Charmouth Beach (Dorset)

Information
Charmouth beach is a sand, at low tide, and shingle beach that stretches for two miles with many rock pools. The beach is split into two either side of the River Char, with the East beach being the main family beach and the West beach is an excellent place for fossil hunting.
To the west of Charmouth is the site of the largest coastal mudslide in Europe, called Black Ven, it was created in the winter of 1958/59.
If you are interested in fossil hunting then the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre is worth a visit as it has fossil displays, local information and organizes fossil finding walks on Charmouth Beach.
Facilities the beach include parking, toilets, cafe/shop, beach hut hire.
Charmouth beach, Dogs not allowed April to October.
Why not check other beaches nearby as we have no beaches around Lyme Regis, 56 beaches in Dorset, or check our list of Dorset Dog Friendly Beaches.
Beach Water Quality
Water samples are taken at regular intervals during the bathing season and at the end of the season the water quality is classified as:
- Excellent: the highest classification meaning the water is cleanest
- Good: generally good water quality
- Sufficient: meets minimum standards
- Poor: You are advised not to swim. The beach will stay open and an action plan should be in place to improve the water quality.
Tides
7 Day Weather Forecast
Our weather forecast for Lyme Regis in Dorset is split into two widgets. The first shows a timeline containing temperature, wind, sunrise/sunset and chance of rain, whilst the second shows the forecast for the week ahead including severe weather alerts when available.
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In this 'you may also like' section we attempt to answer what else can I do? Here you have a list by order of being the closest some more beaches, things to see and do, places to eat and upcoming events.
- Food Rocks
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  7th September 2019
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  8th September 2019
  The Food Rocks festival was started by top chef Mark Hix with the main aim of promoting the produce of the local area around Lyme Regis on the Dorset coast. The festival welcomes top chefs, exhibitors, locals and visitors to Lyme Regis, the main stage showcase offers a mix of interactive cookery demonstrations, talks and tastings across the 2 days. The money raised goes to good causes split between the RNLI and the Fishermen’s Mission.
- Charmouth Beach Cafe
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  Beach: Charmouth Beach View: Located just above the beach overlooking the bay. What’s on the menu?: Snacks, drinks, ice-creams
- Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre
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  Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre has amazing fossil collections and provides information on fossils, fossil hunting and the local coastal and marine wildlife. Throughout the year we run guided fossil hunting walks and rock pooling walks along the local Charmouth and Lyme Regis coastline. The Centre also has an extensive education programme. Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre opening times: Summer (Easter – November) The Centre is open daily 10:30 am – 4:30 pm. Winter (November – Easter) The Centre is open from Friday to Monday, 10:30 am – 4:00 pm. Admission to the Centre is FREE however as a small charity donations help keep the Centre open. There are charges for Charmouth fossil hunting walks and rockpool rambles.
- East Cliff Beach
  2.15 km
  
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  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
  2.3 km
  
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  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.
- Lyme Regis Museum
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  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
  2.77 km
  
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  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 Beach House Cafe
  2.98 km
  
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  Beach: Lyme Regis View: Views across Lyme Bay to Golden Cap. What’s on the menu?: Breakfasts, snacks, sandwiches, salads, homemade cakes, drinks, ice-creams
- The Cobb
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  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
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  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
  3.22 km
  
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  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 Beach
  4.2 km
  
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  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).
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