Golden Cap

Golden Cap stands on the Dorset coast between Bridport and Charmouth, a steep hill topped by a golden greensand outcrop. It rises to 191 metres and is the highest point within a mile of the south coast. The cliff base is covered with large boulders, and the hill is set back about 250 metres from the shoreline. Storms often expose fossils in the Blue Lias rock, including ammonites and belemnites. The hill is owned by the National Trust and forms part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. The summit offers views that can stretch to Portland Bill and Start Point Lighthouse on clear days. Behind the cliff lies Langdon Wood, a small woodland mainly of Corsican Pine planted in the 1950s. The wood includes a circular walk of about one mile and is also owned by the National Trust. The trees come from a nearby copse called Eleanor’s Clump. The name Golden Cap comes from the golden greensand at the very top of the cliff. Visitors reach the summit via a coastal footpath from Seatown, a walk that takes around 40 minutes. The path leads through open hillside before reaching the exposed cliff edge. Fossil hunters search the boulders at the cliff base for ancient remains. The wood behind the cliff provides a sheltered contrast to the open coastal views. On the summit, the golden greensand outcrop marks the highest point along the south coast.