Outdoor activities at Golden Cap

Woodland views at Golden Cap, Dorset | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

No matter what time of year you visit, there’s plenty to see and do at Golden Cap. From orienteering to swimming, angling to running, there’s something for the whole family to enjoy.

Angling

Angling is very popular on the Dorset coast, both among locals and tourists hoping to catch something tasty for their barbecue. At Seatown, we’ve seen people catching one mackerel after another on a sunny summer’s evening. Other possible catches include bass, cod and plaice, depending on the time of year.

Geocaching

Like treasure hunting for the digital generation, geocaching is an exciting outdoor adventure that the whole family can take part in. The premise is simple: ‘treasures’ are hidden in secret locations, which can be found using co-ordinates shared on the internet. All you need is a handheld GPS and a sense of fun. Most caches have a log book for you to leave a message in.

Start your geocaching adventure

Running

Why sweat it out on a treadmill when you can run in the fresh air at Golden Cap? For an easy workout, do a circuit or two of Langdon Hill. For a more challenging training session, the undulating South West Coast Path awaits.

Swimming

The shingle beaches at Charmouth, Seatown and Eype’s Mouth are great for swimming on calmer days, offering a peaceful alternative to the busier resorts. Due to their shelving nature, care should be taken at Seatown and Eype’s Mouth, where currents can be strong near the shore. Please note that all three locations have their own (i.e. not National Trust) car parks.

Sunny view between trees of green fields and mown hay near Golden Cap — Stroll through fields or take on a bracing climb at Golden Cap | © National Trust Images/David Noton

Walking

Whether you want to spend some quality time with loved ones or enjoy a bit of solitude, walking is a fun and rewarding pastime. There are a number of trails across the Golden Cap estate, so you can get some fresh air and exercise while exploring this special coastal site.

Golden Cap climb

As you’d expect from the highest point on the South Coast, the views in all directions are spectacular on a clear day. Park at Langdon Hill car park and climb up the east side, or approach from the west if you’re parked at Stonebarrow. Either way, the stiff climb will be amply rewarded by the views and sense of achievement.

Langdon Hill

Langdon Hill car park is a good starting point for a walk up to Golden Cap or a stroll along a stretch of coast path. The woodland offers a small play trail and a scenic circuit along level paths, popular with dog walkers and those looking for a less challenging walk. A great place to seek shade on a hot summer’s day, it’s also rich in wildlife, with carpets of bluebells in spring and unusual varieties of fungi in the autumn.

While you're in the woods, look out for the sculpture by Zac Greening, an award-winning artist who takes his inspiration from nature and his surroundings. Created from Portland stone in 2015, it was commissioned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Enterprise Neptune, the Trust's coast fundraising campaign.

St Gabriel’s

There’s been a settlement at St Gabriel’s since Saxon times. All that remains of the thriving hamlet is a ruined medieval chapel and an 18th-century manor house that’s now divided into four National Trust holiday cottages. The ancient landscape of this secluded valley has been formed by centuries of farming. Wildlife thrives in the meadows and hedges, and the tiny streams support frogs, newts and dragonflies.

Stonebarrow

Stonebarrow is an excellent starting point for exploring the Golden Cap estate. From the car park, there are numerous short walks along the hilltop, or you can enjoy a longer coastal walk to Golden Cap and beyond, returning via an inland route across wildlife-rich meadows.

Thorncombe Beacon

Thorncombe Beacon stands to the east of Golden Cap on the Jurassic Coast. Like its taller neighbour, it gets its distinctive colour from a green mineral in the rock that turns rusty gold in sunlight. There’s been a signal station here from at least the 16th century, built to warn of invasion.