Where is Tyneham?

Tyneham Village Location & Directions

Tyneham sits in a narrow valley on the Isle of Purbeck — a peninsula on the Dorset coast between Poole Harbour and the English Channel. It is about 6 miles south of Wareham and 9 miles west of Swanage. The nearest town is Wool, 4 miles to the north-west.

The village is inside the Lulworth firing ranges — a fact that explains almost everything about how it looks today. The military fence sealed the valley in 1943 and has kept it sealed ever since. No new buildings. No development. No intensive farming. What you find when the ranges open is a valley that has barely changed in eighty years, surrounded by the same chalk downland and coastal cliffs that the evacuated families left behind.

The coast a mile south of the village — reached by a 30-minute walk through the ruins to Worbarrow Bay — is part of the Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site. The geology at Worbarrow Bay is exceptional: dramatically tilted rock strata, dinosaur footprints found in the limestone ledges, and a clear cross-section through 185 million years of Earth history.

Tyneham Village Postcode?

Tyneham Village is no longer inhabited, so don't expect lots of signposts! Directions to Tyneham village are quite straight forward, though. Use postcode BH20 5QH for sat-nav — this will route you to the car park approach road near the village.

You can, however, open Tyneham in Google Maps for a Google Maps location that you can use for your SatNav. Because of Tyneham's location, the mobile phone coverage is quite limited! If you are planning on using satellite navigation, then it's probably a good idea to download the data as an offline map. It's also a good idea to check the Tyneham village opening times to make sure the village is actually open. Also, note that the only access to Worbarrow Bay is through main gate to Tyneham valley.

Tyneham Village Directions

Coming From the Poole or Bournemouth direction on the A351:

Approach Wareham and the flyover will take you over the main railway line with Wareham railway station on your right.
At the roundabout, take the second exit, which is signposted A351 Swanage.
Continue down the Wareham bypass for roughly one mile.
At the roundabout take the second exit which is once again signposted A351 Swanage.
Continue on the Wareham bypass for roughly half a mile.
Take the right-hand turn which is signposted Creech Steeple Kimmeridge. (If you miss this turning, carry on to the next roundabout, where you can turn back).
Stay on the Creech Steeple Kimmeridge road which takes you passed Creech Grange on your right.
Carry on straight to the top of Grange Hill. On your left you will pass a viewpoint which is well worth stopping at.
Not long after the viewpoint, the road goes round sharply to the left. Here you will see a junction to turn right.
Turn right at the junction, which will basically keep you heading straight on. This is signposted Tyneham Lulworth via Army Ranges.
After less than half a mile, take the turning on the left, which will take you down into the Tyneham valley.

Coming From Swanage on the A351:

Carry on through the village and down the windy hill with the castle on your left. Turn left here and keep the castle on your left. This is signposted Church Knowle Steeple, Kimmeridge.
Carry on through Church Knowle and then on to Steeple.
When you get to Steeple Leaze Farm, the road bends round to the right and then begins climbing up hill.
At the top of the hill, the road bends sharply to the right, but you need to take the left-hand turn.
After less than half a mile, take the turning on your left, which will take you down into Tyneham valley.

Coming From Weymouth or Dorchester on the A352:

When you get to Wool, drive through the village with the train tracks on your right. Do not cross the railway tracks. Take the right-hand turn immediately before the railway barriers. This is the B3071 and is signposted West Lulworth & Lulworth Castle.
At the Burngate Farm crossroads before Lulworth Camp, turn left on to the B3070, which is clearly signposted East Lulworth Wareham.
After roughly one mile, the road forks. There is a sign which says All military vehicles turn right. Take the right-hand fork.
A short distance on, turn right at the Tyneham Village signpost. This steep and windy road takes you up Whiteway Hill, passing a viewpoint on your right.
About a mile further on, there appears to be a turning area on the left-hand side.
Immediately after the viewpoint, take the right-hand turn, which will take you down into Tyneham valley and the village of Tyneham.