Stephen’s guidebook - the jurassic coast
City/town information
Home to famous Georgian fossil collector and palaeontologist Mary Anning, Lyme Regis is well known as one the best places on the Jurassic Coast to hunt for fossils.
This quaint and stylish seaside town is also gaining a reputation as a foodie’s paradise with numerous seafood bars, bistros and restaurants to choose from.
With a safe and sandy beach, fabulous coastal walks, independent shopping and a calendar full of events to entertain one and all, Lyme Regis is not short of interesting things to see and do!
Family friendly beaches
Lyme Regis offers a variety of beaches to suit everyone’s tastes!
Why not pack up your bucket and spade and head to Lyme Regis' sandtastic Town Beach. Let the kids (and grown-ups!) get creative building and creating magnificent sandcastles and sea creatures. Take time out from the busy building and splash around in the sea or play a game or two of bat and ball or you could just sit back, relax and feel the sand between your toes!! There’s nothing like a bit of beach therapy and Lyme Regis offers it in bucket loads!
Head over to Monmouth Beach and hunt for some fossils and marvel at the layer of limestone called the ammonite graveyard or the ammonite pavement due to the large number of ammonites it contains. Why not follow in the footsteps of Mary Anning and try and uncover your very own Ichthyosaur!
Mary Anning - an unsung hero
Mary Anning was born into a very poor family in 1799 at Lyme Regis. Her father was an amateur fossil collector and by the age of 5 or 6, Mary would go out fossil collecting with him - which at the time was a very unusual thing for Georgian girls to do.
Her father taught Mary how to look for and clean the fossils they found on the beach, and often displayed and sold them from his shop.
At the age of 12, Mary, along with her brother, discovered the first complete Ichthyosaur skeleton and another 12 years later was the first to discover a complete Plesiosaur. Her fossils were some of the most significant geological finds of the time and her ichthyosaur, plesiosaur and pterosaur are showcased at London's Natural History Museum.
Sadly, Mary died at the age of 47 and was still in financial difficulties despite a lifetime of extraordinary scientific discoveries.
You can find out more about Mary at the Lyme Regis Museum which is built on the site of her home and fossil shop.
The Cobb, Lyme Regis
A trip to Lyme Regis wouldn’t be complete without a stroll around the iconic Cobb harbour. On a clear day and you will be rewarded with some of the finest views along the coast. If it’s a bit grey and murky outside then don’t despair as this is when The Cobb is full of atmosphere!
Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons brought fame to the area in the 1980 film adaptation of The French Lieutenant’s Woman - local author John Fowles wrote the original novel and Streep was featured standing motionless at the end of the Cobb. Jane Austen’s novel, Persuasion, was also written and part set here.
Full of history, romance and scenery, The Cobb is a beautiful place just to sit, watch and dream.
Eating Out and Takeaways
There are some fabulous restaurants, cafes and pubs in Lyme Regis.
Enjoy a meal overlooking the Bay as the sun sets, grab traditional fish and chips to enjoy on the beach or a decadent afternoon tea as a treat.
Many support our local farmers and fishermen by using Dorset's local produce and fresh fish caught that day in their dishes.
Shopping
You'll find a great range of small, independent shops as well as high street brands in this quaint, coastal town.
Shop for clothing, jewellery and gifts or pick some delicious Dorset local produce to enjoy at the beach or in the gardens.
Being a town famous for fossil hunting, you'll find shops selling fossils and gem stones in jewellery, artwork or homeware.
Just a few minutes’ walk from the seafront you will find Town Mill - a unique mix of a working watermill, art galleries and creative artisanal businesses. The Mill itself produces excellent flour and is surrounded by Courtyard Cafe, Lyme Regis Brewery, Town Mill Pottery, Ad Lucem Jewellery, Lyme Stone stonemasonry and Sew La Di Da Vintage.
Things to Do in Lyme Regis
Where do we start?? Rib rides, walks, museums, aquariums, crabbing, fossil hunting…..the list goes on! There’s plenty for you to see and do in Lyme Regis, the question is are you going to have enough time to fit it all in??
Whatever the weather we're sure that you'll find plenty to fill your days and more in Lyme Regis!
What’s On in Lyme Regis
Now, where do we start! If there’s a charming seaside town that pulls out all the stops to put on an amazing events programme then its Lyme Regis!
