Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Charmouth is a delightful unspoiled seaside village set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with a fantastic beach world-renowned for its fossils. The large shingle beach and the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre on the seafront are a must-visit for those interested in fossils and local natural history. It is great for the family – lots of sand especially at low tide, safe swimming, picnic areas, cafes, and beach shops.

Lyme Regis Museum houses some fantastic fossils and is a great place to learn about the long history of fossil collecting in the area. It is built on the site of the birthplace and home of the fossil hunter Mary Anning. The Anning family also ran a shop here.

Dinosaurland Fossil Museum is a private museum which is owned and run by Palaeontologist Steve Davies and his wife Jenny. The museum contains a spectacular collection of the local Jurassic marine fossils. The ground floor of the museum houses a spectacular collection of 200-million-year-old Jurassic fossils which have been discovered along the local coastline. Exhibits range from the enormous Ichthyosaur to the tiniest fish and ammonites.

The Town Mill is a unique mix of working watermills, art galleries, and creative artisanal businesses. Centered around a beautiful medieval cobbled courtyard and featuring a landscaped ‘Miller’s Garden’, the Town Mill is one of Lyme Regis’ leading attractions. watch the giant waterwheel turn as it is driven by water from the River Lym. A miller will demonstrate how the huge gears harness this power to drive the heavy grindstone.

Monmouth Beach is a pebble and rock beach which was located just outside the town of Lyme Regis, and stretches from the famous Cobb for about one mile, to Pinhey Beach. This beach is so named because the Duke of Monmouth landed here in 1685 in an attempt to wrest the crown from King James II. One of the family-friendly beach and is apt for a swim and bath.

Golden Cap is a hill and cliff situated on the English Channel coast between Bridport and Charmouth in Dorset. The great rocky shoulder of Golden Cap offers magnificent views at every compass point. On a clear day, you can see across Lyme Bay to Dartmoor - well worth the effort of the walk uphill. Langdon is owned by the National Trust and encompasses a circular walk of approximately one mile.