White Nothe is one of the Dorset Jurassic Coast’s best viewing points. Whilst not
as high as Golden Cap nor as famous as Durdle Door, this cliff-top lookout has better
views than the first, and a tranquility the second seldom achieves.
Part of the South West Coast Path, White Nothe is one of several amazing geological
features those walking from Lulworth Cove to Ringstead or Weymouth can admire. But
you don’t have to walk the whole section to enjoy it, as it is fairly easy to reach
using paths from the top of Ringstead Hill or Ringstead Bay.
The former is slightly closer, is National Trust land and has the advantage of being
free parking whether you are an NT member or not!
From Ringstead Hill, White Nothe is about a two and three-quarter mile round trip
- so a comfortable stroll, but one which is not ideal for buggies or those with mobility
issues. Whilst the first part of the journey is over farm track-ways, the remainder
is pure field and cliff-top.
The views from the latter are excellent, on a clear day. On days that are windy,
wet or foggy, you might not want to be there at all as there’s nothing between you
and France in one direction and the Americas in the other. Consequently it’s prone
to being draughty and wet.
The cliff-top section of path is narrow, but not perilously so, even though the drop
to the seaward side is steep and in places near vertical. So its worth treating the
route with some respect, especially if the path is muddy or slippery.
Of course, this close proximity to the very edge of Dorset, is what gives the path,
and White Nothe, such impressive views.
Looking West you’ll see Ringstead, Weymouth and Weymouth Bay. To the South and South
West is the English Channel, more of Weymouth Bay and Portland. All of which is impressive,
but the real gem is the view to the East.
White Nothe itself is a fairly substantial chalk outcrop and cliff, which has a “Smugglers’
Path” meandering up its more grassy face for those sure-footed enough to try it.
But it also provides a great view point Eastwards of the brilliant-white chalk cliffs
of Bat’s Head and then on to the Portland Stone grey of Durdle Door.
From White Nothe, the complete arch of Durdle Door can’t be seen, but it’s much smaller
neighbour “Bat’s Hole” can. And from there on, there is layer after layer of interlinking
background that just keeps on going past Lulworth Cove and all the way to St Aldhelms’s
Head. On a clear day, it is truly a sight to see, and probably close to what most
people imagine when they first hear of the “Jurassic Coast”. It has that rocky, prehistoric
look about it. Which is slightly ironic given that the big fossil finds for which
the Jurassic Coast is justly world-renowned have been made in softer, browner, and
ever so slightly less magnificent, cliffs around Charmouth, Lyme Regis and Kimmeridge.
Even so, there are things you will get from White Nothe that you won’t get from any
of these others. The view is one. The sense of peace and tranquility is the other.
Because White Nothe is miles from the nearest road, the only traffic noise you are
likely to hear is the occasional boat passing in the sea below or any air traffic
passing overhead. Presumably, if the
ranges at Lulworth are active there’s likely to be a bit of distant gunfire, but
if not, this is a great place to sit and forget about the 21st Century. So turn off
your phone and enjoy the sound of the wind, the sea far below and not a lot else
other than birdsong.
Whether you take in White Nothe as part of a full-scale assault on the whole South
West Coast Path; or part of a more modest and practical attack on this part of it;
or even just as a Sunday afternoon diversion for you and the kids, you’re unlikely
to be disappointed, provided the weather doesn’t let you down.
This is a great spot. And like many a “great spot”, you probably won’t spend very
long once you get there. Perhaps long enough for a sandwich and a “Thermos”. Certainly
it is one of those places you will spend more time in getting to and from it than
you will on actually being there. But it is also a place that you will remember reaching
and seeing long after you have forgotten how you got there.
If you decide to go, pick your day if you can, whether walking as part of a ramble
or dawdling as part of an afternoon amble. Good weather will make all the difference,
allowing as it does clear views from one horizon to the other.
