Lyme Regis

[BlueMaran]

Any tips for a short stay in Lyme Regis, Dorset?

We are booked to go next week, I’ve found a nice apartment with a sea view. Just me and autistic teen son. He wants to find fossils.

I haven’t been since I was a child, I don’t know how easy it is to find fossils anymore. Has anyone been recently? Any tips or suggestions of things to do/visit or places to avoid?!

Thanks.

Charmouth beachcombing for fossils.

A half day/couple of hours makerel fishing trip.

Abbotsbury Swannery? Lovely place. They have really nice cake in the cafe too.

We're staying in Lulworth this summer but this thread is definitely making me want to get over to Lyme!

You can walk to Charmouth along the beach at low tide and catch the bus back ( or vice versa). The Jurassic coaster bus goes from Exeter to Weymouth along the coast and has great cues from the top deck.
The cashpoint at Tesco Express is free to use.
Restaurants stop serving quite early and you may need to book.

• views not cues!

Go to the beach at Seatown…lots of fossils and you can do a walk to golden cap. Plus pizza on the beach and a lovely pub, The Anchor. We love it there!

Fossils are great but this is amazing!
https://www.redpandafood.com/lyme-regis-menu/

There are fossils to be found and you can buy the kits there (or just take a hammer). My advice would be to not go too close to the cliffs.....

I don't know how close you are but if you can come back in June the fossil festival is great.

Lyme Regis Fossil Festival Programme

Charmouth is lovely
Lovely little museum and guided fossil walks
Did find some in lyme too but preferred charmouth

I always preferred the mackerel fishing to fossil hunting as a kid, but wow it's expensive now.

Lyme is lovely, you’ll have a great time.

I highly recommend the museum too, it’s not huge but there’s something for everyone in there.

I never expected so many replies, thank you all for taking the time to respond.
I remember Abbotsbury Swannery from when I was about 6- so a very long time ago!
We shall have to keep things fairly simple for this first visit as my son’s autism means new things can all be a bit of an ordeal for him. Holidaying with an autistic child is a whole different experience. For me visiting new places, staying somewhere different, eating different food, not having rigid plans and seeing where we end up, is exciting and fun. For him it is pretty much his idea of hell. Familiarity is safe, and his anxiety is minimised. We shall try to find a balance.
I have ordered a sieve, little hammer and a copy of Remarkable Creatures, thanks for the suggestions.
I shall definitely check out the different places that have been mentioned, even if only online, the museums should be good I think. My son was fascinated by the link showing the Ammonite Pavement.

Let’s hope the weather stays good.

There’s a chip shop up from the road where the beach is in Charmouth where they do online orders so you can be in & out.

If you go bang on low tide at Charmouth hopefully there will be less people
if you can go earlier.

Havent been for quite a while but was also going to mention the cash machine at Tesco. However cash machines can run out so a bit of cash as a back up is not a bad plan.

As far as places to visit go Seaton has a Tramway and they run a "Quiet Tram" designed for the autistic. I dont know how often it runs or when but this is the website https://www.tram.co.uk/ When googling to check my memory about the tram I came across this https://www.facebook.com/groups/1162202793939792/?locale=en_GB and that group (or a Lyme or Axminster one if such exists) might be worth contacting.

Charmouth fossil walks are good. Contact the centre and maybe they'll put one on if there is not one currently scheduled?

The Donkey Sanctuary has fields with donkeys so if it's too crowded around the shop/cafe/petting area there is (or was) an area for donkey assisted activities where they work with special needs. If it's still there it may be quieter.

My son is autistic and although much younger at 5, loves a holiday, with familiarity to punctuate throughout the day.

We always pre order a grocery delivery or click and collect from a local supermarket for when we arrive as it means he has his usual safe foods which is one less thing to upset the applecart.

We also take his own bedding which helps too (helps having a large car though!).

My kids are autistic and love our holidays to Seatown and Lyme! Fossil hunting on the beach is so relaxing!

OP: lots of fossil walks over the next couple of weeks here https://charmouth.org/chcc/events-calendar/

Their online and video guide here https://charmouth.org/chcc/shop/books/introduction-to-fossil-hunting-video-and-guidebook/

The Centre at Charmouth is a very good place to visit.

And in Lyme Regis be sure to have a Baboo Ice Cream .
https://baboogelato.com/pages/lyme-regis-broad-street

And a kiosk on the beach.

We arrived this afternoon, to sunshine and a quiet town.
Beautiful coastline. Hopefully we’ll get out and explore some of the suggested places tomorrow.

James Loveridge is an amazing local photographer.
https://www.jamesloveridgephotography.co.uk/landscape-photography/dorset/

He's just won an award for an image of the Cobb in a storm.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgrw2w52zn4o.amp