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Main line rail services run from London Waterloo, Woking, Basingstoke, Winchester, Southampton and Brockenhurst to Bournemouth, Poole, Wareham, Dorchster and Weymouth operated by South West Trains. There are also longer distance services, operated by Virgin Trains from the Midlands, North and Scotland to Bournemouth. Services between Bournemouth and Wareham run twice an hour. Beyond Wareham the service is hourly. There are stations in Dorset at Bournemouth, Branksome, Parkstone, Poole, Hamworthy, Holton Heath, Wareham, Wool, Moreton, Dorchester South, Upwey and Weymouth. There are buses from Bournemouth, Parkstone and Poole to South Haven Point, Studland and Swanage. From Wareham there are buses to Swanage and some of the smaller villages along the coast from Swanage. From Wool buses run to Lulworth. From Dorchester South there are buses to Bridport, Charmouth and Lyme Regis. The station at Weymouth is a couple of minutes walk from the beach and coast path.
The Heart of Wessex Line runs from Bristol to Weymouth, via Bath, Bradford on Avon, Trowbridge, Westbury, Castle Cary, Yeovil and Dorchester. Services on this line are operated by Wessex Trains and run several times a day although the service is less frequent on Sundays.
The West of England line, operated by South West Trains, has a station at Axminster, which has good bus connections to Lyme Regis, Charmouth, Bridport and Weymouth. Trains from Plymouth, Torbay, Exeter, Honiton, Yeovil, Gillingham, Salisbury, Andover, Basingstoke, Woking and London Waterloo stop at Axminster, as well as some of the smaller stations on the route. Bus services are normally timed so that they connect with most of the trains at Axminster.
The following table lists the rail stations and routes that are useful for accessing the Dorset coast. Places on (or near) the coast path are marked in bold. For the timetables, see the links below.
| From | To | Walk | Line | Operator |
| London Waterloo | Woking, Basingstoke, Winchester, Shawford, Eastleigh, Southampton Airport, Southampton, Brockenhurst, Bournemouth, Brancsome, Parkstone, Poole, Holton Heath, Hamworthy, Wareham, Wool, Moreton, Dorchester South, Upwey, Weymouth | Lulworth to Weymouth, Weymouth to Abbotsbury | Waterloo - Weymouth Line | South West Trains |
| Bristol Temple Meads | Keynsham, Oldfield Park, Bath Spa, Freshford, Avoncliff, Bradford-on-Avon, Trowbridge, Westbury, Frome, Bruton, Castle Cary, Yeovil Pen Mill, Thornford, Yetminster, Chetnole, Maiden Newton, Dorchester West, Upwey, Weymouth | Lulworth to Weymouth, Weymouth to Abbotsbury | The Heart of Wessex Line | Wessex Trains |
| Norden | Corfe Castle, Harmans Cross, Herston, Swanage | Sandbanks to Swanage, Swanage to Chapman's Pool | The Purbeck Line | The Swanage Railway |
Most rail tickets (such as day returns) are valid on any of the train operators below (except for the private Swanage Railway). Some advance purchase tickets are limited to certain rail operators only (such as Virgin Value tickets).
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Pre-Printed timetable booklets are available from all staffed stations in and around Dorset. Most larger stations are staffed. In addition some of the rail operators have provided timetables for downloading on their web sites. See the links below
There are several web sites which allow you to search for rail information, some also provide information on fares.
The National Rail site has lots of information on the rail network, including a journey planner that gives the train times and fares, real time travel information and real time departure information for many stations. For the timetable, follow the link Planning Your Journey near the top left.
The TrainLine.com provides timetable, train fare information and it allows you to book a ticket in advance (which can be picked up at some stations or delivered to your house). It does require you to register first though and has a habit of offering trains for which it lists no valid fare!
QJump is very similar to the TrainLine and provides timetables, fares and on-line bookings. It is neccessary to register only if you wish to order tickets on-line.
Duetsche Bahn (the German rail operator) provides (in English) an on-line timetable for all UK rail services. It also offers a list of calling points for all the trains (rather than just where you need to change), a map of the route takes and will produce a personalised PDF (Adobe Acrobat file) of the timetable between any two stations.
Rail Services in the UK sometimes have delays and disruption, so it is useful to check for potential problems before setting out. National Rail Enquiries is a telephone line (open 24-hours a day) which can provide timetable and current train running information. The number is 08457 48 49 50. Calls are charged at the local rate.
