West Bay car parks

The car parks at West Bay aren't exactly a destination in themselves - but they're absolutely the starting point for why you've driven to Dorset in the first place. You pull in, kill the engine, and there it is: those famous golden and russet cliffs rising 150 metres straight up from the beach. It's a proper jaw-dropping moment, the kind that makes you understand why people queue for hours to photograph them.

Realistically, you're here to access the beach and tackle the cliff-top walks that ribbon along the Jurassic Coast. The car parks themselves are functional and often rammed, especially weekends and school holidays. Arrive early or risk a frustrating loop looking for space. There's a small visitor area with loos and a café if you need provisions before heading down to the sand or up onto the South West Coast Path.

Walkers will want a good two to three hours minimum if you're doing any serious distance along the clifftops - the views toward Golden Cap are worth every step. Families with younger kids might just do the beach and the short walk up to the cliff-edge viewpoint, which takes 20 minutes and delivers the photos everyone wants. The cliffs themselves are unstable, so staying behind the barriers isn't optional.

If you're staying at Parkdean Resorts West Bay Holiday Park right on the doorstep, you've got no excuses for not exploring properly. Highlands End and Freshwater Beach are close enough that a morning here fits neatly into any coastal itinerary before heading toward Abbotsbury or Weymouth.