Charmouth Beach (Dorset)

East Cliff beach is to the north of Lyme Regis and can be accessed from the promenade on Church Cliff beach. The beach is backed by steep cliffs and high tide disappears. Access to facilities in Lyme Regis itself.

Church Cliff beach is sandy in places and at low tide there is a rock ledge with rock pools. The River Lym flows into the bay on this part of the beach and the beach disappears at high tide. To the east edge of the beach you have Broad Ledge, a shale and limestone ledge that extends out into the English Channel. At low tide, it’s a popular rock pooling spot, where you can find mollusks, crustaceans and fish. You can also walk further way from Lyme Regis to East Beach where you have more rock formations to explore. You have access to all facilities within Lyme Regis.

The Lyme Regis Museum is also known as the Philpot Museum as it was commissioned in 1901 by Thomas Philpot, a relative of the fossil collector Elizabeth Philpot. Elizabeth Philpot befriended Mary Anning when Anning was still a child; despite the almost 20-year age difference the two became close and were frequently seen collecting fossils together. Philpot encouraged the young Anning to read about geology and understand the science behind the fossils she collected and sold. The museum sits in the heart of Lyme Regis with views out over Lyme Bay. The museum has collections telling Lyme’s local history and includes maritime and domestic objects, paintings, prints and photographs. This area of Dorset is known as the Jurassic Coast and is noted for its fossils, and the town’s literary connections, from Jane Austen to John Fowles, are illustrated in the Writers Gallery. As well as the displays the Museum also organises fossil walks.

Lyme Regis Town beach sits is a mix of sand and pebbles. More sand exists at the harbour (The Cobb) end of the beach with pebbles on the northern end providing much needed coastal protection. The Cobb end of Town beach is widely known as the setting for ‘The French Lieutenant’s Woman’. Facilities at the beach include parking, toilets, lifeguards in summer, multiple nearby foods kiosks, takeaways, cafes, restaurants and pubs.

The Cobb is a curving sea wall built at the end of the 13th Century to provide safe anchorage. The Cobb is a must to visit on foot with a great view from the end of Lyme Regis and the surrounding coast. Most people picture The Cobb as seen in The French Lieutenant’s Woman with waves crashing over the wall. It was also featured in Jane Austen’s Persuasion.

Lyme Regis lifeboat station was established in 1853 and now operates an inshore lifeboat from the famous Lyme Regis Cobb harbour. Station and shop open daily.

Monmouth beach is sand and pebble beach situated to the West of the Cobb and the beaches stretches over 1km away from the town. Monmouth beach is named because the Duke of Monmouth landed here in 1685 in an attempt to get the crown from King James II. Facilities include parking, food, toilets, chalets and beach huts. You also have access to Lyme Regis itself.

Lyme Bay is situated on the south coast of England, towards the western end of the English Channel. The Lyme Bay coast makes for excellent family holidays with excellent beaches, watersports and great fossil hunting. Lyme Bay is between Torbay in the west and Portland in the east. The counties of Devon and Dorset front onto the bay. The area around Lyme Bay is part of a World Heritage Site, the Jurassic Coast, named for its Jurassic geology, that stretches over a distance of 153 kilometres (95 miles).