The Undercliffs Walk

The Undercliffs is a remote section of the Jurassic Coast, only accessible on foot, through a National Nature Reserve, Special Area of Conservation and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The South West Coast Path runs through the woodland and cliffs from Lyme Regis in the East, to Seaton in the West.

The reserve is sheltered, south-facing and fairly hot and humid. It has a reputation for being the closest thing you’ll get to a rainforest in the UK. There’s a wide variety of wildlife, including ravens, owls, grass snakes, lizards, newts and peregrine falcons.

The walk is challenging due to the steeply undulating and winding path, which passes through landslips and woodland paths, with uneven terrain that can be slippery after wet weather. There is nowhere along the route to get off the path and we recommend parking your car at one end, taking the X53 bus to the other end and walking back.

It’s a lovely route, particularly in Spring when the woodland is carpeted in bluebells and wild garlic, alongside daffodils and the sound of birdsong. There are some fleeting coastal views through the dense vegetation and you can walk down onto Rousdon Beach also.