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Lyme Regis & Uplyme Circular

Jurassic Coast Walk

Region - Jurassic Coast

County/Area - Dorset

Author - John Coombes

Length - 5.5 miles / 8.9 km    Ascent - 700 feet / 212 metres

Time - 3 hours 30 minutes    Grade - easy/mod

Maps Ordnance Survey Logo Anquet Maps Logo

Ordnance Survey Explorer 116Sheet Map1:25kBUY
Anquet OS Explorer 116Digital Map1:25kBUY
Ordnance Survey Landranger 193Sheet Map1:50kBUY
Anquet OS Landranger 193Digital Map1:50kBUY

Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Lyme Regis & Uplyme Circular
Click image to visit gallery of 3 images.

This Lyme Regis walk starts at the Cobb on the sea front and follows the trail inland following the River Lim to Uplyme. It then continues through fields, footpaths and quite country lanes passing the Carrington Viaduct to climb steeply to the coastal path. This is followed by a very steep decent back to the Cobb.

Lyme Regis was a important working port going back to Saxon times but fell into a decline in the late 18th century. The King of Wessex, Cynewulf, gave his blessing to a settlement of monks at Lyme in AD774. They started to extract salt from seawater, which gave rise to a port to export the salt.

It was not until 1284 that Lyme, through Edward I, was granted a charter giving it the right to use the suffix Regis, because it was an important base for the king's naval fleet in its wars against the French. The port being a natural harbour soon became too small for large commercial vessels and in the middle of the 18th century the port declined in importance.

Lyme Regis was saved by tourism with sea bathing becoming very popular and by 1750 there was a constant flow of visitors to the town. The addition of the railway at Lyme Regis boosted trade even more. Today the charm of Lyme Regis is that it as had no additional developments so the town remains unspoilt after all these years.

The start of the walk is The Cobb off Marine Parade. Follow the path on the promenade along to the town clock. Then continue to the harbour area to a viewing area. The path rises up a ramp past the Mermaid Theatre and back on the main road. Go past the museum turning right into Coombe Street. Carry straight on to the Lyme fish bar and turn left at the Ship Inn into Mill Street. Follow the lane down to an alley by the side of the Town Mill. Stay on the path with the mill stream on the right and the river on the left.

Follow the path to the top of the hill. Go past the mill on the right and at the end go through a gate onto a track which finally comes out into Mill Lane in Uplyme. After entering the lane continue to the end to reach the road. Cross the road and almost directly opposite the lane is a footpath, which leads through the woods finally coming to another lane. At the end turn left then cross the road and after about 5 metres go through a kissing gate and follow the footpath to the Talbot Inn car park.

After coming out of the car park turn right and follow the road for about 100 metres before crossing the road and turning into the Uplyme village hall car park. Once in the car park go straight through and enter the cricket field via a kissing gate. Keep to the right edge and continue to the far end> Go through another kissing gate into a field and follow the path all the way up the hill keeping the tree line on the right until reaching a stile. Cross over this stile into the lane. Turn left and continue to a crossroads.

Once at the crossroads go straight across and after about 50 metres turn right down a lane signposted Shapwick. Then follow this lane underneath the Cannington Viaduct. After passing the Viaduct continue for 250 metres up the lane. Then turn left just in front of a white house. Go through the gate and then straight up the field to another gate just left of a large white house. Follow the path to a lane. Stay on the lane until you reach a red brick house. Just past the house turn right up steps which is the start of the climb up Horseman's Hill up a steep wooded bank.

Having reached the top enter the field and follow the hedge so it is on the left. When near the centre of the field, cross a stile and continue on the path with the hedge on the right. Carry on to the next stile cross and follow path to a gate and into a lane. Follow the lane to meet the main road (A3052). Take care crossing this road and take the lane opposite signposted Ware. Carry on down the lane for about 250 metres. Then turn right into Ware Farm Manor before turning immediately left over a stile. Follow the path to another stile and continue on the path with the hedge on the left. At the end of the field cross a stile and descend steps down through the woods.

At the bottom cross the footbridge. Stay on the path bearing to the left. Continue through the woods to reach the main track which is marked South West Coastal Path. Turn left and after about 400 metres turn right next to a house and follow the signpost marked Lyme Regis. Follow the path marked Ware Cliffs and go through a gate. Once through the gate almost immediately keep to the right and follow the Coastal Path keeping over to the right all the way. When a house becomes visible at eye level turn right over a stile and follow the path marked The Cobb. Stay on this path all the way down the steps and through the woods finally emerging back on the sea front close to The Cobb.

Other walks nearby

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Walk 1551 Seatown and Charmouth via Golden Cap easy/mod5.0 miles
Walk 2580 Golden Cap & Charmoutheasy/mod5.0 miles
Walk 1549 Golden Cap from Seatowneasy/mod4.0 miles
Walk 1795 Beer & Branscombe Circulareasy/mod5.5 miles
Walk 2391 West Bay & Burton Cliffeasy4.5 miles
Walk 3629 Eggardon Hill from Lodersmoderate8.4 miles
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Recommended Books & eBooks

South West Coast Path Map Booklet - Minehead to St Ives

South West Coast Path Map Booklet - Minehead to St IvesMap of the northern section of the 630 mile (1014km) South West Coast Path National Trail. Covers the trail from Minehead to St Ives along the north Devon and Cornish coastline. This convenient and compact booklet of Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps shows the route, providing all of the mapping you need to walk the trail in either direction.
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South West Coast Path Map Booklet - St Ives to PlymouthMap of part of the southern section of the 630 mile (1014km) South West Coast Path National Trail. Covers the trail from St Ives to Plymouth along the west Cornwall and Devon coastline. This convenient and compact booklet of Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps shows the route, providing all of the mapping you need to walk the trail in either direction.
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