Durdle Door, Natural limestone arch on the Jurassic Coast, England
Durdle Door is a natural arch made of Portland limestone on the Jurassic Coast near West Lulworth. The formation stands about 200 feet above sea level, creating a door-shaped opening in the white cliffs that leans out over turquoise water.
The formation developed through millions of years of coastal erosion during the Jurassic period, when waves gradually wore through the softer limestone. The harder Portland layer resisted longer and eventually formed the freestanding arch.
The name comes from the Old English word 'thirl' meaning to drill or pierce, referring to how the sea carved through the rock. Local photographers and walkers treat the arch as a landmark for measuring tide changes and coastal weather patterns.
Visitors reach the site through marked paths from West Lulworth village, where the descent to the beach can be steep and slippery. At high tide, access to the sandy beach below the arch becomes much more limited.
The rock layers within the arch run parallel to the shoreline, showing the original horizontal deposition from the Jurassic period. This arrangement makes the arch particularly vulnerable to further erosion at its narrowest point.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
