Lyme Regis is a beautiful seaside town in the South West of England that sits along the famous Jurassic Coast – a 95 mile coastline that is now a UNCESCO World Heritage Site. We ended up spending a long weekend here for my birthday. Whilst a year has flown by since visiting, I cannot stop thinking about the stunning scenery, fossil beaches and delightful locals of Lyme Regis. Here is a snapshot of our weekend and some top things to do whilst exploring the “Pearl of Dorset.”
Whilst making our journey to the fantastic town of Lyme Regis, the whole time I could not guess where we were going for my birthday. Little did I know that we were around the corner from the heart of the Jurassic Coast.
After seeing plenty of signs with “Lyme Regis” written pretty much everywhere, I’d like to say it became apparent to me…but it didn’t! Whilst I had heard of the Jurassic Coast, I did not know what to expect in our weekend in Lyme Regis, or what I would find…
If you are planning a trip to Lyme Regis, here are a few things we did on our weekend in Lyme Regis, to give you some ideas:
1. Hunt for Fossils
In no particular order, one of the best things to do in your weekend at Lyme Regis is hunting for fossils! Due to the historic coastline and fossils beaches, this town is one of the best places to hunt for fossils. Some of the rocks at Lyme Regis, date back to around 250 million years to 65 million years ago – making it a prime spot for fossil finding.
Tip: Before you go, it is important to ensure that you are being as safe as possible. Be sure to check the tide times before hunting for any fossils.
You will often see people in helmets and with their gear hammering away at the rocks to find fossils. Having said that, we were lucky enough to stumble across an ammonite on our last day in Lyme Regis whilst simply strolling along the beach. It made the birthday trip even more magical, but luck was certainly on our side!
We noticed that you could opt to join a tours for fossils walks and fossil hunting. If that interests you, it is certainly worth checking out. Let me know down below if you manage to find a fossil!
2. Take a Stroll Along the Coastal Paths
There are many paths and hikes to take in Lyme Regis. This website provides a range of walks and hikes to suite your needs.
We ended up opting for Axmouth Lyme Regis Undercliffs path that ends in the town of Seaton. This route is not for the faint hearted. There are no toilets along the way or shops to stop and rest. We thought this would be a stroll but it ended up being a moderate hike that took around 5 hours!
Having said that, this coastal walk was amazing and the views were absolutely breath-taking. You could see the sea for miles on end and climbing the steps along the cliffs was an amazing experience. It also felt as though we were the only ones taking the hike and at times it really felt as though we were in Jurassic Park.
Tip: As usual, learn from our mistakes! If you do walk to Seaton and do not fancy walking all the way back, it is best to pre-book a cab. We were exhausted when we arrived in Seaton and found all taxi’s were fully booked! Be sure to pack lots of water and snacks too. We were very unprepared and I wish we had taken a small backpack on the trip.
3. Explore the Cobb at Lyme Regis
The Cobb is a historic harbour wall was built as a breakwater to protect the ships and town.If you are after a more leisurely walk on your weekend in Lyme Regis rather than a hike, I recommend checking out the Cobb if the weather is good.
It is a great area to explore and offers some amazing views. You can even take a boat trip and explore the surrounding area of Lyme Regis by boat from here. However, if you are after panoramic views, head to Victoria Pier.
If you are feeling peckish, be sure to check out the Cobb Arms for some fish and chips!
4. See the views from Charmouth Road Car Park
There is a lovely pay and display car park in Lyme Regis known as Charmouth Road. From here, you can take the coastal path on foot down to Lyme Regis.
This lovely pathway also takes you to some of the amazing beaches in Lyme Regis where you can find fossils. In addition, it offers some stunning views of the scenery in Lyme Regis.
It can take about 10/15 minutes to walk down, but the views are oh so worth it.
If you decide to climb back up to the car park, be warned that it can be tiring! We travelled back up the path with our luggage…it was not a good idea. Again, learn from our mistakes!
Tip: If you decide to park your car here, be sure to download the JustPark app. This will make it easier for you to manage the payment.
5. Explore The Town of Lyme Regis on Foot
Lyme Regis is a very walkable town and it is best to explore the town on foot.
If you are after some souvenirs, there are loads of boutique gift shops dotted around the town, some of which even sell fossils, in case you didn’t find any! Head up Broad Street and you’ll find yourself surrounded with shops, cafe’s and bakeries.
If Museums are more of your thing, I highly recommend checking out the following:
- Dinosaurland Fossil Museum: This museum holds some impressive dinosaur fossils and ended up being a highlight for us! The museum is based in a former Congregational Church and took us around 1 hour to explore.
- Lyme Regis Museum: Another great museum to see some fossils. This museum was built on the site of Mary Anning’s home who was a pioneering palaeontologist who lived in Lyme Regis. You can learn more about her and her discoveries at this museum.
And if beaches are more your thing, head to Lyme Regis Beach which offers some more sand than the other fossil beaches
Where to Stay in Lyme Regis
There are plenty of places to pick from, however, I highly recommend Rock Point Inn. This hotel is set right along the seafront and includes a brilliant and filling breakfast. The rooms are extremely modern and had absolutely everything we needed. Above all, the staff were really attentive, friendly and made us feel at home.
Whare to Eat in Lyme Regis
There are a range of places to eat at Lyme Regis, however our favourite places were:
- Rock Point Inn: Not only did we stay here, but we ended up also having dinner here on our first night. The food is great and super filling. It has everything you need from a pub – including some fabulous cocktails.
- The Lyme Bay: They have some of the best prawns we have ever tasted! A restaurant with a view.
- The Cobb Arms: We did not get to try out this pub, but it was on my list as the reviews for it are great, especially if you are a seafood fan.
There you have it! A perfect weekend in Lyme Regis. If you are short on time, you can easily do a day trip to the stunning town. Let me know if you have been to Lyme Regis before and if you found any fossils!
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