Footscape Holidays

Lyme Regis Independent Walking Holiday

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.

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 walk

We have designed four 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 9 to 12 miles (14.5 to 19.5 kms) in length, although all four trails can be shortened, if required.

It would be hard to find a better centre for walking than Lyme Regis. To the west are the strange and unique Undercliffs - a 5 mile stretch of dense jungle and woods, with the South West Coast Path running through them. Further west, our trail passes through the small beach town of Seaton and on to the beautiful seaside village of Beer.

To the east from Lyme Regis the scenery is totally different, as our trail heads through 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. Behind Lyme Regis our other two trails cross rolling hills, iron-age hill forts and woodland, with magnificent views over the sea.

Our Lyme Regis holiday is an ideal choice for parents seeking an active family break, as there are many things of interest in the town and on our coastal trails for children.

Accommodation and 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. The full 4 day trail will need a booking for 5 nights. But if you would also like to spend some time fossil-hunting, sea fishing or relaxing on a beach for a day, then it would be best to opt for a longer holiday.

Trail Highlights

• Lyme Regis town with its excellent museum, famous Cobb and fossil beaches
• The extraordinary Undercliff walk
• 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.