Winter walk on the Dorset Coast
Daybreak at Durdle Door. Shot on Nikon Z7. 10mm. 1/2sec. f/11. ISO 80.
The Dorset coast was one of those missing pieces from my UK photography portfolio, but we filled that gap in on a beautifully cold sunny day in February 2025.
Durdle Door from the Beach. Shot on Nikon Z7. 24mm. 2secs. f/14. ISO 80.
The drama of the cliffs, the sweep of the sea, and the way the light shifts through the day makes it a photographer’s dream. Back in February, with the promise of clear skies and crisp air, we set out to walk from Weymouth to Lulworth Cove, cameras in hand.
Sunrise over Man O’ War Cove from the top of Durdle Door. Shot on Nikon Z7. 1/80 sec. f18. ISO 80.
This wasn’t just any walk. We had already started the day much earlier, climbing out in the freezing dark to photograph sunrise at Durdle Door. At -6 degrees, it was the kind of cold that bites through gloves and fogs the viewfinder with every breath. But as the first light broke over the arch, painting the sea with pale gold, it was worth every frozen finger. The beach was totally deserted, just us and a few birds were brave enough to take on the cold. That stillness, combined with the soft winter tones, set the tone for the rest of the day.
Starting Out in Weymouth
After sunrise we made our way back to Lulworth Cove, grabbed a breakfast followed by a bus to Weymouth around 9.30am to begin the main walk. A quick coffee stop in town gave us a chance to thaw out and get ready for the rest of the day. From there, the route climbs gradually out of Weymouth, the kind of uphill that warms you quickly on a cold day.
The views open up fast, out across the bay and back towards Portland, with the sea shifting from steel grey to pale blue under a low winter sun. It’s the kind of light that makes you want to keep your camera out permanently, but also challenges you: shadows are long, highlights are sharp, and every shot is about balancing contrast without losing detail.
Jurassic Coast leaving Weymouth. Shot on Nikon Z7. 1/1600 sec. f/10. ISO 500.
Over the Hills to the Osmington Mills
The Smugglers Inn at Osmington Mill. Shot on Nikon Z7. 1/1000sec f/13. ISO 500.
The path meanders over rolling hills, past farmland and hedgerows. At this time of year, everything feels stripped back: bare branches, frosted grass, muted tones. But those subtler colours have their own beauty.
We reached Osmington Mills along the route – a scattering of cottages, a mill, and, most importantly, a pub that was open for lunch. After a morning of walking and shooting in the cold, a fish finger sandwich and a pint were very welcome!
Towards Durdle Door
From there, the path gets tougher, winding towards the iconic stretch of coast around Durdle Door. The afternoon light began to shift as we approached, softening into those richer tones that photographers live for.
If sunrise had been about pale blues and golds, sunset was about drama, deep oranges behind the horizon, the sea taking on more texture, and the arch of Durdle Door set against it all. By the time we arrived, the beach was a little busier than it had been that morning, but it still felt possible to find angles and perspectives that made the scene personal. Longer exposures smoothed the water into glass, while shorter shutter speeds captured the energy of the water through the arch.
It was the perfect way to close the loop on the day: from a frozen sunrise to a fiery sunset, with the walk stitching together everything in between.
A Photographer’s Perspective
Walking this stretch of the Dorset coast in February is not for the faint-hearted. The early morning cold is relentless, the paths are muddy, and the hills demand effort. But from a photographic perspective, the rewards are immense. Winter light is different: lower in the sky, more fleeting, more demanding. You don’t get the lush greens of summer, but you get atmosphere, texture, and contrast that can make images sing.
Golden Hour at Durdle Door. Shot on Nikon Z7. 44mm. 1/500sec. f/11. ISO 1000.
Some of the photographic opportunities along the way included:
Durdle Door at sunrise and sunset : two completely different moods of the same iconic subject.
Coastal hills and farmland : frost, low sun, wildlife and long shadows creating patterns in the landscape.
Village details : pubs, cottages, and everyday scenes that add human warmth to a day dominated by big landscapes.
The sea itself : experimenting with shutter speeds to capture its changing character, from calm to restless.
Final Thoughts
Looking back, what I love most about that day isn’t just the photographs, but the rhythm of it: starting in the stillness of a frozen dawn, warming through the walk, pausing in a village pub, and ending with the glow of sunset over one of England’s most photographed landmarks.
February sunset at Durdle Door in Dorset. Shot on Nikon Z7. 0.6sec f/13 ISO 80
For photographers, walks like this are as much about patience as they are about composition. You can’t rush the light, and sometimes you can’t even feel your fingers, but if you stick with it, the rewards are there. Dorset’s Jurassic Coast is endlessly photogenic, but it’s winter that reveals its quieter, more dramatic side.
Next time, I might even bring a thicker hat and warmer socks!