto the quaint seaside hamlet of Seatown, Eype Beach, and over towards the craggy headland of Shorne Cliff. …

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5.92 km

Steps Between Seatown and Golden Cap

Highlight • Trail

There's steps.... like a lot of them!!!! good old leg burning steps!!!

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6.93 km

Golden Cap Summit

Highlight • Summit

Standing at 626 feet (191 m), Golden Cap is the highest point on the South Coast. From the cliff, you are afforded utterly breathtaking views over Lyme Bay to Dartmoor and ahead to the Isle of Portland.

Tip by

9.73 km

View of Golden Cap from Doghouse Hill

Highlight • Natural Monument

People lived on Doghouse Hill on the Golden Cap estate up to 10,000 years ago.
Finds included a stone hearth, fire pit and pot shards from Bronze Age periods (2,500 …

Tip by

12.0 km

View of West Cliff and Lyme Bay

Highlight (Segment) • Natural Monument

West Cliff rises spectacularly between West Bay and Eype Mouth above Dorset's Lyme Bay. From this cliff path, you can see the vast Thorncombe Beacon to the west and, in …

Tip by

13.6 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

6.59 km

5.51 km

996 m

489 m

Surfaces

6.72 km

4.51 km

1.22 km

422 m

413 m

311 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (160 m)

Lowest point (0 m)

Weather

Monday 19 October

12°C

7°C

92 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 20.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

February 1, 2026,2026.02.01 UK Golden Cap. Views Worth the Mud Hike 🩷🔗🩷

Looking for the least rainy spot anywhere along the nearby coast, we headed south to West Bay. The rain seemed to be hanging by a thread, so we packed our waterproof jackets and set off along the coast.
The views were absolutely stunning, and the constant battle between sun and clouds only made them more dramatic 🤩 The trail, however, …