Charmouth and it's Surrounds

There is a huge range of local activities available including swimming, walking, golf, horse riding, paint balling, quad biking and fishing. Charmouth has long been famed as a great place for fossiling and is now a gateway to The Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. Adults and children will enjoy fossil hunting on the beach which can be rewarding, educational and very addictive. Do remember to stay clear of the cliffs, they are both crumbly and muddy and can be very dangerous. Click the photos to view larger

The countryside around Charmouth is great for walking and watching wildlife. At the top of Stonebarrow Lane is the National Trust's Golden Cap Estate which has 25 miles of footpaths through unspoilt farm and woodland, with spectacular views in every direction. Golden Cap is the highest point on the south coast and from it's cliff top summit you can see the whole of Lyme Bay stretching from Portland in the east to Start Point in south Devon over 45 miles as the gull flies.

Charmouth village has a pharmacy, a G.P Surgery, a small supermarket, a gift shop, a butchers, a shop selling quality garden tools, gifts and sundries, a delicatessen and arts and crafts shop, a post office, a newsagents, 2 hairdressers, 2 pubs, and a fish & chip shop.

The area also has a wide choice of local gourmet pubs & restaurants including in Charmouth The White House Hotel, The Abbots House Hotel, The Royal Oak pub and The Old Bank Café. In Lyme Regis is the Hix Oyster and Fish House and several other excellent places to eat. Axminster boasts both the River Cottage HQ at Park Farm and The River Cottage Canteen.

Lyme Regis is about two miles from Charmouth and it's narrow streets are lined with many listed buildings and delightful shops with a profusion of art, crafts, books, antiques and specialist food shops. At the western end of the town is 'The Cobb' (left) an ancient harbour wall. From the harbour you can take boat trips to fish or just enjoy the stunning coastline, The Frances Jane is the prettiest boat in the harbour and her skippers Doug and Amanda will make your trip memorable.

Charmouth is perfectly positioned for day excursions to East Devon (the Donkey Sanctuary being a favourite) or east to the Georgian town of Bridport famed for it's now long gone hemp rope works. Today it is a bustling, 'arty' town with a superb Arts Centre and The Electric Palace and street markets every Wednesday and Saturday. A little further afield is Abbotsbury with the Swannery and Tropical Gardens and the popular resort of Weymouth a few miles further at the end of Chesil Beach.

You can find out a lot more about the village of Charmouth and the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre at www.charmouth.org.