Lulworth Ranges Access
The Lulworth Ranges are used by the Armoured Fighting Vehicles Gunnery School, a training establishment of the British Army. The firing times limit access to the area, which reaches from east of Lulworth Cove to west of Kimmeridge Bay.
In this area you can find the village of Tyneham, Worbarrow Bay and the Fossil Forest. The South West Coast Path also follows this section of the coast. Red flags are flown and lamps are lit to indicate when access is prohibited to the live firing Range Danger Area.
Check planned firing times
Before your visit, check the planned firing times below, please note that these are subject to last-minute change so please phone 0800 0856628 or 01929 404712 (Mon-Fri 08:00-17:00) for up-to-date access details. For general information regarding the firing programme on Lulworth Ranges, please phone 01929 404714 for an automated message.
The gates are opened at 16:30 on the Friday evening of non firing weekends and will remain open until the Monday morning at 09:00.
Night firing takes place Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Mupe Bay warning:
Stay clear of the north half of the beach at Mupe Bay. Due to the possibility of rock fall, for safety you are strongly advised to observe warning signs in the area.
Lulworth Range walks are open to the public every weekend with the exception of the following:
- 18 to 19 February 2023
- 11 to 12 March 2023
- 17 to 18 June 2023
- 23 to 24 September 2023
- 7 to 8 October 2023
- 18 to 19 November 2023
Due to unforeseen operational circumstances Lulworth Ranges will be extending firing times on Tuesday 12th and Thursday 14th September.
Lulworth live firing times will be 0930h -2359h.
Whiteways Road will be closed from 0900h – 2359h.
Please note that these times are dependent on completion of range clearance and weather. The gates will remain open until 09:00 on the Monday morning. Tyneham Village gate permits vehicle access. It is opened at 09:00 daily when no firing is taking place and is closed at dusk each evening.
Other Range Opening Dates
As well as being open on most weekends, the ranges are also open to the public over the following times – dates are inclusive:
- Christmas: 17 December 2022 to 22 January 2023
- Easter: 1 to 16 April 2023
- Bank Holiday: 29 April to 1 May 2023
- Spring stand-down: 27 May to 4 Jun 2023
- Summer stand-down: 27 July to 3 September 2023
- Christmas: 16 Dec 2023 to 1 Jan 2024
Sea Danger Area
There is also a sea danger area which extends up to 6 nautical miles offshore between Lulworth Cove and St Alban’s Head. Vessels are asked to keep out of the area at firing times.
Contact RN*: Sea Danger Area (EG D026) Lulworth Outer and its Air Danger Area is shared with the Royal Navy (RN) for live fire activity. Relevant enquiries can be made through Navy FOST Ops on Tel. 01752 557550 or Solent Coastguard on VHF channel 16. If doubt exists about the activity of a military vessel in the vicinity, then the vessel concerned may be contacted on VHF channel 16.
For further information on the Lulworth Ranges Access times see the Ministry of Defence – Defence Infrastructure Organisation website.
Information for Walkers
Download this leaflet for details of coastal and inland paths, encompassing the historical Tyneham village and the spectacular Dorset coastline.
The Fossil Forest
The Fossil Forest location was open to the public in March 2020, as part of the Dorset Coastal Connections project.