Posted on by dorsetwalks

Worth Matravers to Seacombe and Winspit Walk

This is one of my favourite walks in the Worth Matravers area and a great choice for first-time visitors to the Purbeck region. The walk starts off with an easy stroll across farmland and down a sheltered valley to the abandoned stone cliff quarry at Seacombe. The path follows the coastal cliff tops west to another disused quarry at Winspit before retuning for the slow hike back to Worth Matravers along a surfaced track. Did I forgot to mention that there’s a very good pub in the village 🙂

Distance: 2.9 miles (circular walk)
Difficulty: easy (uneven ground, some uphill sections)
Estimated time: 1 hours 45 minutes
Total ascent 436ft, Highest Point 433ft

Worth Matravers to Seacombe and Winspit Walk map
Worth Matravers to Seacombe and Winspit Walk map
Base map © OpenStreetMap created in Outdooractive App

Route Map and GPS Navigation

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Route Description and Photos

Route: Worth Matravers – Seacombe Cliffs – Winspit Quarry – Rtn

The starting point for this walk is the Worth Matravers car park conveniently located just a few minutes walk from the village centre. There are plenty of parking spaces, CCTV and public toilets which have always been spotless when I’ve visited. Payment is £2 in cash paid into an honesty box! – remember to bring some pound coins as no change is given! The car park is owned by the Worth Matravers Parish Council so all money is used for the benefit of the Parish and visitors.

Car park Sat Nav BH19 3LE (Google Maps) (w3w)

You may want to explore the village green and duck pond before starting the walk. Next to the pond is a visitor information board with good map of the area which I’ve copied below for you. At the bottom of the green near to the red phone box you can see a sign pointing left to Seacombe which you can follow leading you down a path between the cottages and out into a field which you have to cross. I’ve marked it as a dotted yellow line on the map below.

Alternatively instead of exploring the village and church, which you’ll visit at the end of the walk, just turn left after the Square and Compass pub and walk up the road for about 100m until you see a gate on the right hand side leading into the field. This is the start of the walk. The route is marked in yellow on the map below. (Google Maps) (w3w)

Map of Worth Matravers showing the car park and village green with duck pond
Worth Matravers Walk
Worth Matravers map showing route of the various walks in the area
Map showing the routes of the coastal walks. The map has been adapted from a visitor information board located next to the duck pond in the centre of the village. Copyright Worth Matravers Parish Council.
Square and Compass pub in Worth Matravers
The Square and Compass pub is just on the corner by the car park. This is one of the best pubs in Dorset and very popular with walkers and cyclists. (Google maps)
Turn left after the Square and Compass and follow the road about 100m until you reach a gate on the right just before the houses.

I must have done this walk a dozen times, it’s one of my favourites around Worth Matravers. The photos on this page are from a walk we did on the 3rd March 2021 which explains the daffodils out. It’s also a lovely walk in the summer as there are always plenty of wild flowers and butterflies about.

Gate at the start of the walk. Just follow the path through the field which turns left to follow the hedge line.
This is the view to your right looking back towards Worth Matravers village. If you decided to start the walk near the village green and duck pond then the path will bring you out over a stile between the cottages and across the field to join the path that we are on. During the winter and early spring this field can get a bit muddy which is why I’ve taken the route described above.
In the corner of the field you’ll see a stone stile and a signpost pointing you towards Seacombe. Just follow the sign across the field keeping the fence to your left. (w3w)
At the far end of the field pass through the gate and down the steps (w3w)
Follow the path downhill.
Through the gate and the path turns to the right. On this occasion there were a herd of deer in the field beyond. (w3w)
Follow the path across the stream and to the right which leads down the valley. This will bring you to the coast at Seacombe and you’ll see the old quarry. (w3w)
(w3w)
View from the quarry looking left (east) (Google maps) (w3w)
View looking west (w3w)
The actual quarry is fenced off to prevent entry into the caves for safety reasons.
You’ll have to retrace your steps a little bit to find the turning to Winspit (about 120m back along the path from the gate at Seacombe quarry).
A stone marker indicates it’s 1 mile back to Worth Matravers (the way you came) and 3/4 mile along the clifftop footpath to Winspit. (Google maps) (w3w) Follow the steps up onto the clifftop path.
Views back to Seacombe
Another view back to Seacombe.
Just follow the coastal path along the clifftop. The old quarry at Winspit come into sight. (w3w)
Follow the steps downhill to Winspit (w3w)
Winspit quarry (Google maps) (w3w)
Caves at Winspit quarry
Old quarry buildings
Winspit
The main dirt track from Winspit leads north all the way back to Worth Matravers. It’s clearly signposted. (w3w)
From Winspit quarry it’s 1.25 miles uphill along the dirt track to Worth Matravers. You’ll see a small path on your left leading west back up onto the clifftop. This take you to St Aldhelm’s Head 1.5 miles away.
Continue along the wide track up towards Worth Matravers
You could continue along the track or cross the stile which leads through the fields and is a short cut. You can see the stone cottages in the village so it’s not far to go now. (w3w)
Over the stile and along the path bring you to the village at Worth Matravers (w3w)
(w3w)
The village green and duck pond in the centre of the village. It’s only a stone’s throw back to the car park – or to the Square and Compass pub for well deserved refreshment. (Google maps) (w3w)
The Best Worth Matravers Walks
The Best Worth Matravers Walks