Town Beach - Lyme Regis Lyme Regis’ picturesque harbour dates back to the fourteenth century. Known as The Cobb, it contains a small, sandy beach sheltered by a curving harbour wall, famously used in the opening shot of the film ‘The French Lieutenant’s Woman’. Lym Regis main beach

Monmouth Beach - Lyme Regis The sand and pebble Monmouth beach is part of Dorset’s spectacular Jurassic Coast. The beach is located just outside the town of Lyme Regis, and stretches from the famous Cobb for about one mile, to Pinhey Beach. Above the beach are the Ware Cliffs, which are estimated to be nearly 200 million years old. However, the cliffs here are unstable and visitors should not go too close to them in case of rock falls. Given the location it is little surprise that Monmouth beach is a great place to look for fossils, with the chances of finding one or more during a walk along the beach very high. There are good examples of ammonites, belemnites and plant fossils to be found here. There is a fossil shop in Lyme Regis which can be useful in showing what to look for beforehand. Monmouth Beach

Church Beach - Lyme Regis The small, sandy beach of Church Cove lies to the east of Lyme Regis, not far from the town centre. It was one of the locations for the film, “The French Lieutenant’s Woman” which starred Meryl Streep. The beach can be entirely submerged at high tide but at low tide a patch of sand and a number of rock pools are uncovered. They are a great spot for finding shrimp and a variety of other shore life. Church Beach

Charmouth West Beach Part of the 96-mile long Jurassic Coast, Charmouth Beach is one of the best spots on the south coast to come fossil hunting. The beach is mainly shingle, although at low tide a good expanse of sand is exposed. The beach divides into three sections. The area immediately in front of the seafront car park and the Heritage Centre is known as the Central Area. When the tide is out, the exposed sand slopes gently into the sea making this a good spot for swimmers and young families. Admission to the Heritage Centre is free, although children will enjoy making a donation into the mouth of the dinosaur. There are plenty of visual displays and activities for young children. From February to September, the centre organises fascinating Fossil Walks along the beach, which can be booked online. Fans of TV series Broadchurch might recognise the attractive blue beach huts which run alongside the Central Area. Charmouth West Beach

Charmouth East Beach Popular on account of having a little more sand than Charmouth’s West Beach, Charmouth’s East Beach is a good place to find small Ammonite and Belemnite fossils. Access is either over a footbridge, or by wading through the river at low tide. Safe swimming but frequent landslides, so avoid sitting directly under the cliffs. Charmouth East Beach

Seatown Beach Seatown is a coastal hamlet with a privately-owned beach, just east of Golden Cap, the highest point on England’s south coast. The shelving shingle beach is open to the public and popular with fossil collectors, fishermen and families alike. Seatown Beach

Eypemouth Beach The beach at Eypemouth is a mix of gravel and shingle, although the odd patches of sand are occasionally exposed by the tidal movement. What makes the beach special, are the stunning views of the cliffs along the Lyme Bay Jurassic coastline. The blue lias clay cliffs which back the beach here can be unstable and subject to landslides. Visitors should keep a safe distance from these and never attempt to climb them. Although there is no lifeguard visitors come to Eyprmouyh to swim and surf in the waves during the warmer summer months. The beach is also a popular spot for fishing throughout the year. There are a number of spectacular cliff-top walks in the area with the South West Coast Path passes nearby. Eypemouth Beach

West Bay Beach This fine shingle beach stretches from the western end of the vast area of Chesil Beach to the harbour at West Bay. The beach slopes quite steeply into the sea and there are some areas of sand at the water’s edge. Because of this sudden shelving in the water, the West Beach on the other side of the harbour is probably safer for children to play in the water, although this is much smaller. The majestic and imposing sandstone cliffs of East Cliff form a dramatic backdrop to the beach. Rising almost 50 metres (180ft) vertically above these spectacular cliffs can be unstable and visitors should observe the various warning signs around the beach. This wide expanse of coast is a good destination for beachcombing walks and fossil hunting. East Beach has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and there are a variety of walking paths in the vicinity. Fans of TV series Broadchurch may recognise some of the scenery here, as it was used as a location for the filming of all three seasons. The nearby harbour has spaces for around 70 boats and there are a good variety of fish and chip shops, cafes and restaurants around the harbour area. West Bay Beach

Beer Beach Beer Beach sits below the picturesque Devon village of Beer, forming part of the 95-mile Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. The name “Beer” comes from the Old English translation of “grove”, rather than any connection with the beverage. The beach here is made up of shingle, and is mostly protected from strong winds and waves because it lies in a cove, protected by the white chalky cliffs of Beer Head. Visitors will find a small fleet of attractively coloured fishing boats parked by the water’s edge, highlighting that even to this day fishing still plays a part in the economy alongside tourism. In the late afternoon it can be fun to watch the fishing boats bringing in their catches of fish, lobsters and crabs. Although there are not particularly strong currents, as you enter the water, the shingle beach steeply descends into deeper water meaning that you’ll quickly find yourself out of your depth. Whilst this may be ideal for confident swimmers there is no lifeguard cover so care should be taken. Beer Beach

Branscombe Beach Branscombe is a long, shingle beach that begins below the picturesque village of Branscombe and continues east to Beer Head, a distance of about a mile. Parking and other facilities right by the beach. Branscombe Beach

Seaton Beach Seaton Bay, with its mile-long pebble beach, sits right on the edge of the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO world heritage site. The beach (whose pebbles are protected), is backed by steep cliffs at the western end and well-served by the seaside town of Seaton. A variety of watersports are on offer. Seaton Beach

Ladram Bay Beach Ladram Bay is a sand and pebble beach, backed by impressive red Devonian sandstone cliffs. Just off the beach are two equally high, equally red stacks. The beach is popular for watersports and swimming, but there is no lifeguard service. Behind the beach is Ladram Bay Holiday Park where you will find a restaurant and public toilets by the “Three Rocks Entertainment Centre”, as well as limited parking. The beach is easily accessed via a slipway. Ladram Bay Beach