The Birth of the Landscape.The story begins in the Triassic Period, when this land was a vast desert, covered in red sand dunes and salt flats. Over millions of years, rivers carved through the landscape, creating deep valleys and depositing layers of sediment. These arid conditions gave rise to unique rock formations, which can still be seen today in areas like Sidmouth along the eastern Jurassic Coast.

Oceans, Dinosaurs, and Fossils.During the Jurassic Period, rising sea levels transformed the land into a warm, shallow tropical sea. Marine reptiles like ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs thrived, along with giant ammonites and corals. The fossil-rich cliffs of Lyme Regis and Charmouth date back to this time, making them some of the best places in the world to find prehistoric remains.

Dinosaurs Roam and Cliffs Take Shape.As the Cretaceous period unfolded, the sea levels fluctuated, and chalk cliffs began forming from countless microscopic sea creatures settling on the ocean floor. This era saw dinosaurs walking the land, while the towering white cliffs of Old Harry Rocks and the Purbeck coastline began to take shape. This was also the age of the mass extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs.

The Ice Age brought dramatic changes, with glaciers carving out valleys and melting waters reshaping the land. The iconic Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove were formed through millions of years of erosion. Today, the Jurassic Coast continues to evolve, revealing new fossils, shaping new landscapes, and offering a breathtaking journey through time for those who visit.