I had heard of Lyme Regis plenty of times and had always wanted to go. The story of Victorian palaeontologist Mary Anning had intrigued me from the moment I first discovered it and when we were planning a weekend away with friends, I suggested we all travelled to Lyme Regis and made the most of the sunny weather that was forecasted.
We rented a fabulous little house in Uplyme, a tiny village nestled above Lyme, filled with quaint cottages and woodlands. The area offers a perfect mix of rolling hills and seaside walks. It was unlike anywhere I’d been before.
We took to the little paths near our house to go down to the seafront. We had booked a table at Swim, a popular restaurant right on the beach, where we filled our stomachs with tasty fish burgers, calamari and teriyaki salmon skewers.
With its colourful beach huts, crêpes and ice cream stands and pastel pebbles, the seafront didn’t disappoint and we all felt immediately more relaxed. We absolutely loved exploring the little town, where the river Lim meets the sea.
Strolls along the Cobb, (the original and spectacular harbour walls), crab sandwiches on the beach after a visit to the town’s brilliant museum and pints of Golden Cap at the Lyme Regis Brewery were particular highlights of our stay.
The Jurassic Coast is a real jewel that is a must see for anyone looking for refreshing trip to the sea and fossil hunters alike.
On our last day, the weather took a turn but we braved the rain and decided to head for Charmouth, two miles away from Lyme Regis. Under a heavy grey sky, Charmouth’s black cliffs made for a lunar and fascinating scenery.
I must admit that I brought back quite a few specimens of ammonites from the local shop but next time, I’ll make sure to come equipped with a chisel and geologist hammer to try and walk in the steps of Mary Anning and discover my very own prehistoric treasures!
