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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.

Lulworth Ranges cover more than 2,830 hectares and 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. 

Access restrictions

When the ranges are used for live firing warning signals are displayed, regardless of the timings, do not cross the range boundary. Warning signals are red flags by day and red lamps by night; range boundaries are marked by red and white poles.

Red flags and red lamps indicate that live firing is taking place within the range boundaries and access is prohibited.

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. 

The gates to the range walks are opened as near to possible to 16:30 on the Friday afternoon of non firing weekends. However, this is dependent on completion of range clearance and weather. The range walks will remain open until 8:00 on the Monday morning.

Tyneham village gate permits vehicle access. It is opened at 9am when no military activity is taking place and is closed at dusk each evening. 

Access opportunities

Public access is permitted along the Dorset Coast Path running through the area, and several circular walks within the ranges.

There is car parking available at Whiteway and Tyneham and picnic facilities at Whiteway car park. Worbarrow Beach is also open to the public when the ranges are open. The exhibitions in Tyneham School and Tyneham Church are open from 10am until 4pm on non-firing days.

Do not touch any military debris, it may be dangerous. Please note the location and inform a Training Safety Officer (TSO) via 07970 228400, 07971 708553 or the police.

Lulworth Ranges Firing Times

Lulworth Ranges Firing Times April 2026

Lulworth Range walks and Tyneham village access times 2026

Lulworth Range walks are open to the public every weekend with the exception of the following:

      • 17 to 18 January 2026
      • 14 to 15 March 2026
      • 13 to 14 June 2026
      • 12 to 13 September 2026
      • 10 to 11 October 2026
      • 14 to 15 November 2026

Other Range Opening Dates

Lulworth Range walks and Tyneham village are also open every day over the following periods (all dates are inclusive):

      • Christmas: 20 Dec 2025 to 04 Jan 2026
      • Easter: 28 March to 12 April 2026
      • Bank Holiday: 02 to 04 May 2026
      • Spring stand-down: 23 May to 31 May 2026
      • Summer stand-down: 25 July to 31 August 2026
      • Christmas: 19 Dec 2026 to 03 Jan 2027

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.

The Fossil Forest

The Fossil Forest location was open to the public in March 2020, as part of the Dorset Coastal Connections project.