Places to Stay on the Jurassic Coast
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Information about the Jurassic Coast
The Jurassic Coast is one of the most remarkable stretches of coastline in the world. Running for around 95 miles from Exmouth in East Devon to Studland Bay in Dorset, it became England’s first natural World Heritage Site in 2001, and its cliffs reveal layer upon layer of rock and an extraordinary wealth of fossils.
Lyme Regis and nearby Charmouth are among the best places in Britain to go fossil hunting. It was here that the pioneering fossil collector Mary Anning made her celebrated discoveries in the early nineteenth century, and the town’s museums and guided fossil walks remain hugely popular today.
The scenery is spectacular throughout. Durdle Door, the great natural limestone arch, and the almost perfectly round Lulworth Cove are among the most photographed sights in the country. Chesil Beach, an extraordinary shingle bank stretching for miles towards the Isle of Portland, and Golden Cap, the highest point on the south coast, are equally impressive. At the eastern end, the chalk stacks of Old Harry Rocks mark the end of the World Heritage coastline.
The coast is also home to some delightful seaside towns. Sidmouth and Beer in East Devon have a quiet, traditional charm, while West Bay, with its striking golden cliffs, and Weymouth, with its long sandy beach and busy harbour, are popular family destinations. Swanage, with its steam railway, makes an excellent base for exploring the Isle of Purbeck.
The South West Coast Path follows the entire Jurassic Coast, offering some of the finest coastal walking in Britain. Whether you are looking for a family beach holiday, a fossil hunting adventure or a peaceful coastal retreat, there is a wonderful choice of places to stay.