Worbarrow Bay

Worbarrow Bay is situated in between Lulworth Cove and Kimmeridge Bay on the Jurassic Coast. Like neighbouring Lulworth, it has a distinctive horseshoe shape and gently shelving shingle bank. The beach is flanked by beautiful cliffs, which form part of the South West Coast Path. From the clifftop you can enjoying far reaching views across the bay towards the Isle of Portland in the distance.

The water here is crystal clear, creating a picture perfect backdrop for photographs. It’s not uncommon to see fish swimming in the shallows. At low water a number of rockpools are exposed towards the eastern end of the beach.

Scenic coastal path

One of our favourite things about this hidden gem is the approach. From the car park there is a 20 minute walk along a scenic path offering beautiful views of the Dorset countryside in all directions. In the spring, there’s an abundance of wildflowers on the hillside. We can take a short detour through the forest, where we sometimes see bluebells, birds and squirrels!

Interestingly, Worbarrow Bay is situated on land owned by the Ministry of the Defence, which means it is closed to the public at certain times of the year. During these periods of closure, the army carry out military exercises on the surrounding land. Remnants of these exercises are clearly visible on the hillside. It is possible to see old tanks and other targets, dotted throughout the landscape.

Tyneham Village

After studying the famous geology of the bay and marvelling at the landscape, many schools to choose to explore the abandoned village a mile away. Tyneham Village, often called Dorset’s lost village, was evacuated during the Second World War so that the area could be used to train troops. Despite residents being promised they could return at the end of the War, this vow was not upheld and eighty years later, nature has claimed ownership of the village.

During a trip to this forgotten village it is possible to walk around what remains of the once bustling community. We encourage students to read the information boards and think about the families that once lived and worked in this quiet corner of the Dorset countryside. Most of the houses have fell into disrepair, but the schoolhouse, church and farm have been restored to their former glory. Examples of students schoolwork have been recreated on desks. It’s incredibly interesting to read first hand perspectives of children growing up in the 1940’s.

Incorporating a visit to Worbarrow Bay and Tyneham Village into your residential or field studies trip provides an excellent opportunity to explore classroom topics in a real world environment.

School trips near Worbarrow Bay

Cumulus Outdoors provide bespoke adventure residentials for schools and youth groups. We’re extremely lucky to be situated in Swanage near Worbarrow Bay, which enables us to conduct exhilarating activities at beauty spots along the Jurassic Coast.

Work with our friendly team to put together an action packed itinerary specifically for your group. The bespoke programme will include your choice of adventure activities or field studies trips and educational visits if you choose. Our school trips for primary and secondary schools boast excellent catering, expert instructors and 24/7 pastoral care. You can stay at our residential centre in Swanage or our tented villages, if you’d prefer to spend more time outdoors.

Residential centre in Swanage

We’re excited to welcome you to our well equipped residential centre which accommodates 139 students across three dormitories. We have many areas for your group to enjoy activities on-site, including bushcraft, shooting and axe throwing range, aeroball, ball games area and our high ropes course.

Tented villages Poole Harbour

During the summer many school and youth groups choose to stay in our tented villages, which are set in scenic locations close to Poole Harbour. Here, the Nordic Tipi sent sits in the centre of the village, where students will socialise, play games and engage in fun activities.

Field studies at Worbarrow Bay

What better way to put classroom learning into practice and engage your students than with field studies trip to Worbarrow Bay. Learn about the interesting geology and unique rock formations.

The geology of the area includes Portland limestone on the sea-facing edges of the Bay. Over time sea erosion has created peninsulas which jut out from the land. The beach is flanked by impressive chalk cliffs that the Jurassic Coast is so famous for. Worbarrow Bay’s rocks tell the story of 80 million years of history. You group will love visualising the ancient rivers and seas that once occupied the area.

The Jurassic Coast is a UNESCO Word Heritage Site and SSSI (Site of Specific Scientific Interest), and Worbarrow Bay is just one famous location that you can choose to visit on a residential at Cumulus Outdoors. We also love visiting Dancing Ledge, Kimmeridge Bay, Corfe Castle, Old Harry Rocks, Lulworth Cove and more.

Outdoor activities on the Jurassic Coast

We are pleased to offer a broad range of activities at Cumulus Outdoors, which provide key learning objectives and promote a healthy lifestyle. Team work and friendly competition feature in many of our activities – which are traits that will benefit students back in the classroom.

Many schools choose to go on an adventure residential trip early on in the school year to give students an opportunity to get to know one another and make friends. You might also want to book your exhilarating school trip at the end of the year to reward students for their hard work.

Whenever you choose to visit Cumulus, you can expect a fun, action-packed experience that keeps students engaged. Our staff are all fully qualified, highly trained and motivated to provide experiences to remember for all who visit.

The benefits of outdoor activity trips

Face your fears

We operate a ‘challenge by choice‘ policy, where we encourage students to face their fears and leave their comfort zone. Activities can include coasteering, high ropes and climbing and abseiling.

Problem solving as a team

Collaborating, leadership and working as part of a team to solve problems are vital parts of school and personal life! Activities like orienteering, raft building and canoeing give students a chance to practice this on a residential trip at Cumulus Outdoors!

Engaging in friendly competition

Friendly competition makes individuals strive to improve their skills – which raises the overall performance of a group. We’re happy to provide some fun opportunities for competition among peers with tag archery, air rifle shooting, axe throwing and mackerel fishing.