Charmouth Beach → Golden Cap → Lyme Regis
The stretch of coast between Charmouth and Lyme Regis is the best place in Britain to find fossils. After winter storms, ammonites and belemnites wash out of the cliffs onto the beach. This itinerary combines fossil hunting with the best coastal walk in West Dorset and a proper Lyme Regis afternoon.
Start at Charmouth, not Lyme Regis. The beach east of the river mouth is where the best fossils wash up. Look for ammonites (circular coiled shells) and belemnites (bullet-shaped) in the grey shale. The Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre opens at 10am and runs free guided fossil walks on weekend mornings — worth timing your visit around.
The best time to find fossils is after a storm or heavy rain when fresh material has washed down from the cliffs. Never dig into the cliffs themselves — it's dangerous and illegal.
Drive or walk the 2 miles west to Seatown and climb Golden Cap — at 191 metres, it's the highest point on the south coast of England. The path from Seatown is steep but well-maintained. The views from the top stretch from Portland Bill to Start Point in Devon on a clear day. Allow 90 minutes for the round trip.
The Anchor Inn at Seatown is excellent for lunch before or after the climb. Book ahead in summer.
Drive the 4 miles to Lyme Regis for the afternoon. Walk The Cobb — the famous curved harbour wall that appears in The French Lieutenant's Woman. The town beach is sandy and sheltered. The Lyme Regis Museum on Bridge Street has an excellent fossil collection and explains the geology of the coast.
Hix Oyster & Fish House above the town has the best view in Lyme Regis. For a cheaper option, Harbour Fish & Chips on Marine Parade is consistently good.
The Jurassic Coast is a UNESCO World Heritage Site — one of only a handful in England. The fossils you find are genuinely millions of years old. You're allowed to keep what you find on the beach, but not to remove anything from the cliffs.
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