From gorgeous beaches dotted with old fossils, to clifftop walking, to charming shop shops … there are lots of enjoyable points to do in Lyme Regis! Growing up in close-by Weymouth, the seaside community of Lyme was always a preferred day out for us. The vibrant community, with its attractive harbour and wonderful food scene, is best for an outing on the shore.
1– The Beaches
Lyme is, first and foremost, a seaside town, so of course the beaches are amongst the best points to do in Lyme Regis! There are actually numerous to pick from, so below’s a fast round-up:
Town Beach– a sand and roof shingles coastline along the curving bay. This is the primary beach, and is excellent for swimming, so it’s probably the busiest place on bright days.
Monmouth Beach– a shingle coastline to the west of community. Residence to the well-known Ammonite Sidewalk, likewise called the Ammonite Graveyard; a layer of limestone containing lots of ammonite fossils.
Church Cliff Beach– a shingle coastline with spots on sand, which rests on the mouth of the River Lym. Low tide exposes a rough ledge which contains rock pools, so it’s terrific for discovering with children.
East High Cliff Beach– a fossil-rich tile coastline running eastern towards Charmouth. The cliffs above this beach are prone to falling down, so stay clear of obtaining as well near them. Nevertheless, it’s these landslides which supply the stable stream of fossils discovered on a regular basis on the beach.
2– Fossil Hunting
Speaking of those fossil-rich beaches … Lyme Regis is a hotspot for fossil hunting! The community rests in the direction of the western end of Dorset’s magnificent Jurassic Coast. This 95-mile-long stretch of shore is a UNESCO Globe Heritage Website due to it’s geological and also historical relevance. To name a few things, that means the coast is abundant with fossils.
Lyme was the residence of renowned palaeontologist and also fossil collection agency Mary Anning. So it’s the best area to visit learn a little bit more about the fossils of the Jurassic Coast– as well as also hunt for some on your own. I discovered a little ammonite on my last browse through to the area, without even looking as well hard! With the routine landslides from the ever-shifting high cliffs, there are usually prizes to be found among the crushed rock and roof shingles!
3– Go To Lyme Regis Museum
In addition to the fossil hunting walks pointed out above, Lyme Regis Museum deserves a check out for its brilliant fossil collections. You can additionally uncover the life story of Mary Anning, learn more concerning why there are many fossils on this part of the coastline, and hear about what they instruct us concerning life in the world millions of years ago.
4– Dinosaurland Fossil Museum
This is the last reference of fossil related points to do in Lyme Regis, I assure! Dinosaurland Fossil Museum has greater than 12,000 specimens on irreversible display screen, so if you have a passion in fossils this is absolutely the area to visit.
The collection is really spectacular. Surf the neighborhood 200-million-year-old Jurassic aquatic fossils, like the impressive Ichthyosaur, in addition to more unique exhibits such as Russian trilobites as well as a 73kg swelling of dinosaur dung!
5– Walk Along the Cobb
” The principal street almost rushing into the water, the Walk to the Cobb, skirting round the enjoyable little bay, which, in the season, is animated with showering devices and company … are what the complete stranger’s eye will seek.”
Jane Austen, Persuasion
The Cobb is a curving breakwater constructed to safeguard Lyme Regis’ harbour. Strolling along the thick rock wall surface provides a stunning view of the lovely bay as well as the little harbour. The wall surface included in a pivotal scene in Jane Austen’s Persuasion as well as a number of film and television adjustments of the book, too a renowned scene from The French Lieutenant’s Woman (both the film as well as guide). You can find out more in my blog post listing 16 books embeded in Dorset.
6– Marine Aquarium
The Cobb is likewise house to the Lyme Regis Marine Aquarium, which is excellent for a day out with kids. This is a small family-run attraction which supplies an enjoyable, interactive understanding into the regional sea life. Discover a little bit much more about the sea animals of the British shoreline, and get some up-close experiences with pets consisting of crabs, crawfish, as well as starfish!
7- Explore the Store Shops and Galleries
Lyme Regis is overflowing with independent shop shops as well as art galleries, so it’s simple to while away a couple of hrs browsing them. Right here are a couple of you need to see to it to check out:
Jewellery by Lucy Campbell, Miller’s Parlour, The Community Mill. Visit the developer in her working workshop and search the variety of jewellery influenced by the coastline and sea.
Old Forge Fossil Shop, 15-16 Broad Street.
