Towns and Villages

Eype

Eype has been described as one of West Dorset’s most beautiful villages. The village is full of thatched cottages with country gardens, dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. Visitors can enjoy a meal at the New Inn or the Eype Tea Gardens. Set in a stunning location Eype provides the opportunity to walk along the Coastal Path and is an ideal escape to the country.

West Bay

West Bay is a delightful fishing port east of Eype. Built as the harbour for Bridport, West Bay is a seaside resort renowned for its coastal walks, boat trips, and has three beaches.

Seatown & Chideock

Chideock is situated 3 miles west of our site along the coast. Chideock is in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with Golden Cap (the highest point on the south coast at 191 metres) and the 14th Century church of St.Giles. Chideock and Seatown have three public houses namely, The Clock House Inn, The George Inn and The Anchor Inn.

Bridport

Bridport is an internationally renowned bustling market town, famous for a long history of ropemaking, its literary heritage (The Bridport Prize and Literary Festivals), and the more recently the infamous Bridport Hat Festival. Our popular street markets happen on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Lyme Regis

Made famous by Jane Austen in Persuasion and the setting for ‘Ammonite’ the acclaimed film about fossil hunter Mary Anning, played by Kate Winslet. A town filled with ancient history and some of the best fossil hunting to be found anywhere, Lyme Regis is also known for the ‘Cobb’ harbour which dates from when it was one of the most important ports on the south coast.

Abbotsbury

There is plenty to do in this historic village: St. Catherine’s Chapel, St. Nicholas Church, Chesil Beach, Abbotsbury Swannery and the Sub-tropical Gardens. There is a farm shop selling local produce, a fishing tackle & bait shop, a range of interesting independent shops and galleries, tearooms and two public houses. If you are feeling energetic, a walk up the hill to Abbotsbury Castle, an Iron Age hillfort, has spectacular panoramic views.

Dorchester

The County Town of Dorset. The heart of Thomas Hardy’s “Wessex”. Take a visit to Sculpture by the Lakes, nestled in 26 acres an oasis for art lovers and collectors alike created by renowned sculptor Simon Gudgeon. Or visit the newly refurbished Dorchester museum.

Charmouth

Home to the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre with an amazing fossil collection and also guided fossil hunting walks that are a great day out on the Jurassic Coast.

Weymouth

Seated on a beautiful bay, Weymouth boasts one of the finest beaches in Dorset. There’s a pretty seafront lined with Georgian buildings, a traditional fishing harbour surrounded by pastel-painted houses, and a sandy beach lined with attractions and food stalls, making it perfect for families.

 

Portland

Portland is famed for its quarrys and Portland Stone is used in prestigious buildings including St Paul’s Cathedral. Tout Quarry is one particularly well worth a visit; this reserve has been transformed into a stone sculpture park

The distinctive red and white striped Portland Bill Lighthouse and visitor centre is open to tourists in the high season where you can climb the tower for some exceptional views.