There is also on-line train running information available updated frequently. The main site lists problems and disruption (current and cleared), for the whole UK. In addition current live arrival and departure information is available for most stations in the UK. For South Dorset, the relevant stations are listed below.
If you're travelling regularly by train, it might be worth investing in a Railcard, which offers discounts on various rail services. The following cards are available. Note that they do have different validty and different discounts to so do check which offers best value for you.
| Railcard | Eligibility | Cost | Discount Available | Routes valid on |
| Young Persons Railcard | Available to anyone aged 16 to 25 and to full-time students over 26. | £18 per year | 1/3 off most standard class rail fares. Excludes some advance purchase tickets. Minimum fare applies before on weekdays. | All routes nationwide, except preserved railways. |
| Senior Railcard | Anyone aged 60 or over. | £18 per year. | 1/3 off most rail fares - see website for details. | All routes nationwide, except preserved railways. |
| Family Railcard | A minimum of 1 adult and 1 child (under 16) and a maximum of 4 adults and 4 childern per card. All must be travelling together. | £20 per year | 1/3 off most adult fares and 60% off child fares. Must be at least 1 adult and 1 child travelling together and a maximum of 4 adults and 4 children. | All routes nationwide, except preserved railways. |
| Network Railcard | Anyone. A single card is valid for a minimum of 1 person and a maximum of 4 adults and 4 children travelling together. | £20 per year | 1/3 off most adult rail fares and 60% off most child fares, but only on certain routes. A minimum fare applies on weekdays so discount may be less than stated on weekdays for short-distance fares. Off-peak use only. | This ticket is valid on the line from London to Weymouth, the line from London Waterloo - Exeter. It also valid on the Heart of Wessex line, but only between Yeovil and Weymouth. Also valid on most lines in South East england, for more details see the website. |
| Disabled Persons Railcard | See here | £14 per year | 1/3 off most rail fares. | All routes nationwide, except preserved railways. |
Bus services operate between many points on the South West coast path and also connect with major towns and cities and the National Rail network. The South Dorset section has some reasonable bus services operating to coastal towns. The worst section is probably around Kimmeridge and Lulworth with only a few services running. Some bus services run only during the summer or during the week only and may run different timetables at weekends. There are also some bus services which connect with the National Rail network, many with through rail - bus tickets available from stations.
The following table shows the bus routes that pass points on the coast path and the walks they are useful for. Points on (or near) the coast path are marked in bold.
| From | To | Walk | Service No | Operator | Through rail tickets available? (via Station) |
| Christchurch | Boscombe Pier, Bournemouth Pier, Bournemouth Square, Durley Chine, Alum Chine, Branksome Chine, Canford Cliffs, Compton Acres, Sandbanks | Sandbanks to Swanage | 12 | Yellow Buses | No |
| Bournemouth | Compton Acres, Sandbanks, Studland, Swanage | Sandbanks to Swanage, Swanage to Chapman's Pool | 150 | Wilts and Dorset | No |
| Poole | Sandbanks | Sandbanks to Swanage | 152 | Wilts and Dorset | No |
| Poole | Hamworthy, Upton, Lytchett Minster, Holton Heath, Sandford, Nothmoor Way, Wareham Station, Wareham, Stoborough Green, Corfe Castle, Harmans Cross, Kingston, Worth Matravers, Langton Matravers, Herston Cross, Swanage | Sandbanks to Swanage, Swanage to Chapman's Pool, Lulworth to Chapman's Pool | 142, 143, 144 | Wilts and Dorset | Yes (Wareham) |
| Swanage | Corfe Castle, Bradle, Kimmeridge, Blackmanston, Creech Bottom, East Creech, Furzebrook, Stoborough, Wareham | Sandbanks to Swanage, Swanage to Chapman's Pool, Lulworth to Chapman's Pool | 275 | Linkrider Coaches | No |
