West Bay Harbour – Thorncombe Beacon loop from Burton Bradstock

Running trails & routes

West Bay Harbour – Thorncombe Beacon loop from Burton Bradstock

Hard

runners

West Bay Harbour – Thorncombe Beacon loop from Burton Bradstock

02:01

16.1km

360m

Running

Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 21, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Dorset National Landscape

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

2.82 km

West Bay Cliffs

Highlight • Natural Monument

The coast path between West Bay and Burton Bradstock is currently closed due to a landslip. A diversion is in place using the public footpath across Bridport and West Dorset Golf Club. Please see the South West Coast Path website for further info and a map of the diversion.

Tip by

3.36 km

West Bay Harbour

Highlight • Settlement

Part of the Jurassic Coast in Dorset, West Bay is a beautiful harbour settlement. Originally designed as a commercial harbour for nearly Bridport to export fishing nets, West Bay declined in importance with the advent of the railways. Not a natural harbour and exposed to the south, over the centuries many attempts have been made to prevent it from silting up and to repair storm damage.

Today, West Bay is a thriving fishing harbour popular with tourists. With a wonderful beach and impressive cliffs, it's well worth visiting. It should be noted that it's part of an eroding landscape and cliff falls have occurred in recent years so always respect warnings and signage.

Tip by

4.97 km

Eype Beach

Highlight • River

Be advised the car park is no longer an honesty box. it is run by euro car parks with an ANPR camera. the machine and signage have been heavily vandalised

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6.36 km

Thorncombe Beacon

Highlight • Viewpoint

Thorncombe Beacon once formed part of a chain of beacon sites along the South Coast to warn of the approach of the Spanish Armada in 1588. These days, you can still enjoy wonderful coastal views from this great vantage point.

Tip by

7.99 km

Winniford River

Lake

11.6 km

View of West Cliff and Lyme Bay

Highlight (Segment) • Natural Monument

West Cliff rises spectacularly between West Bay and Eype Mouth above Dorset's Lyme Bay. From this cliff path, you can see the vast Thorncombe Beacon to the west and, in good, haze-free days, you can see all the way around Lyme Bay in both directions. Portland is usually very obviously to the south east.

Take care while walking and stay back from the cliff edge; the landscape here reveals the constant weathering and erosion of the south coast.

Tip by

16.1 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types