Visit Lyme Regis

The historic seaside town and fishing port of Lyme Regis is situated in South West Dorset. This beautiful part of Dorset is world famous for its geology and fossil finds and has been awarded World Heritage Site Status.

Be sure to pack a pair of wellies or walking shoes so you can take part in a fun and informative guided fossil walk along Lyme Bay’s famous Jurassic Coast. And if you’re not fortunate enough to find your own Jurassic fossil, Lyme Regis has many shops selling a fascinating variety of fossils of all sizes. Click here for a Fossil Walk timetable and to book a Fossil Walk.

Lyme Bay is ideal for water sports such as sailing, yachting, swimming, wind surfing and body boarding. Local charter boats take individuals and groups for fishing trips and diving trips.

Lyme Regis was the location of the 1981 film The French Lieutenant’s Woman starring Meryl Streep (and adapted from the novel of the same name by John Fowles). One of the most striking images from the film is the classic scene where Meryl Streep stands on The Cobb (the harbour wall) gazing out to sea: a pose which has been recreated in many holiday photos in the years since this popular film was made! The Cobb also features in Jane Austen’s novel, Persuasion.

The town and its coastline is very popular with artists and there are many art galleries selling local artists’ work. The famous American artist James Whistler visited Lyme Regis in the summer of 1895, when he painted two of his finest portraits: The Master-Smith of Lyme Regis and The Little Rose of Lyme Regis.

Lyme Regis is an essential destination if you’re visiting Dorset and if you’re looking for local accommodation, Chesil Beach Lodge is perfectly located. Click here to book our bed and breakfast and self-catering accommodation on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast.

How to have an eco-friendly holiday

As well as booking sustainable holiday accommodation, there are other ways in which you can help to ensure that your holiday is as eco-friendly as possible:

• Cycle, walk, go for a pony or horse ride, and visit nearby towns and attractions by bus or train whenever you can: make the most of the beautiful countryside and really see what the local towns have to offer. And fewer cars on the roads will make the holiday season better for everyone.


• When you’re about and about be careful not to leave your litter on the beach, or in the countryside.


• When you’re in your holiday accommodation turn off appliances that you’re not using and, of course, don’t forget to turn off the lights when you leave your rooms for the day.


• Take spare bags with you for your holiday purchases and, as you would do at home, refuse all packaging and bags that aren’t absolutely necessary. Check to see if your holiday accommodation has a recycling bin for your recyclable packaging.


• If you’re in self-catering accommodation, or camping, make the most of local farmers’ markets, farm shops and shops selling locally produced food.


• Buy ‘green’ gifts for family and friends back home. For example; help the local economy by buying locally produced food items. Perhaps the area you are visiting has traditional recipes or nationally recognized products: Dorset has Dorset Blue Vinny Cheese, Dorset Knob Biscuits, and Dorset Apple Cake.
  

These are just a few suggestions. Do you have any others to share?

Eco-friendly accommodation in Dorset

If you’re looking for eco-friendly self-catering holiday accommodation in Dorset, Chesil Beach Lodge is your ideal holiday destination. We offer a choice of four delightful self catering apartments; each with stunning sea and coastal views over Lyme Bay.

Our eco credentials

• Wherever possible, we use organic and locally sourced products: locally produced cheese and dairy products, locally baked bread, locally caught fish, and meat from our local butcher.


• In order to minimise waste we buy in bulk, avoid buying products that are over-packaged, and we compost our vegetable waste.


• In the day-to-day running of the house we use environmentally friendly cleaning products, energy efficient light bulbs, open fires and wood burners to supplement heating, and we line-dry the laundry in summer.


• We are committed to recycling and all our glass, plastic milk bottles, tins, clothes and cardboard is collected and recycled in Dorset. Unwanted household items and clothing are recycled via our local Oxfam shop.


• We believe in supporting local industry and we employ local staff and hire local trades people.


• We encourage our guests to explore the local area on foot or on public transport, and we have a wide range of maps and guides which guests are free to use.
  

Choose between one or two bedroom apartments, sleeping between four and six people.We provide everything you need to make your holiday as comfortable and relaxing as possible, but with minimum impact on the planet. All our self catering apartments have central heating (two are supplemented with wood burners), oven / hob, fridge, microwave, iron and ironing board, king size beds plus 4’ sofa beds, linen and towels for main bedrooms, and Digital Freeview TV and DVD player. We also provide free WiFi.

And if you don’t feel like cooking on your first evening on holiday, or after a busy day exploring Dorset and its many attractions, you can request a delicious home-cooked locally sourced evening meal to be delivered to your apartment or put in your fridge ready for your arrival.

A warm welcome and a sustainable holiday in the beautiful county of Dorset awaits you, so why not contact us and find out more about our eco-friendly self-catering accommodation in Dorset.

