dutyfree

I am planning a driving trip with my adult daughter down to the Dorset coast around Lyme Regis in September. She loves marine fossils (being an oceanographer) so want to try and hit the areas on the beaches that we might find some marine fossils or interesting shops that pertain to fossils. Does anyone have any suggestions on cute towns on the Dorset coast between Weymouth and Exeter that you would recommend for us ? Any fun places to shop or eat that you have liked on your vacations? Thanks for any help!

MmePerdu

I haven't driven the route but I have walked the entire distance on the South West Coast Path, Exmouth to Weymouth. My favorite part was the 7 miles from Seaton to Lyme Regis, through the famous Undercliff land slip. Very evocative and romantic. If you can get out of your car for a day and walk it would be well worth the effort. You can return to your car by local bus or taxi.
http://www.walkingclub.org.uk/book_3...56/index.shtml

MmePerdu

Another thought. At the end of the walk I stayed in Dorchester, just north of Weymouth. 3 miles NE of Dorchester is Thomas Hardy's cottage and beautiful country garden run by the National Trust. A nice change of pace from the Trust's many great piles.
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hardy-country/

schnauzer

Chesil Beach is meant to have lots of fossils. All along the coast provides plenty of interest for fossil hunters. My sister lives in Bridport which is directly on your route. I can ask her for you.

The Swannery at Abbotsbury is also a good spot to have a look at.

Schnauzer

chartley

Have you looked at the Jurassic Coast website at www.jurassiccoast.com/?

There are a number of attractive places along the coast, but the best is probably Lyme Regis, and you would have no problems finding fossil shops in that area. It was the home of Mary Anning, the woman who made a number of important finds there 200 years ago.

One word of warning. This year's heavy rain has made the cliffs unstable, and there have been some tragic accidents. Some beach areas are closed as a result. The good news is that each cliff fall brings down more fossils.

Megdorset

Charmouth beach is great for fossil hunting.

Abbotsbury is a pretty village on the coast - a walk up to St Catherines chapel gives stunning views of the coast.

The coast road between Abbotsbury & Bridport (B3157) is a very scenic drive.

Dorchester county museum has a section devoted to fossils and houses the skull of a pliosaur.

If you decide to visit Hardys cottage, then Maxgate is also worth a visit as this was Hardys last home and has been refurbished to look as it would when he lived there. Both are owned by the National trust so do check opening times.

bilboburgler

I like the little part that links Lulworth cove to Durdle Door. It's not far, best (by car you are not allowed to drive there at certain times) to get to the cove when the army are not shelling http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/Ab...orthRanges.htm but as you come into the village there is a big car park on a field to your right. There are few tat shops but also some great lobster shacks and of course you can walk around the cove which is made up of cobble stones which makes it a good aerobic exercise.

If you leave the car park by following the jurassic signs or just walk up the hill to the west you can follow along to the door (probably also called Dor to emulate soome Victorians) (it is easy to get down to now they have put in steps) but also some good photo shots staying on the top. You can return the same way or head inland following a national walk which takes you back to the car park.

Not many issues except most of the fields have sheep in them which tens to bring flies even this close to the sea, so I like a hat but its not too bad. Many people will have dogs.

You can of course carry on going West a long way, but remember the lobsters.

Steve_James

Besides Lyme Regis, another attractive town for a stop is Sidmouth. The Dorset/E Devon coast is lovely

Steve

annhig

i love Sidmouth as it was the place that my family went to on our annual holidays every summer.

However, i think that it's a bit far from Lyme for the OP, and so far as i know, there are no fossils there, apart from human ones who have gone there to live out their retirement!

dutyfree

Thanks for the replies everyone! The only place I could find that had twin beds still is an inn in Sidbury? I have been looking for over a week on the various booking sites and am totally shocked what they are charging for that area on a weekend in September!$900 to $1200 for 4 nights at a guest house?
I have us booked at the Red Lion Inn in Sidbury besides Weymouth for two nights so hopefully it won't be too out of the way. I wish that I had been able to book this area months ago as it obviously is VERY popular going into the fall season.

bilboburgler

You may also like the walk from Swanage out to Old Harry Rocks and into Studland bay before reaching Poole harbour. There are buses from the ferry at the end of Studland that take you back into Swanage.

annhig

dutyfree - we had the same problem finding somewhere in that area in june when we wanted a long-weekend away.

as we weren't locked into the area, we went to Wells [in Somerset] instead; it was pretty popular too but not as expensive.

those prices are pretty high - you wouldn't think that there's a recession, would you?

Steve_James

Hi DF - I'm horrified at the price you've been quoted. I stay in this area most weeks - you can certainly find something much cheaper than that. Where are you looking?

I've stayed in some nice ones on:
http://www.devonfarms.co.uk
(- click on E. Devon)

Steve

dutyfree

We have the Red Lion Inn in Sidbury for around $110 a night USD but everywhere else was absolutely ridiculous1 I understand that they need to make money during their seasons but small B and B's or hotels for that price?

Avalon2

Price is silly for a, B&B.We love Dorset and Stay near Dorchester At Plumber Manor with a Michelin Starred restaurant. It has been in the family for 300m years.

Steve_James

I recently stayed at this one just outside Sidmouth @ £36pp.pn

http://www.pinnbartonfarmbandb.co.uk/

Others I can recommend in the E Devon area are:

http://www.thebarnandpinncottage.co.uk

http://www.yellinghamfarm.co.uk/html...farmhouse.html

http://www.southbrook-farm-devon.co....-breakfast.htm

dutyfree

Geez-everyone must be going to Devon for the month of September!
I appreciate you sharing the above places, Steve but they are showing full. I am definitely going to keep their addresses for the next time I go there and hopefully I will book with more time ahead. Who knew?

Question for those who have gone-
Should I be bring wellie boots for the beach or are heavy sandals okay? Do people dress up alot for dinner or is casual alright? Thanks-

Steve_James

Sandals are OK. Casual is fine

dutyfree

And its alright if you find any fossils to take them with you that you find on the beach? Bringing some Ziplocs...