Guidebook for West Dorset
Shopping
A wonderful bustling market on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Get there early to find good parking.
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Bridport
A wonderful bustling market on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Get there early to find good parking.
Food Scene
Symondsbury Kitchen and the small independent shops around the Tithe Barn are a great place to spend a few hours. Have breakfast, coffee, lunch and tea daily and supper on Friday and Saturday evenings. Dogs and children welcome. Then go for a walk up the famous Colmers Hill for a view over Bridport and the surrounding area.
Symondsbury
Symondsbury Kitchen and the small independent shops around the Tithe Barn are a great place to spend a few hours. Have breakfast, coffee, lunch and tea daily and supper on Friday and Saturday evenings. Dogs and children welcome. Then go for a walk up the famous Colmers Hill for a view over Bridport and the surrounding area.
Parks & Nature
National Trust owned Langdon Hill is a great place for a cool walk on a hot summer's day or a bracing one on a winter's day, you can detour down to The Anchor Inn at Seatown for something to eat and a glass of local ale. Beautiful views over Lyme Bay and Golden Cap, with a path that takes you to the summit if you choose. Good for dogs and children, a level walk around the wood. Be careful not to leave valuables in your car when parked.
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Langdon Hill
National Trust owned Langdon Hill is a great place for a cool walk on a hot summer's day or a bracing one on a winter's day, you can detour down to The Anchor Inn at Seatown for something to eat and a glass of local ale. Beautiful views over Lyme Bay and Golden Cap, with a path that takes you to the summit if you choose. Good for dogs and children, a level walk around the wood. Be careful not to leave valuables in your car when parked.
An amazing place to take a walk, a sculpture around every corner to surprise you. No entry fee and dogs welcome. Also you have the bonus of fabulous views, on a clear day, of Lyme Bay.
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Portland Sculpture and Quarry Trust
Easton LaneAn amazing place to take a walk, a sculpture around every corner to surprise you. No entry fee and dogs welcome. Also you have the bonus of fabulous views, on a clear day, of Lyme Bay.
Wonderful Views over the Marshwood Vale to Portland in the distance. Pilsdon Pen is an ancient hill fort and is slightly smaller than it's neighbour, Lewesdon Hill which is wooded and also worth visiting.
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Pilsdon Pen
Wonderful Views over the Marshwood Vale to Portland in the distance. Pilsdon Pen is an ancient hill fort and is slightly smaller than it's neighbour, Lewesdon Hill which is wooded and also worth visiting.
Lyme Regis is situated at the heart of the Jurassic Coast, so called because of the wealth of fossils found here. It was in the cliffs near Lyme that the famous Ichthyosaur was discovered in 1819 by Mary Anning, the daughter of a local fossil collector. She went on to find a complete Plesiosaur and the well preserved remains of a flying reptile.
The steep narrow streets of Lyme reflect its long history and the Georgian architecture is contemporary with its prosperity in the 18th century when sea bathing became fashionable.
Two centuries later Lyme Regis still relies on tourism for its survival. The town enjoys a beautiful setting with a sandy town beach and pebble beaches nearby, including the famous fossil beach at nearby Charmouth.
Lyme’s existence depended upon the Cobb, a small artificial harbour dating from the time of Edward I. Lyme is exposed to south-westerly gales, and the Cobb acts as both a harbour and a breakwater. Because of The Cobb, Lyme Regis became a shipbuilding centre and important port: as recently at 1780 it was larger than the port of Liverpool.
The Cobb is internationally known as the place where Louisa Musgrove fell from steps known locally as “Granny’s Teeth”, in Jane Austen’s novel “Persuasion”. Jane Austen stayed here in 1804, and several scenes from both ‘Persuasion’, and ‘Northanger Abbey’ are set in the area. Whilst in Lyme she wrote to her sister describing how she enjoyed bathing, walking on the Cobb, and dancing at the local Assembly Rooms. The Cobb also features in the late John Fowles novel “The French Lieutenants Woman” which was made into a very successful film.
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Lyme Regis
Lyme Regis is situated at the heart of the Jurassic Coast, so called because of the wealth of fossils found here. It was in the cliffs near Lyme that the famous Ichthyosaur was discovered in 1819 by Mary Anning, the daughter of a local fossil collector. She went on to find a complete Plesiosaur and the well preserved remains of a flying reptile.
