Description of Lyme Regis

Lyme Regis lies on the coast at Dorset’s extreme western border with neighbouring Devon. It is a very attractive town on the Jurassic Coast, combining its famous Cobb with narrow lanes dotted with local crafts, bistros and museums. It is also well known as the setting for John Fowles’ book and the film The French Lieutenant’s Woman, and is closely associated with Jane Austen. Finally it is the fossil capital of England, with its shores yielding numerous relics from prehistoric times. Tours are available on request.

Our Lyme Regis holiday is an ideal choice for parents seeking an activity family break, as there are many things of interest in the town and on our coastal trails for children. Lyme Regis is an ideal location for a short 2-3 night stay, but if you would also like to spend some additional time fossil-hunting, sea fishing or relaxing on a beach for a day, then it would be best to opt for a longer holiday. Lyme Regis is a 10 minute taxi ride or 15 minute bus trip from Axminster, which is 2 hours 45 minutes by direct train from London.

About the Walks

We have designed a range of stunning and diverse trails for our Lyme Regis self-guided hiking tour or short weekend break, ranging in difficulty from easy/moderate to moderate/strenuous and from 2 to 12 miles (14.5 to 19.5 kms) in length, although all of the longer trails may be shortened, if required. Although the coastal erosion which has made this area so special for fossil hunting has resulted in the diversion of the coastal path either side of Lyme, the town remains an excellent centre for a walking-based holiday. It is possible to walk westwards through the Undercliff National Nature Reserve as a there and back walk as far as the closed section at Culverhole Point. To the east from Lyme Regis the scenery is totally different, as after a short diversion to Charmouth our trail heads through stunning National Trust land beside the sea over Golden Cap - the highest point on the south coast - to the small harbour and beach town of West Bay and beyond. Shorter town-based walks reveal some of the long history associated with Lyme Regis. Inland our other two trails cross rolling hills, iron-age hill forts and woodland, rich in flora and fauna, with magnificent views over the sea.

Accommodation & Services

Lyme Regis is a very popular place; so please try to book as early as possible. We will provide you with accommodation in the town, and will give you our detailed Trail Guide, as well as the relevant ordnance survey map (with the trail highlighted), along with all other information that you will need.

Trail Highlights

• Lyme Regis town with its excellent museum, famous Cobb and fossil beaches
• Undercliff National Nature Reserve
• The Seaton Tramway
• Golden Cap
• The Cannington Viaduct
• The iron age hill forts of Lambert’s Castle and Coney’s Castle
• Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre and fossil beach.