What to do in Lyme Regis

Easily accessible, and only three hours from London and the Midlands, Lyme Regis is away from it all, nestling in the unspoilt West Dorset countryside. Part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage site, and surrounded by areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Lyme Regis, the “Pearl of Dorset”, is famous for its fossils, its historic old town, its Cobb and its beaches. And now it’s a destination for food lovers, with Hix Oyster and Fish House in the town, and River Cottage HQ and Axminster Canteen both close by.

The old town, dating back to the 14th century, is an ideal place to walk and explore the local shops, art galleries, newly replanted gardens with myriad places to stop to eat and drink. Built around the River Lym, Lyme has its own working Water Mill, recently refurbished to include an electricity generator. Lyme Regis is probably the smallest town in the country to boast its own cinema, theatre, and museum.

The Cobb attracts visitors – not just for its visual splendour and its magnificent naval architecture, but also for its connections with great literature. Indeed, people come from all over the world to see the steps where Louisa Musgrove fell in Jane Austen’s Persuasion; or to see where Meryl Streep stood, looking forlornly out to sea, in the film adaptation of John Fowles’ The French Lieutenant’s Woman. And art lovers are drawn to Lyme for both its beautiful scenery and for its wide range of art galleries.

Holiday makers will enjoy a family-friendly, sandy beach and an often-surprising micro-climate in the shelter of Lyme Bay. Marine Parade is a great place to walk, sit, enjoy the views and visit its small shops and eating places. Here the seafront facilities will soon benefit from restoration of the Marine Parade Shelters, opened in summer 2011. The town and surrounding area have many attractions and host a range of family-centred events, including a Jazz Festival, a Fossil Festival, Life Boat Week and a Regatta & Carnival Week.

For visitors who have had enough of the hurly-burly, and need to escape, there are many delightful places to stay to suit all budgets. You will be able to enjoy walks in the surrounding countryside and there are many opportunities to go out on a boat to view the glorious coastline from the sea or to fish in the clear waters of Lyme Bay.

Whether you are into sunbathing, walking, fossils or even jazz – Lyme Regis has something for everyone.

Beaches & Activities

With views of the Lyme Bay and a short walk to the beach, you are never far from the sea at Springfield. And children of all ages will love the town with its smattering of beaches, fossil hunting, water activities and other delights.

The sea is the focus of a wide range of sporting activities. Swimming and bathing are top of the list, thanks to an award-winning environmental protection scheme ensuring the waters around the town are clean and safe – a fact that also shouldn’t be lost on windsurfers, water-skiers or sailors. Check out the Sailing Club and Power Boat Club for information about becoming a temporary holiday member.

Angling is another popular option, especially down by the Cobb where you’ll see a bevy of posters advertising deep-sea trips for catching cod, conger, skate, etc. Alternatively, a quiet trip around the bay might suit you better; in which case catching mackerel is a more likely outcome. Beach casting and pier fishing are also popular.

Finish the days with Barbecues in the summer, perhaps with your freshly caught mackerel or locally sourced meats and fish. In the winter the comforts of home cooking and log fires are easily achieved.

Family Holiday

Bucket and Spade adventures start here:

What better way to spend the summer holidays than getting together with friends or extended family and enjoying the great british seaside.

Lyme is the quintessential yet classy seaside town. The Lyme bay provides a dramatic backdrop to the perfect school holiday.

Walkers will love to explore the National Nature Reserve at the Undercliff. This seven mile long undeveloped woodland is part of the South West Coastal Path and stretches west towards Axmouth and Seaton. Going east from Lyme, walkers can follow the same path or take the costal footpath, part of the 650 mile South West Coastal Path, towards Charmouth and to Golden Cap. At 629ft, this is the highest point on the south coast. Other dry land activities abound: golfing, bowling, pony trekking and biking are just a few of the options available.

As well as being a great place to swim and sunbathe in the summer, Lyme is a paradise for visitors all year round and many tourists come in the winter during a storm just to watch the waves crashing over The Cobb.

If you prefer a less active holiday, there are a wide range of shops, tourist attractions and restaurants to enjoy.

Fossil Hunting & The Jurassic Coast

Explore the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, stretching 95 miles (155km) from Swanage in the East to Exmouth in the West. It tells the story of 185 million years of the Earth’s history. The site’s unique value creates a ‘walk through time’ that includes the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. The varied geology also provides a spectacular laboratory of coastal change, and supports rare and important plants and animals. It is a place to be enjoyed, learnt from and looked after for future generations.

The cliffs around Lyme Regis constantly crumble and slip into the sea, revealing fossils from the ancient Jurassic past of 180 million years ago. Take a fossil hunting walk and discover the fossilised remains of giant ichthyosaur, plesiosaur, belemnites and ammonites that can be found on the beach .

For further information on the Jurassic Coast visit the official Jurassic Coast website .

Children

Children are very welcome at Springfield

There are plenty of activities, Snooker / Pool Table, Table Football Table, Table Tennis Table, Air Hockey Table, Trampoline, Cinema Room with DVDs and Sky, Assortment of Board Games ( drawers in lounge ), Some items for young children in the conservatory

In and around Lyme Regis the following are within a walk of Springfield there is a sandy beach, fossil hunting, crazy golf, sailing club, crabbing (on the cobb), fishing trips (from an hour to a day), croquet (at the alexandra), boat building academy, museums (town and dinosaur), theatre (open air in summer), ghost tours

Girls Getaway

You may be looking for that special stylish venue for a Hen Party or be a group of ladies looking for a special place to go away.

We like to think of Springfield as your own small boutique hotel where you can relax and unwind in its plush surroundings.

Lyme Regis has loads to offer, from cocktails at the alexandra, to sunshine on the beach, to walks in the countryside, to beachcombing on the foreshore, to cooking at River Cottage, to great home and vintage shops to rummage around.

Plenty of eating options for the occasion. Go out to Hix, for simply great seafood and the best view in town. Or stay in and allow James from Lyme Bay Field Kitchen to cook and serve for you.