JURASSIC COAST, UK

Winner Destination Stewardship Award 2005

The Dorset and East Devon Coast World Heritage Site is England's first natural World Heritage Site - it is known popularly as The Jurassic Coast.

The Site is located on the south coast of England and covers 95 miles (155
km) of truly stunning coastline from East Devon to Dorset, with rocks recording 185 million years of the Earth's history.
The Site was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2001, as "an outstanding example representing major stages of the Earth's history, including the record of life, significant ongoing geological processes in the development of landforms, and significant geomorphic or physiographic features."

World Heritage status was achieved because of the site's unique insight into the Earth Sciences as it clearly depicts a geological "walk through time" spanning the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods which make up the Mesozoic Era of geological time, between 250 and 65 million years ago.

The Jurassic Coast has high visitor numbers so Visitor Management is of paramount importance and sustainable tourism is encouraged and promoted throughout the Site.
Sustainable transport options are offered to the visitor through literature such as the new explore without your car leaflet, which suggests itineraries by train, bus, boat, foot and bike. The X53 Jurassic Coast Bus Service which covers access to the full length of the site (via feeder services in some cases) continues to be a great success, with brand new buses introduced for 2008.