Visit Charmouth
Charmouth is a village on the Jurassic Coast of southern Dorset, to the east of Lyme Regis.
The village itself is a small friendly place with a good selection of pubs, cafes and restaurants. Although 'tourist focussed' Charmouth is not overly developed and maintains its traditional feel.
It is the position of Charmouth on the coast, with both great scenery and a beach, that is the big attraction for visitors.Charmouth Beach is part sand and part pebbles and very popular - families typically head to the sandier eastern part while fossil hunters prefer the rockier western beach. Remember that the Jurassic coast is a listed heritage site, and while you can hunt for fossils on the beach you are not permitted to hammer at the cliffs!
Before setting off be sure to visit the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre, which has displays of fossils, and also lots of useful information about the fossils you can hope to find, the geology of the area and much more - it's right by the beach and a visit is recommended before you start exploring.
It is popular to walk along the coast in this part of Dorset, one option being the stretch of beach below the cliffs that runs between Lyme Regis and Charmouth, but great care is needed - from the sea facing side of the route the tides can rise rapidly cutting off the path, while rockfalls and landslips are common on the cliff-facing side.
You can find more local travel ideas in the Jurassic Coast guide and the Dorset guide.
Map of Charmouth and places to visit
Charmouth places to visit
...or see all our recommended places to visit in Dorset