Jurassic Treasures, 7 Drakes Means.
Lyme Regis Vintage as well as Craft Centre, Marine Parade.
Persuasion, 20 Marine Parade. Coastal motivated presents and also clothes.
Alice’s Bear Store and also Teddy Bear Healthcare Facility, St Michaels Business Centre, off Poole’s Ct
.
Galleries Blue Lias Gallery, 47 Coombe St.
Town Mill Galleries, The Town Mill, Mill Lane. Much more on this below.
Coombe Street Gallery, 33 Coombe St.
8– Visit Community Mill
Snuggled in the town’s artisan quarter, the ancient Town Mill has actually given flour to Lyme Regis given that at least the 1300s. Today, the middle ages watermill is still running, creating artisanal stone-ground flour. Miller-guided excursions are supplied daily in exchange for a contribution to the mill’s philanthropic trust fund.
Today, however, this is much more than simply a mill! The atmospheric setting is also an imaginative hub. Numerous neighborhood services call the mill residence, consisting of art galleries, musicians’ workshops, a coffee shop, a jeweler, a bakery & deli, among the most effective breweries in Dorset– as well as more! So there are lots of factors to go to as well as explore.
9– Hiking on the Jurassic Shore
As mentioned over, Lyme is right on the Jurassic Shore. So it’s in a prime place for some unbelievable walking as well as high cliff walks. There are loads to select from, yet right here are a handful to obtain you started …
Lyme Regis to Charmouth– 5 miles (8km) round. Take the inland cliff path there, as well as stroll back along the beach.
Chideock to Charmouth– 5.4 miles (8.6 kilometres) one way. You can climb up Golden Cap– the highest point on the South Coast– in the process.
Eype Mouth to Seatown– 4.3 miles (7.0 kilometres). The course goes using Doghouse Hillside, West Dorset’s oldest human negotiation, and Thorncombe Sign.
10– Hix Oyster as well as Fish House
This is an angling town, so of course among the very best points to do is uncover the regional seafood. There are loads of remarkable dining establishments to choose from, but one of the most effective is HIX Oyster & Fish Residence. Opened up by acclaimed neighborhood chef Mark Hix, the restaurant is all about in your area sourced fish and fish and shellfish– as well as other regional produce.
They’re so keen on all points regional that Mark founded the Food Rocks Celebration (see the events area at the end of this article), which is a yearly occasion bringing together a few of the very best food, producers and suppliers that Dorset and also the South West needs to supply.
11– Lister Gardens Mini Golf
Lister Gardens are optimal if you’re searching for some enjoyable things to do in Lyme Regis– especially with children! These award-winning seafront yards have lovely views of the bay, and supply a quiet and also tranquil area to merely roam and take pleasure in the greenery. However they also provide an 18-hole mini-golf, table tennis tables, and a placing green. So they have plenty to keep you busy.
12– Lyme Sculpture Route
Given that 2015, the Langmoor and also Lister Gardens have actually likewise been residence to the Lyme Regis Sculpture Path. The route is dotted with sculptures by both established and also forthcoming regional artists. Discover an exterior gallery, and discover a bit much more about the Dorset art scene as you do so.
13– Five-o’clock tea at the Alexandra
The Alexandra is a beautiful, boutique resort ignoring Lyme Bay, so it’s the excellent place to take pleasure in tea with a view! Developed as a manor house for the Dowager Countess Poulett in 1735, the structure came to be a resort in 1901. This historic and luxurious setup is the best place to kick back!
14– Marine Theater
From its prime seafront place, the Marine Theatre flaunts magnificent views of the sweeping bay. It also boasts a quite remarkable background: this tiny white-and-blue theatre mores than 125 years of ages! Originally utilized as a drill hall for the military, the building ultimately ended up being a theater as well as movie theater. Today, it’s a popular aesthetic arts centre providing a great mix of entertainment, including bands, movies, comedians, plays, screenings, and community-led events.
15– Walk the River Lym
Lyme Regis matured around the mouth of the River Lym, likewise called the Lim. The river starts near the inland town of Uplyme and runs for just over 5km down to the sea. Complying with the river from source to mouth, or the other way around, will certainly take you over footbridges, through meadows, and past a number of old mills, including the Town Mill pointed out above. You’ll likewise pass a spray paint of a crane, which was done by Banksy in 2012, although it’s sadly hardly visible today.