Delight at displays and parades, take in a show, chill out to some jazz and blues or grab your guitar and head down to the beach to join in a record-breaking attempt to become Britain’s biggest band! There are loads of festivals to enjoy throughout the year celebrating food, art and even fossils!
326 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Lyme Regis
Home to famous Georgian fossil collector and palaeontologist Mary Anning, Lyme Regis is well known as one the best places on the Jurassic Coast to hunt for fossils.
This quaint and stylish seaside town is also gaining a reputation as a foodie’s paradise with numerous seafood bars, bistros and restaurants to choose from.
With a safe and sandy beach, fabulous coastal walks, independent shopping and a calendar full of events to entertain one and all, Lyme Regis is not short of interesting things to see and do!
Family friendly beaches
Lyme Regis offers a variety of beaches to suit everyone’s tastes!
Why not pack up your bucket and spade and head to Lyme Regis' sandtastic Town Beach. Let the kids (and grown-ups!) get creative building and creating magnificent sandcastles and sea creatures. Take time out from the busy building and splash around in the sea or play a game or two of bat and ball or you could just sit back, relax and feel the sand between your toes!! There’s nothing like a bit of beach therapy and Lyme Regis offers it in bucket loads!
Head over to Monmouth Beach and hunt for some fossils and marvel at the layer of limestone called the ammonite graveyard or the ammonite pavement due to the large number of ammonites it contains. Why not follow in the footsteps of Mary Anning and try and uncover your very own Ichthyosaur!
Mary Anning - an unsung hero
Mary Anning was born into a very poor family in 1799 at Lyme Regis. Her father was an amateur fossil collector and by the age of 5 or 6, Mary would go out fossil collecting with him - which at the time was a very unusual thing for Georgian girls to do.
Her father taught Mary how to look for and clean the fossils they found on the beach, and often displayed and sold them from his shop.
At the age of 12, Mary, along with her brother, discovered the first complete Ichthyosaur skeleton and another 12 years later was the first to discover a complete Plesiosaur. Her fossils were some of the most significant geological finds of the time and her ichthyosaur, plesiosaur and pterosaur are showcased at London's Natural History Museum.
Sadly, Mary died at the age of 47 and was still in financial difficulties despite a lifetime of extraordinary scientific discoveries.
You can find out more about Mary at the Lyme Regis Museum which is built on the site of her home and fossil shop.
The Cobb, Lyme Regis
A trip to Lyme Regis wouldn’t be complete without a stroll around the iconic Cobb harbour. On a clear day and you will be rewarded with some of the finest views along the coast. If it’s a bit grey and murky outside then don’t despair as this is when The Cobb is full of atmosphere!
Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons brought fame to the area in the 1980 film adaptation of The French Lieutenant’s Woman - local author John Fowles wrote the original novel and Streep was featured standing motionless at the end of the Cobb. Jane Austen’s novel, Persuasion, was also written and part set here.
Full of history, romance and scenery, The Cobb is a beautiful place just to sit, watch and dream.
Eating Out and Takeaways
There are some fabulous restaurants, cafes and pubs in Lyme Regis.
Enjoy a meal overlooking the Bay as the sun sets, grab traditional fish and chips to enjoy on the beach or a decadent afternoon tea as a treat.
Many support our local farmers and fishermen by using Dorset's local produce and fresh fish caught that day in their dishes.
Shopping
You'll find a great range of small, independent shops as well as high street brands in this quaint, coastal town.
Shop for clothing, jewellery and gifts or pick some delicious Dorset local produce to enjoy at the beach or in the gardens.
Being a town famous for fossil hunting, you'll find shops selling fossils and gem stones in jewellery, artwork or homeware.
Just a few minutes’ walk from the seafront you will find Town Mill - a unique mix of a working watermill, art galleries and creative artisanal businesses. The Mill itself produces excellent flour and is surrounded by Courtyard Cafe, Lyme Regis Brewery, Town Mill Pottery, Ad Lucem Jewellery, Lyme Stone stonemasonry and Sew La Di Da Vintage.
Things to Do in Lyme Regis
Where do we start?? Rib rides, walks, museums, aquariums, crabbing, fossil hunting…..the list goes on! There’s plenty for you to see and do in Lyme Regis, the question is are you going to have enough time to fit it all in??
Whatever the weather we're sure that you'll find plenty to fill your days and more in Lyme Regis!
What’s On in Lyme Regis
Now, where do we start! If there’s a charming seaside town that pulls out all the stops to put on an amazing events programme then its Lyme Regis!
