The location is West Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5PU

Durdle Door really gives you a ‘wow’ factor.

A natural limestone Arch on the Jurassic Coast rising out of the sea. Durdle Door is one of Dorset’s most iconic landmarks and sits on the Jurassic Coast, which was designated England’s first natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2001 and is now part of a family of natural wonders including America’s Grand Canyon and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

You can still see round ripple marks in the rock at the top of the arch, which are remains of a fossil forest. This provides the most complete fossilised record of a Jurassic forest in the world.

If you go, I’d definitely recommend taking your swimming gear, sun cream, towel, snorkel and mask if you have one. Keep a look out for interesting fossils.

Durdle Door is okay to swim and I’ve swam through Durdle Door many times (although, you do need to be a confident swimmer) but right next door is Man O’War beach which is in a sheltered bay so much safer to swim here, and lots to see. The locals refer to the rocks sticking out across the bay as the dragon’s spine.

There are natural cliff paths down to Durdle Door beach, or the steps to Man O’War beach, which leads to the coastal paths. The coastal path will lead you along to Weymouth, which is circ. 14 miles away so you’ll need some hiking boots. In fact, I’ve just completed a Marathon from Weymouth to Durdle Door to Corfe Castle, 26.2 miles for Macmillan Cancer charity and it was tough going up and down the coastal hills but so worth it. I’ve also discovered this South West Coastal Path continues along the coast for a total of 630 miles along Dorset, into Devon and Cornwall, so that will keep you busy.

Without a doubt, Durdle Door is a must-see if you are in the area and can go rock-pooling, hiking, swimming, coasteering, brilliant photography opportunities, nature walks, and fishing, it’s stunning and can just take in the views.

At the base of the chalk cliffs are numerous caves carved out by the sea and I’ve been sea kayaking around here, although you have to be careful as cliff falls are common and a simple rock falling from the cliffside is going to hurt a lot!  Make sure you wear a helmet and even when walking along the beaches, stay slightly away from the cliffside, just in case. Otherwise, it’s an extremely popular spot and well worth going.

The name ‘Durdle’ originates from the old English word ‘thirl’ which means to drill, pierce or bore. To the West of Durdle Door, erosion has created a line of small, limestone islands called the Bull, the Blind Cow, the Cow and the Calf (who doesn’t love a bovine theme when it comes to naming rock formations).

So there we have it, 140 million-year-old rock of frozen history telling a story.

** It will take around 45 minutes by car from Summerbreeze Orchard to Durdle Door.

** The nearest railway station is Wool (on the London Waterloo to Weymouth line by South Western Rail). Bus numbers 15, 30 and X55 connect Wool Railway Station to West Lulworth for Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door.