Visit Dorset Farmers’ Markets

If you’re planning to stay in Dorset, don’t miss the county’s marvellous markets. There are markets across West Dorset. Why not start with a Farmers’ Market?

Farmers markets are a sense explosion: beautiful smells of fresh cooked food and coffee greet you as you arrive. Many stall holders will offer samples, so you can taste before you buy. Your eyes will relish the colours of the beautifully arranged seasonal fruit, flowers and vegetables.

There is a wonderful range of fresh, local produce for sale at every Dorset Farmers’ Market across the county. You can find high quality ingredients for your dinner, or even home-cooked pies and quiches, perfect with some fresh salad leaves for the no-cook holiday meal. You can find gifts to take home and meet the farmers, producers and growers directly.

You know we support sustainable tourism in Dorset, so remember that when you shop at a farmers market you are supporting local producers too. Find Farmers’ Markets at the venues listed:


Bridport Farmers’ Market 2nd Saturday in each month – Arts Centre 9.30am-2pm

Dorchester Farmers’ Market 1st Saturday in each month at Poundbury, 9am-1pm

Sherborne Farmers’ Market 3rd Friday in each month – Cheap Street, 9am-1pm

What’s on in Dorset: August

Here’s our pick of some of the many Dorset events during August

Ship ahoy! Step back in time and sail on the spectacular Tall Ship ‘Earl of Pembroke’, a three masted wooden sailing ship whose film credits include Hornblower Series III, Treasure Island, Moll Flanders, Frenchman’s Creek, Shaka Zulu, Longitude and Wives & Daughters. The Earl of Pembroke will sail twice daily from Weymouth from the 1st to 7th of August (no sailings on the 4th August). Tickets are £40 per person. To book, or for further details, contact Square Sail 01726 70241 http://www.square-sail.com

The week of 7th to 15th August sees a fun packed programme of events for all the family at the 2010 Lyme Regis Regatta and Carnival Week. The itinerary includes a beach treasure hunt; balloon races; regatta races; sand sport; torchlight processions; a dog show; lifeboat display; pavement art; teddy bears’ picnic and teddy bears’ parachute jump; gymnastics, taekwondo and majorettes displays; Old Lyme ghost tour, the World Pebble Balancing Championship and much much more. All money raised all goes to local good causes. Telephone 01209 443696 for more information.

The Bridport Carnival Procession takes place on Saturday 21st August. As always, this will be a very colourful event with many floats and walking entries, plus a carnival fete and funfair at Asker Meadows. On Sunday 22nd August you can take part in the fantastic spectacle of the traditional torchlight parade and join hundreds of people walking from Bucky Doo Square in Bridport to West Bay, where there will be a bar and live band on the beach, plus a bonfire and amazing firework display. Telephone 07836 516763 for more details.

On 22nd August, you can also watch a thrilling search and rescue display given by the Weymouth Lifeboat, Lyme Regis Lifeboat and HM Coastguard's Portland Helicopter Rescue Team (weather and emergencies permitting), at the RNLI Fun Day at West Bay. There will also be plenty of activities and games for all the family on The Green.

If you are interested in traditional crafts, the countryside and conservation, and you would like to learn more, the Stock Gaylard Oak Fair on the 28th August promises to be a very enjoyable day out. There will be over 100 different activities, stalls and demonstrations by traditional crafts people, including blacksmiths, hurdle makers, wood carvers and more, plus fun and inspiring activities for children.

Dorset is packed full of exciting events and activities in August so don’t forget to book your self-catering accommodation in Dorset, or bed and breakfast in Dorset, as soon as possible.

Chesil Beach Lodge: Sustainable Food

Chesil Beach Lodge offers unique sustainable holiday accommodation in Dorset. As part of our aim to be sustainable and minimise use of resources, we use local produce wherever possible and always opt for Organic if we can. When you are staying with us you can enjoy:

• Locally caught fish


• Bacon and sausages from our local butcher


• Locally baked bread


• Locally produced cheese


• Local dairy products

What’s more, if you are self catering we offer a choice of delicious home cooked locally sourced dishes that can be put in your fridge, ready for you to heat up. Just place your order 24 hours in advance and you could be enjoying dishes like:

• Chilli Con Carne with rice


• Local Dorset beef lasagne with garlic bread and salad


• Cottage Pie with seasonal vegetables


• Roasted vegetable lasagne with garlic bread and salad


• Chicken Casserole in a creamy mushroom sauce with seasonal vegetables and buttery mashed potato
  

• Chocolate Truffle Torte with cream


• Lemon Meringue pie with cream


• Honeycomb and chocolate cream pudding

Main courses cost £8.95, puddings £3.25, or you can book a 2 course meal for £11.50. Find out more about our delicious catering service here.