Private Jurassic Coast Tour from Southampton

From £550

Overview

Experience one of England’s most spectacular coastlines on a private tour from Southampton. The Jurassic Coast is England’s only natural UNESCO World Heritage Site, stretching for 95 miles along the Dorset coast and offering breathtaking scenery, dramatic cliffs, historic villages and fascinating attractions.

This is a fully private, flexible tour designed around your interests. Whether you enjoy coastal scenery, history, military museums, railways, literature or photography, we can create an itinerary that suits you.

Perfect for cruise passengers, hotel guests and visitors looking to experience the very best of Dorset.

Tour Duration

Approximately 8½ to 10 hours door-to-door
Around 1½ to 2 hours’ drive from Southampton
Around 5 to 6 hours exploring Dorset
Completely private and flexible

Typical Pickup – Around 9:00am

We collect guests from:

Southampton Cruise Terminals
Southampton hotels
Private addresses
Agreed meeting points

We then travel west through the beautiful Hampshire and Dorset countryside towards the Jurassic Coast.

A Flexible Day Designed Around You

Unlike large coach tours, there is no fixed itinerary.

Some guests want spectacular coastal scenery.

Others are interested in history, castles or military museums.

Many enjoy combining several attractions into one memorable day.

Below are some of the most popular places we visit.

Because this is a private tour, it’s impossible to see everything Dorset has to offer in one day, so before your tour we’ll discuss your interests and create an itinerary that makes the most of your time.

Swanage Railway (Optional)

For guests who enjoy heritage railways, we can include a journey on the Swanage Railway.

This beautifully restored steam railway travels through the Dorset countryside between Corfe Castle and the traditional seaside town of Swanage.

Depending on your preferences, we can:

Travel one way by steam train
Meet you at the other station
Continue the tour from there

Please note that railway tickets are not included.

Corfe Castle

One stop we almost always recommend is the beautiful village of Corfe Castle.

Dominated by the dramatic ruins of the thousand-year-old castle built by William the Conqueror, Corfe is one of Dorset’s most picturesque villages.

Visitors can enjoy:

The impressive castle ruins (National Trust admission applies)
Traditional stone cottages
Independent gift shops
Tea rooms and cafés
Excellent photography opportunities

Even if you choose not to visit inside the castle, the village itself is well worth exploring.

Typical stop: 45–60 minutes

Durdle Door (Optional)

Probably the most famous landmark on the Jurassic Coast, Durdle Door is a spectacular natural limestone arch rising from the sea.

Guests can enjoy:

Stunning coastal views
Excellent photography
Optional walk to the beach
One of England’s most iconic landscapes

Please note that reaching the beach and the viewpoint for Durdle Door itself involves a fairly steep walk, although wonderful views can also be enjoyed from the clifftop.

Typical stop: 45–60 minutes

Lulworth Cove

Just a few minutes from Durdle Door is the beautiful horseshoe-shaped bay of Lulworth Cove.

Here guests often enjoy:

Walking around the cove
A coffee or ice cream
Coastal photographs
Browsing local shops
Simply relaxing beside the sea

Typical stop: 45–60 minutes

Weymouth

During the afternoon we often drive through the historic seaside town of Weymouth, one of England’s classic Georgian resorts.

Originally made fashionable by George III, Weymouth is known for its elegant seafront, picturesque harbour and golden sandy beach.

Even a drive along the promenade offers wonderful views across the bay and gives a real feel for the traditional English seaside.

Where time allows, we can stop for photographs or a short stroll around the harbour.

Portland Bill & Chesil Beach

One of the highlights of the day is a visit to Portland Bill, the rugged southern tip of the Isle of Portland.

Here you’ll find the striking Portland Bill Lighthouse, standing proudly above dramatic cliffs where the English Channel meets the Atlantic shipping routes. The coastline here is famous for its powerful tides, spectacular sea views and rugged beauty.

This is one of my favourite places in Dorset and, on a clear day, the views are simply breathtaking.

From Portland, we also enjoy one of the finest views in southern England across Chesil Beach.

Stretching for around 18 miles (29 km), Chesil Beach is a remarkable natural shingle barrier linking Portland to the mainland. Looking along its length really gives you an appreciation of the scale and power of the Dorset coastline.

This stop offers excellent opportunities for photography and is a wonderful place simply to enjoy the sea air and dramatic scenery.

Typical stop: 30–45 minutes

Abbotsbury

Leaving Weymouth, we continue along one of my favourite stretches of road in Dorset towards the attractive village of Abbotsbury.

Surrounded by rolling hills and overlooking the coast, Abbotsbury is famous for:

Its historic abbey remains
The unique Swannery (seasonal)
Subtropical Gardens
Beautiful stone cottages
Wonderful countryside views

Even simply driving through the village is a pleasure and offers another glimpse of traditional rural Dorset.

Bovington Tank Museum (Optional)

For military history enthusiasts, the The Tank Museum at Bovington is one of the finest armoured warfare museums in the world.

The museum houses hundreds of historic vehicles including:

The world’s first tanks
Famous Second World War vehicles
Modern military armour
Interactive displays

This is an excellent option for guests with an interest in military history and could easily become the main focus of the day.

We generally recommend allowing at least two hours for a visit.

Clouds Hill (Optional)

Just a short drive from Bovington is Clouds Hill, the former home of T. E. Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia.

Maintained by the National Trust, this small cottage offers a fascinating insight into the life of one of Britain’s most remarkable historical figures.

It makes an excellent addition to a visit to Bovington.

Thomas Hardy’s Cottage (Optional)

Literature lovers may enjoy visiting Thomas Hardy’s Cottage, the birthplace of one of England’s greatest novelists.

The small thatched cottage, now cared for by the National Trust, is where Hardy wrote some of his earliest works.

Surrounded by peaceful woodland, it offers a glimpse into rural Dorset during the nineteenth century.

Scenic Dorset Countryside

One of the great pleasures of this tour is travelling through Dorset itself.

Where possible, we prefer using scenic country roads that pass through:

Rolling hills
Traditional villages
Beautiful farmland
Woodland
Coastal viewpoints

These quieter routes are one of the advantages of travelling in a smaller private vehicle.

Optional Lunch Stop

There are plenty of wonderful places for lunch throughout the day.

Depending on your itinerary we can stop at:

Traditional English pubs
Seaside cafés
Village tea rooms
Fish & Chip shops

We’re always happy to recommend somewhere based on your preferences.

Return to Southampton

After a full day exploring Dorset and the Jurassic Coast, we return to Southampton.

Typical arrival is between 5:30pm and 7:00pm, depending on your chosen itinerary.

Drop-off is available at:

Cruise terminals
Hotels
Private addresses

Why Choose a Private Jurassic Coast Tour?

A private tour allows you to:

Explore at your own pace
Spend longer at the places that interest you most
Avoid crowded coach tours
Visit smaller villages and scenic roads
Customise the day around your interests
Enjoy personal local knowledge throughout your journey

Who Is This Tour Ideal For?

This tour is perfect for:

Cruise passengers
Couples
Families
Military history enthusiasts
Railway enthusiasts
Photography lovers
Nature lovers
Guests wanting a flexible day exploring Dorset

Oliver’s Tip

One of the reasons I enjoy this tour so much is that no two days are ever the same. Some guests spend most of the day enjoying the spectacular coastline, while others prefer exploring Corfe Castle, riding the Swanage Railway or visiting the Tank Museum. Because it’s a private tour, we can usually adapt the day to match your interests and create an itinerary that’s just right for you.