Delight at displays and parades, take in a show, chill out to some jazz and blues or grab your guitar and head down to the beach to join in a record-breaking attempt to become Britain’s biggest band! There are loads of festivals to enjoy throughout the year celebrating food, art and even fossils!
Sightseeing
Fantastic for a family day out, the shingle beach at Branscombe is part of the famous Jurassic Coast. Enjoy a dip in the water, see how far you can skim a stone, or see what hidden creatures you can discover in the rock pools.
On reaching the end of the steep valleys of Branscombe by foot or by car, you will arrive at Branscombe Mouth, a shingle beach which forms part of the East Devon and Dorset Jurassic Coast.
Stretching over a mile, the beach offers beautiful views of the Jurassic cliffs on either side of the valley, and is a popular starting point for walks on the coast path. Close by to the east is Beer, and slightly further to the west is Sidmouth.
Family fun
The long beach offers plenty of room for families to visit and enjoy the coast. Children can rock pool or skim the smooth pebbles underfoot.
The sea at Branscombe is perfect for paddling. For the more adventurous, why not take a dip?
44 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Branscombe Beach
Fantastic for a family day out, the shingle beach at Branscombe is part of the famous Jurassic Coast. Enjoy a dip in the water, see how far you can skim a stone, or see what hidden creatures you can discover in the rock pools.
On reaching the end of the steep valleys of Branscombe by foot or by car, you will arrive at Branscombe Mouth, a shingle beach which forms part of the East Devon and Dorset Jurassic Coast.
Stretching over a mile, the beach offers beautiful views of the Jurassic cliffs on either side of the valley, and is a popular starting point for walks on the coast path. Close by to the east is Beer, and slightly further to the west is Sidmouth.
Family fun
The long beach offers plenty of room for families to visit and enjoy the coast. Children can rock pool or skim the smooth pebbles underfoot.
The sea at Branscombe is perfect for paddling. For the more adventurous, why not take a dip?
Beer Quarry Caves is a man-made limestone underground complex located about a mile west of the village of Beer, Devon,[1] and the main source in England for beer stone. The tunnels resulted from 2,000 years of quarrying beer stone, which was particularly favoured for cathedral and church features such as door and window surrounds because of its colour and workability for carving. Stone from the quarry was used in the construction of several of southern England's ancient cathedrals and a number of other important buildings as well as for many town and village churches,[2] and for some buildings in the United States. Extraction was particularly intense during the Middle Ages, but continued until the 1920s. An adit to another set of workings can be seen from the South West Coast Path east of Branscombe, having been exposed by a landslip in the late 18th century. The quarry is part of the Jurassic Coast,[3] and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
http://www.beerquarrycaves.co.uk
55 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Cuevas de la cantera de cerveza S.L.
Quarry LaneBeer Quarry Caves is a man-made limestone underground complex located about a mile west of the village of Beer, Devon,[1] and the main source in England for beer stone. The tunnels resulted from 2,000 years of quarrying beer stone, which was particularly favoured for cathedral and church features such as door and window surrounds because of its colour and workability for carving. Stone from the quarry was used in the construction of several of southern England's ancient cathedrals and a number of other important buildings as well as for many town and village churches,[2] and for some buildings in the United States. Extraction was particularly intense during the Middle Ages, but continued until the 1920s. An adit to another set of workings can be seen from the South West Coast Path east of Branscombe, having been exposed by a landslip in the late 18th century. The quarry is part of the Jurassic Coast,[3] and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
http://www.beerquarrycaves.co.uk
Food scene
STUNNING COUNTRYSIDE VIEWS
does a great Sunday roast too
Nestling in the heart of Branscombe, one of Britain’s most picturesque villages, is the award winning, 14th Century, The Masons Arms. The authentic interiors ooze character with timber frames, low beamed ceilings, pine cladding, whitewashed walls and a huge roaring log fire. The food at the Masons Arms successfully combines the classic with the modern and will not disappoint. All dishes are carefully prepared by our team of accomplished chefs.
https://masonsarms.co.uk
25 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Masons Arms, Branscombe
3 Myrtle CottagesSTUNNING COUNTRYSIDE VIEWS
does a great Sunday roast too
Nestling in the heart of Branscombe, one of Britain’s most picturesque villages, is the award winning, 14th Century, The Masons Arms. The authentic interiors ooze character with timber frames, low beamed ceilings, pine cladding, whitewashed walls and a huge roaring log fire. The food at the Masons Arms successfully combines the classic with the modern and will not disappoint. All dishes are carefully prepared by our team of accomplished chefs.
https://masonsarms.co.uk
Run by James & Olivia Miller, Millers Farm Shop has been growing and selling locally sourced produce for over forty years. The shop is an Aladdin’s Cave of the most sumptuous food imaginable.