The steep narrow streets of Lyme reflect its long history and the Georgian architecture is contemporary with its prosperity in the 18th century when sea bathing became fashionable.
Two centuries later Lyme Regis still relies on tourism for its survival. The town enjoys a beautiful setting with a sandy town beach and pebble beaches nearby, including the famous fossil beach at nearby Charmouth.
Lyme’s existence depended upon the Cobb, a small artificial harbour dating from the time of Edward I. Lyme is exposed to south-westerly gales, and the Cobb acts as both a harbour and a breakwater. Because of The Cobb, Lyme Regis became a shipbuilding centre and important port: as recently at 1780 it was larger than the port of Liverpool.
The Cobb is internationally known as the place where Louisa Musgrove fell from steps known locally as “Granny’s Teeth”, in Jane Austen’s novel “Persuasion”. Jane Austen stayed here in 1804, and several scenes from both ‘Persuasion’, and ‘Northanger Abbey’ are set in the area. Whilst in Lyme she wrote to her sister describing how she enjoyed bathing, walking on the Cobb, and dancing at the local Assembly Rooms. The Cobb also features in the late John Fowles novel “The French Lieutenants Woman” which was made into a very successful film.
Everything Else
Great for families. West Bay has beaches, a great playground for all ages, fish and chip stalls, an antique centre, restaurants, pubs, an amusement arcade and walks.
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West Bay
Great for families. West Bay has beaches, a great playground for all ages, fish and chip stalls, an antique centre, restaurants, pubs, an amusement arcade and walks.
Essentials
Charmouth is a small town with a chemist, post office, small grocery store, hardware/paper shop and a butcher. A good place to pop in to get essentials on your way back from a day at the beach.
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Charmouth
Charmouth is a small town with a chemist, post office, small grocery store, hardware/paper shop and a butcher. A good place to pop in to get essentials on your way back from a day at the beach.
Entertainment & Activities
The Bridport Arts Centre and The Electric Palace both have a wide variety of live music, theatre, and films. Many of the local pubs also have live music events.
South Street
South StreetThe Bridport Arts Centre and The Electric Palace both have a wide variety of live music, theatre, and films. Many of the local pubs also have live music events.
A great place to go for a swim, yoga or aerobics class. During the school holidays there are lots of activities for kids. We enjoy the inflatable splash session at 2pm on a Saturday where kids can play for only £2.50 each. Also a good place to find a WiFi connection.
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Bridport Leisure Centre
Skilling Hill RoadA great place to go for a swim, yoga or aerobics class. During the school holidays there are lots of activities for kids. We enjoy the inflatable splash session at 2pm on a Saturday where kids can play for only £2.50 each. Also a good place to find a WiFi connection.
Dorchester has two cinemas, The Plaza ( Trinity St, Dorchester DT1 1TT) in the centre of town is a well-kept secret for those on a budget with children to entertain on a rainy day since the tickets are a fraction of the price of larger cinemas. There are also various museums in Dorchester, Tutankhamen, The Teddy Bear and The Military Museums.
Dorchester also has lots of coffee shops, restaurants and cafes.
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Dorchester
Dorchester has two cinemas, The Plaza ( Trinity St, Dorchester DT1 1TT) in the centre of town is a well-kept secret for those on a budget with children to entertain on a rainy day since the tickets are a fraction of the price of larger cinemas. There are also various museums in Dorchester, Tutankhamen, The Teddy Bear and The Military Museums.
Dorchester also has lots of coffee shops, restaurants and cafes.
Abbotsbury is worth a visit - you will find the Subtropical Gardens, The Children's Tithe Barn and The Swannery all at Abbotsbury, a combined ticket is available so you can visit all three. Alternatively, take a walk up to St Catherine's Chapel on the hill and enjoy the view.
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Abbotsbury
Abbotsbury is worth a visit - you will find the Subtropical Gardens, The Children's Tithe Barn and The Swannery all at Abbotsbury, a combined ticket is available so you can visit all three. Alternatively, take a walk up to St Catherine's Chapel on the hill and enjoy the view.