Durdle Door, one of Britain's most iconic coastal landmarks in Dorset, has been closed to the public after severe winter storms destroyed the access steps, making the beach unsafe. The lower section of the 143 wooden steps, built into the rapidly eroding 200ft cliffs, collapsed, and tonnes of shingle were washed away from the beach.
The Lulworth Estate, which owns the site, has placed a red 'Danger: No Access' sign at the top of the cliffs while major works are undertaken to prepare the tourist attraction for spring. The steps were only installed two years ago after previous storms buried them under clay and mud, but recent extreme weather has undone the repairs.
A Lulworth Estate spokesperson said safety is the highest priority and urged visitors to respect temporary closures. The estate does not yet know when the beach will reopen. The closure follows a tragic incident in June 2021 when a mother of two fell 60ft to her death while attempting a shortcut to avoid the steps.
This is the latest example of storms damaging the Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site. Earlier this month, thousands of tonnes of rock and mud slumped onto Charmouth beach, taking a chunk of the South West Coastal Path with it.