Some of the vegetables are grown on the farm, the rest are provided by local suppliers passionate about good quality food. Fresh fruit and vegetables are locally sourced and colourful arrays of seasonal plants are available. You can find Lyme Bay fresh fish, beef, pork and lamb from local farms, local milk and cream, cider and sample a variety of local cheeses.
Also very popular with customers are the mouth watering array of breads and pastries, along with an impressive selection of teas, coffees and juices.
The friendly atmosphere of a family-run working farm with people, who really know their stuff and are passionate about great food, completes this heavenly shopping experience.
https://www.millersfarmshop.co.uk
32 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Millers Farm Shop
Gammons HillRun by James & Olivia Miller, Millers Farm Shop has been growing and selling locally sourced produce for over forty years. The shop is an Aladdin’s Cave of the most sumptuous food imaginable.
Some of the vegetables are grown on the farm, the rest are provided by local suppliers passionate about good quality food. Fresh fruit and vegetables are locally sourced and colourful arrays of seasonal plants are available. You can find Lyme Bay fresh fish, beef, pork and lamb from local farms, local milk and cream, cider and sample a variety of local cheeses.
Also very popular with customers are the mouth watering array of breads and pastries, along with an impressive selection of teas, coffees and juices.
The friendly atmosphere of a family-run working farm with people, who really know their stuff and are passionate about great food, completes this heavenly shopping experience.
https://www.millersfarmshop.co.uk
Perched on the hillside offering panoramic views of The Cobb and Jurassic Coast
The Oyster & Fish House is arguably the most picturesque spot in Dorset to enjoy locally sourced fish and seafood. A large terrace wraps around the informal, light and airy dining room with floor to ceiling windows offering a view to every guest. Our new deck sits to the side of the restaurant with tables and counter tops to enjoy our freshly caught fish and seafood.
Please note that our outdoor Deck has very limited cover. Feel free to bring your own blankets! We can no longer give our own blankets out due to Covid. Dogs are very welcome outdoors.
Our menu changes twice a day depending on what the fishermen have brought us so please note that our menu online is simply a seasonal sample menu of what you can expect when dining with us.
We are open 6 days a week – closed Sunday night and all day Monday
https://theoysterandfishhouse.co.uk
100 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Oyster & Fish House
Cobb RoadPerched on the hillside offering panoramic views of The Cobb and Jurassic Coast
The Oyster & Fish House is arguably the most picturesque spot in Dorset to enjoy locally sourced fish and seafood. A large terrace wraps around the informal, light and airy dining room with floor to ceiling windows offering a view to every guest. Our new deck sits to the side of the restaurant with tables and counter tops to enjoy our freshly caught fish and seafood.
Please note that our outdoor Deck has very limited cover. Feel free to bring your own blankets! We can no longer give our own blankets out due to Covid. Dogs are very welcome outdoors.
Our menu changes twice a day depending on what the fishermen have brought us so please note that our menu online is simply a seasonal sample menu of what you can expect when dining with us.
We are open 6 days a week – closed Sunday night and all day Monday
https://theoysterandfishhouse.co.uk
Pub with beer garden with fantastic views over Beer Beach, and does great food.
10 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Anchor Inn
Fore StreetPub with beer garden with fantastic views over Beer Beach, and does great food.
fantastic fresh fish shop on beer beach (just 5mins away)
sells locally caught fish and seafood.
https://www.beerfisheries.co.uk/about-us
Beer Fisheries Ltd
Sea Hillfantastic fresh fish shop on beer beach (just 5mins away)
sells locally caught fish and seafood.
https://www.beerfisheries.co.uk/about-us
beach fun
Beer beach self drive motor boats for hire April-october
available for family fun or for angling
Please call Simon direct on 07773923120 for bookings and enquiries
Beer's Self Drive Motor Boats
Sea HillBeer beach self drive motor boats for hire April-october
available for family fun or for angling
Please call Simon direct on 07773923120 for bookings and enquiries