Sea arches are fascinating natural formations, often found along coastlines, created by wave erosion when powerful sea waves carve through a headland, creating a cave in it. However, if erosion continues from both sides of the headland, the caves may eventually connect to make a hole in the headland and form a sea arch. Unfortunately, sea arches are short-lived coastal features, which ultimately collapse, leaving behind sea stacks, isolated from the mainland. Located on the Jurassic Coast of the Lulworth Estate in south Dorset, Durdle Door is considered one of the most amazing sea arches in the world, created around ten thousand years ago by the slashing sea waves that pierced through the band of Portland limestone rocks running parallel to the shoreline to make a hole in it, leaving an opening resembling an arch in the sea, formed from a rock layer standing almost vertically. With a height of around 200 feet and looking west over the beach, the Durdle Door, designated as England’s first natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2001, is a stunning attraction for the visitors.

According to Geologists, the magnificent natural limestone arch of Durdle Door was formed by the power of the crashing sea waves that eroded a 390 feet (120 m) band of weaker and softer rock, behind a stronger and much thicker band of chalk, a form of limestone composed of mineral calcite that formed the Purbeck Hills. However, although the name of the arch was derived from an old English word ‘thirl’, which means to drill, bore or pierce, there is a paucity of early records of it. Nevertheless, there is a description of a magnificent arch of Durdle-rock Door in the late 18th century Door, while the early 19th-century maps labelled it Dudde Door or Duddledoor or simply Durdle Door. However, for the first time it appeared on the Ordnance Survey Map, the National Mapping Agency for Great Britain, in 1811, as Dirdale Door. Reckoned as one of the most photographed spots on the Jurassic Coast, the arch is joined to land by a 390 feet (120 m) long isthmus, and is accessible by a steep walkway with steps from Lulworth Cove.

The steep walking trail from Lulworth Cove, offering the spectacular panoramic view of the Jurassic Coastline, divides the Man O’War Beach and Durdle Door. However, another walkway for about 15 minutes along a steep downhill path from the Holiday Park, located on the cliff top, which is comparatively a longer walk, comprising a combined way of uphill and flat, plus a further 143 steps, leads down onto the beach, offering the breathtaking view of the Durdle Door sea arch, the most photographed and popular landmarks of on the Jurassic Coast in south Dorset. Although popular, the sweeping shingle beach, that was once three separate coves, has no special facilities to offer the visitors. Even there are no toilets on or adjacent to the beach, which are available only in the Holiday Park, a 15-minute walk uphill from the beach. Swimming or bathing is possible, but proper care should be taken, as apart from a strong under-tow, the beach shelves steeply in places and there are no lifeguards. However, during the hot summer days, a mobile kiosk on the path leads to the Durdle Door, where one can have ice creams and refreshments.

However, despite the absence of any facility for the visitors, and prohibition of barbecues and lighting fires, overnight camping on beaches, clifftops or elsewhere, apart from pre-booked camping at the Durdle Door Holiday Park, enjoying a picnic at Durdle Door beach or simply walking along the coastal footpaths, is an experience to linger long in the memory. The fascinating location is often used in popular culture, which includes the promotional video of the 1990 hit song of Cliff Richard, titled Saviour's Day, showing Cliff singing on the beach and also on the top of the majestic limestone arch. Later, parts of the promotional video of Shout, a song by English pop rock band Tears for Fears, also displayed the iconic arch. Apart from that, several scenes of the 1967 film Far From the Madding Crowd, based on the novel of Thomas Hardy of the same name, and starring Julie Christie, were filmed here, and later, parts of the film Wilde (1997), a British biographical romantic drama film directed by Brian Gilbert, were also filmed at the exotic location.