Things to do on a visit to the Lyme Bay coast in the south west of England

One in a series of articles on things to do when taking a holiday in the Lyme Bay coastal region of south west England. The Lyme Bay coast traverses west Dorset and east Devon and is an ideal place for family seaside holidays, romantic short breaks for two or winter weekend breaks.

This is the second in what I hope will be series of articles on things to do when taking a holiday in the Lyme Bay coastal region of south west England. The Lyme Bay coast traverses west Dorset and east Devon and is an ideal place for family seaside holidays, romantic short breaks for two or winter weekend breaks.

The Lyme Bay coast is an easily accessible part of England and is renowned for its fossil hunting, breathtaking natural beauty, sheltered harbours, sandy beaches and thatched cottages. The weather is relatively mild all year round so it’s a great place to visit at any time during the year. Lyme Bay is about two and a half hours by train or car from London – if you are travelling by train out of Waterloo station then Axminster, in East Devon, is a good destination to head for.

It’s a great place to visit and there are so many different things to see and do. To get the most out of a visit, you should plan your itinerary in advance. I hope this article will help you to do that and here are a couple of suggestions for inclusion in your itinerary.

It’s a long way for lunch, but it’s worth it!

Golden Cap, at 191 metres above sea level, is the highest point on the south coast and gets its name from its distinctive yellow sandstone summit. Do yourself a favour and have a wonderful day out walking to the summit of Golden Cap and slightly beyond to Seatown. Good walking shoes are strongly recommended! Start at the National Trust car park at Stonebarrow, near Charmouth, and then head east and follow the route to Seatown, it’s about 2 miles. The views are stunning, both out to sea and inland. The route can be steep and quite challenging at times, but it’s well worth it – especially when you reach the summit at Golden Cap. And now here’s the bonus – on arrival at Seatown you can visit the Anchor Inn, nestled below Golden Cap. The food’s very good and the local real ale is a treat. Having spent a relaxing hour enjoying lunch you can then burn off the calories on the walk back – perfect!

A social history lesson in Deepest Dorset
July 2009 marked the 175th Anniversary of the Tolpuddle Martyrs’ arrest for forming a trade union in order to defend their livelihoods. Six farm labourers from Tolpuddle, Dorset were charged in The Old Crown Court and Cells, Dorchester with taking part in an ‘illegal oath’ ceremony and sentenced to seven years transportation to the penal colonies of Australia. The real offence was that they had dared to form a trade union. The sentences provoked an outcry, leading to the first mass trade union protest in Britain. The campaign eventually won free pardons for the Martyrs’ and they returned to England. The Tolpuddle Martyrs Museum, in Tolpuddle near Dorchester, tells the harrowing tale of the Martyrs arrest, trial and punishment. The museum has been re-designed into a modern, informative and educational exhibition, using interactive touch screen displays and graphic panels telling the story in text and images. The museum sets out the Martyrs’ story in four sections: Before the arrest, The Oath and Betrayal, Transportation and The Homecoming.

Somewhere to stay
One of the most flexible and convenient ways to take a break in the Lyme Bay area is to book a self-catering holiday cottage. Lyme Bay Cottages provide self-catering holiday accommodation all year round with properties ranging from traditional Devon and Dorset cottages through to modern apartments - some in quiet country hideaways others in lively little coastal towns and villages. You can view details of Devon and Dorset holiday cottages and more information about the Lyme Bay area at www.devonanddorsetcottages.co.uk.

Article Tags: South West, Trade Union

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