| Weymouth | Preston, Osmington Mills, Warmwell, Crossways, Moreton Station, Waddock, Tolpuddle, Puddleton, Owermoigne, Winfrith Newburgh, Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove | Lulworth to Chapman's Pool, Lulworth to Weymouth, Weymouth to Abbotsbury. | 30 | Weaverbus | No |
| Dorchester | Whitcombe, Broadmayne, Owermoigne, West Chaldon, East Chaldon, Winfirth Newburgh, Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove, West Lulworth, East Lulworth, Shaggs, Coombe Keynes, Wool Station, Bovington, Monkey World, Wool Station, Winfirth Technology Centre | Lulworth to Chapman's Pool, Lulworth to Weymouth | 103 | First Southern National | No |
| Weymouth | Wyke Regis, Portland, Easton, Southwell, Weymouth | Lulworth to Weymouth, Weymouth to Abbotsbury | 1 | First Southern National | No |
| Weymouth | Ferrybridge, Fortuneswell, Portland Hospital, Portland | Lulworth to Weymouth, Weymouth to Abbotsbury | 7, 7A | First Southern National | No |
| Portland | Wyke Regis, Weymouth, Radipole, Chalbury Corner, Dorchester (South Station), Dorchester | Lulworth to Weymouth, Weymouth to Abbotsbury | 10 | First Southern National | No |
| Wakeham | Portland, Southwell, Ferrybridge, Wyke Regis, Lanehouse, Weymouth, Upwey, Dorchester | Lulworth to Weymouth, Weymouth to Abbotsbury | X10 | First Southern National | No |
| Portland Bill | Portland, Easton, Wyke Regis, Weymouth, Radipole, Upwey, Dorchester | Lulworth to Weymouth, Weymouth to Abbotsbury | X10, X20 | Sureline | No |
| Weymouth | Radipole, Upwey, Dorchester, Puddletown, Milborne St Andrew, Blandford St Mary, Blandford, Pimperne, Collingwood Corner, Tarrant Hinton, Handley, Coombe Bissett, Salisbury | Lulworth to Weymouth, Weymouth to Abbotsbury | 184 | Wilts and Dorset | No |
| Poole | Oakdale, Fleetsbridge, Creekmoor, Upton, Lytchett Matravers, Organford, Morden, Bloxworth, Winterborne Zelston, W Kingston, Bere Regis, Briantspuddle, Affpuddle, Tolpuddle, Puddletown, Blandford, Dorchester, Upwey, Weymouth | Lulworth to Weymouth, Weymouth to Abbotsbury | 187 | Wilts and Dorset | No |
| Weymouth | Charlbury Corner, Radipole, Upwey, Dorchester South Station, Dorchester, Poundbury, Martinstown, Bridport, Chideock, Morecombelake, Charmouth, Lyme Regis, Uplyme, Axminster, Axminster Station | Lulworth to Weymouth, Weymouth to Abbotsbury, Abbotsbury to West Bay, Lyme Regis to West Bay, Beer to Lyme Regis | 31 | First Southern National | No |
| Weymouth | Langton Herring, Rodden Village, Portesham, Abbotsbury | Lulworth to Weymouth, Weymouth to Abbotsbury, Abbotsbury to West Bay | 1 | Wessex Bus (Tel 01305 225165) | No |
| Sherborne | Yeovil, Crewkerne, Mosterton, Beaminster, Bradpole, Bridport, West Bay, Chideock, Charmouth, Lyme Regis, Seaton, Beer, Sidford, Sidmouth | Abbotsbury to West Bay, Lyme Regis to West Bay, Beer to Lyme Regis | X67 | First Southern National | No |
| Bridgwater | North Petherton, Monkton Heathfield, Taunton, Horton Cross, Chard, Axminster, Lyme Regis, Charmouth, Chideock, Bridport, West Bay, Burton Bradstock, Abbotsbury, Weymouth | Abbotsbury to West Bay, Lyme Regis to West Bay, Beer to Lyme Regis | X88 | First Southern National | No |
| Bridport | West Bay | Abbotsbury to West Bay, Lyme Regis to West Bay | 45, 45A | First Southern National | No |
| Exeter | Newton Poppleford, Sidford, Beer, Seaton, Colyford, Rousdon, Lyme Regis, Charmouth, Morecombelake, Chideock, Bridport, West Bay, Burton Bradstock, Abbotsbury, Portesham, Chickerell, Westham, Weymouth, Wool, Wareham | Lulworth to Weymouth, Weymouth to Abbotsbury, Abbotsbury to West Bay, Lyme Regis to West Bay, Beer to Lyme Regis | X53 | First Southern National | No |
| Lyme Regis | Rousdon, Axmouth, Seaton, Beer, Branscombe, Sidford, Sidmouth | Lyme Regis to West Bay | 899 | Axe Valley Mini Travel (Tel 01297 625959) | No |
| Exeter | Newton Poppleford, Sidmouth, Sidford, Beer, Seaton, Axmouth, Rousdon, Lyme Regis | Lyme Regis to West Bay | 378 - Summer Only | Stagecoach in Devon | No |
Tickets purchased from one bus company are not normally valid on buses run by different companies.
