Mupe Bay

A bay you reach on foot, on the right days

Mupe Bay is a shingle bay east of Lulworth Cove, inside the Lulworth Ranges, which belong to the Ministry of Defence. There is no road to it. You reach it on foot from Lulworth Cove, and only when the range walks are open. The bay exposes a run of Cretaceous rocks, from the chalk of Bindon Hill in the north to the Purbeck Beds at Mupe Rocks in the south, with Mupe Ledges to the south and Black Rock at the eastern end.

Check the range walk dates first

The Ministry of Defence opens the Lulworth Range walks and Tyneham village to the public every weekend except on the closure dates it lists, with whole-day openings in holiday periods. For a weekend, the gates are opened as near as possible to 4.30pm on the Friday afternoon and stay open until 8am on Monday. The general information number is 01929 404714. The dates change each year and the ranges are used for live firing, so read the current list before every visit rather than relying on last year’s pattern.

Rockfall and swimming

The Ministry of Defence’s Lulworth access page tells visitors to stay clear of the north half of the beach at Mupe Bay because of the possibility of rock fall, and to obey warning signs. No lifeguard or facilities are listed at the bay, so treat any swim with caution.

Dogs

The range walk access page sets no dog rule for Mupe Bay. The Ministry of Defence publishes safety guidance for dog walkers on its land, so read it, and phone the number above if you are unsure.

Walking there

The route climbs and descends along the coast, so wear proper footwear and carry water. Mupe Bay is a different place from Lulworth Cove, the sheltered, busier bay where the walk starts, and from Durdle Door on the far side of the cove.