Sport & Leisure - Lyme Regis and Charmouth Hotel and Restaurant Association

Where Dorset meets Devon, and the rolling countryside tumbles into the sea, lies the ancient town of Lyme Regis, it’s roots stretching back to the 8 th Century. The World Heritage Coast footpaths stretch for over 20 miles to the East and West of Lyme.

To the East our neighbouring village of Charmouth has a Heritage Coast Information Centre – well worth a visit for information on this stretch of the coastline. A temporary diversion of the coast path from Lyme to Charmouth has been set up, as a result of recent landslips. Walkers can take this alternative route ( although some of it will now be by the roadside), alternatively, Charmouth can still be reached via a short walk along the beach from Lyme Regis – but remember to keep an eye on the tide times! As you walk along the beach, just before you
reach the Charmouth Beach Café and the Information Centre, you will pass an area called the Black Ven.
It is close to the Black Ven that Mary Anning famously discovered the fossilised remains of an Icthyosaurus back in 1811.

From Charmouth Beach the coastal path ascends steeply and eventually leads to the top of the Golden Cap, with it’s crown of orange sandstone. These are the highest cliffs on the South Coast of England. Descending from here takes you to a delightful small fishing hamlet called Seatown, where you can take a well earned break at the Anchor Inn.

To the West of Lyme is the Undercliff National Nature Reserve, accessible only to walkers. This was the scene of Europe’s biggest ever landslip, in 1840, and also provided the backdrop for the movie, The French Lieutenant’s Woman. This is a fairly tough 6.5 mile walk through rough terrain, eventually arriving at Seaton via the golf course.

From Seaton you will find a pleasant, undulating coastal walk to the quaint fishing village of Beer. The cliff path has a vantage point which gives a fine view of the Cove, where you will usually see an assortment of fishing vessels lined up along the shingle beach beneath the white chalk cliffs of Beer Head.

After descending into Beer village, the path leads up a hilly road to the Coastguard Station. Further along the coastal path you will reach a signpost indicating a choice of paths leading to Branscombe Mouth. One path continues along the cliff top, whilst the other descends into the Underhooken where, below you and on your left, lies the sea and shingle beach. To your right, you will see a lofty rampart of white, weather eroded cliffs and a cave, possibly once used by smugglers. At Branscombe Mouth you will find some welcoming tea rooms. For the more adventurous, Sidmouth lies approximately 6 miles further on from this point.