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First Southern National run services in West Dorset and parts of East Devon. This includes the services from Axminster to Lyme Regis and Bridport, and the express services from Exeter to Weymouth via Seaton, Beer and Lyme Regis, West Bay and from Wool to Lulworth. Services are generally reasonably priced. For more information call 01305 783645. Bus timetables are available in Tourist Information Centres and travel centres in the area, and are also listed in the Dorset public transport guides, from Dorset County Council. |
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National Express run longer distance coach services from many towns and cities to most towns on the Dorset coast. Services must (in general) be pre-booked. The prices tend to be quite high however, and the service is not really appropriate for local journeys between points on the coast path. |
| Weaverbus | Weaverbus run the Linkrider service to Lulworth from Wareham and Wool. For more information on their services see the timetable in the table above or call 01305 834730. |
| Wessex Bus | Wessex Bus run the service between Weymouth and Abbotsbury. For more information on this service, see the link in the table above, or call 01305 761570. |
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Wilts and Dorset run a network of buses around Dorset and Wiltshire. The services of most use for the coast path are from Bournemouth to Swanage and Wareham to Swanage. Their prices can be quite expensive though. Timetables are on their web site, and links to the services of most use for the coast path are provided in the tables above. For more information on Wilts and Dorset see their web site or call 01202 673555. |
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Yellow Buses are the local operator bus for Bournemouth and Poole. They run coastal services (often with open top buses), from Christchurch round to North Haven Point for the chain ferry over to South Haven Point and Shell Bay. They also run frequent services between the station (known as the travel interchange), and Bournemouth Square in the town centre, from where there are buses to other destinations. Yellow Buses also run a service to Bournemouth Airport. |
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Sureline run a network of services around Weymouth and Portland, including services to Portland Bill. For more details visit the website or call 01305 823039. |
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Bus timetable information is available from the Traveline South West site, operators concerned, or from Traveline telephone information on 0870 608 2 608. Note that this number uses caller line identfication to identify the telephone number you are calling from and put you through to the local office covering your current area. To avoid this, withold your number by dialling 141 before the number, or call from a mobile. In this case you will get a menu option to chose your area. The website also includes a journey planner, and includes rail information. Dorset County Council also now provide the full Dorset timetables on their site. To download these, follow the links below. |
The Sandbanks to Shell Bay (North Haven Point - South Haven Point) Ferry is a chain ferry which runs between the entrances to Poole Harbour. It runs every 20 minutes every day of the year from 7:00am to 11:00pm, except for when the boat is having a refit. The Ferry carries cars and passangers. Passangers should pay ot the kiosk on the Sandbanks side (there is no charge for travelling in the other direction). For drivers, there is a toll booth on the Shell Bay side. There can be long delays for cars to cross at peak times though.
Rover Tickets provide a way to travel on bus and train services for several days at a time, without having to purchase seperate tickets. If your in the area for a few days it is worth looking into.
Are available for one, three and seven day tickets, and provide unlimited use of all First Western National, First Southern National and First Group bus services in the south west.
This ticket allows you to use most Wilts and Dorset, Damory Coaches, Tourist Coaches, Solent Blue Line, First Provincial, First Southern National, Stagecoach Coastline, Stagecoach Hampshire Bus and Stagecoach Hants and Surrey buses and First Badgerline services X4 X5 and X6 for one day. There are no restrictions on times or distance travelled in the area. For more information click here.
This ticket is valid for seven consecutive weeks, and can be used at any time on Wilts and Dorset, Tourist Coaches and Solent Blue Line bus services. They can also be used on Stagecoach Hampshire bus services after 9:00 on weekdays and any time at weekends. For more information, click here.
Two tickets relevant to the Dorset coast are available.
The Freedom of the South West rail rover provides unlimited use of all National Rail services in Cornwall and Devon (if you travel after 9:00 Monday - Friday), and onto many parts of Avon, Somerset, Wiltshire and Dorset. It is available for 8 in 15 days versions (ie you can choose any 8 days out of 15 consecutive days to travel). It is valid on the West of England line between Salisbury and Exeter and on the Heart of Wessex Line from Bristol to Weymouth. It is not valid on the line from Southampton to Weymouth.
The Severn, Avon and Wessex rail rover provides unlimied use of rail services after 9:00 in the area around the Severn, Avon and Wessex. It is valid on the Heart of Wessex Line from Bristol to Weymouth.
There are several public transport maps available for the South Dorset area. Click one of the links below.
