YHA Lulworth Cove

YHA Lulworth Cove is a timber-built youth hostel with a small camping area, set on the edge of West Lulworth in the Dorset hills close to the Jurassic Coast. The grounds sit about one mile from Lulworth Cove itself, the horseshoe bay of white pebbles and clear water that gives the area its name, with the South West Coast Path running close by towards Durdle Door. Camping here is modest and honest: a grass area beside the hostel takes up to six small two-person tents, roughly 12 people in total, so it suits backpackers, coast path walkers and couples rather than caravans or motorhomes, neither of which is accepted. Campers get use of the hostel facilities, including the self-catering kitchen, cycle store, drying room and licensed restaurant, which makes wet evenings much easier. Reviewers regularly praise the friendly wardens, the walking straight from the door and the handy on-site meals, while noting the pitches are basic and best for lightweight tents. Families are well catered for, with Monkey World and the Tank Museum a short drive inland. Camping runs on selected nights only and must be booked directly with the hostel, and pitches and beds are quoted through YHA's booking system. YHA Lulworth Cove is a straightforward, well-placed base for exploring this stretch of Dorset.