Walk 1550 - printer friendly version

Charmouth & Lyme Regis Circular Walk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 6.0 miles / 9.8 km

Ascent - 900 feet / 273 metres

Grade - easy/mod

Start - OS grid reference SY337916
Lat 50.720227 + Long -2.9405619
Postcode DT7 3JY (approx. location only)

This walk starts from the popular seaside resort of Lyme Regis and using a section of the South West Coast Path follows the coast eat to Charmouth. The coast path on this section has been diverted due to a significant landslip and is not as attractive as the original route. The return is along the beach.

The start is the car park by the harbour in Lyme Regis (grid ref. SY337916). On busy days this is likely to be full and other car parks in the town should be sued. Alternatively the walk can be started at Charmouth where there is less pressure on parking.

From the car park walk east along the promenade. A visit to the Cobb will be included at the end of the walk. The promenade is wide and offers a good view east along the Jurassic Coast of Dorset with the highest point at Golden Cap in view. Reaching the clock tower, leave the front and bear right to follow the main road uphill towards Charmouth. The South West Coast Path is clearly signed and after passing a coach park you leave the main road and head across fields to reach a wood. The path is clearly signed and although rather convoluted it leads you out onto a side road (grid ref. SY344932). Bear right onto this road and continue to reach the main road. Shortly after this junction the path continues across a golf course leading down at the other side to another road (grid ref. SY350941). Turn right along this road to a roundabout. Bear right and walk into Charmouth. The route is clearly signed right down to the seafront.

The remainder of the route follows the beach. All that is required is to turn right when you reach the sea. It is imperative that you start when the tide is going out. Tide times are available at local information offices. At times it is quite hard going along the beach although as a diversion you can search for fossils as this is one the best places in the UK for this activity. Reaching the end of the beach the path leads up onto the main promenade at Lyme Regis. Walk the full length of the promenade and all that remains is to continue along the Cobb to get a wide ranging panorama of the walk you have just completed.

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