Talk to me about the Dorset/Jurassic coast please

[DilysPrice]

I've suddenly had the urge to go there this summer, on the grounds that it's closer than Cornwall, warmer than Wales, involves fewer aeroplanes than Lake Como, and is less likely to bankrupt us than Switzerland.

And DS has just wandered in from watching All Over The Place on CBBC and asked "Is it true that there's a place called The Jurassic Coast where you can just find fossils on the beach and take them away?!!"

Talk to me about it please? Weather, things to do, places to stay - (not campsites: cottages, farms or hotels), can we promise DS actualy fossils of his very own? There'll be 4 of us, DCs will be 10 and 8.

Good point umicar - I was thinking that there seemed to be a lot of NT stuff in the area so might be worth joining up for the year (and visiting a load of other places during half term) but I'm not sure what the benefits are for "open access" places like beaches - do you get cheap parking or something?

You get free parking - and that's worth it if you're going to Studland because it's really expensive. I think it was about £6 or something ridiculous last year.

Great. We are NT members, and intend to make full use of our membership. I think I will print this thread off.

Kimmeridge is always open however Tyneha is only open at weekends and during the summer holidays while the tanks aren't firing.

Free parking for NT members at Studland, Old Harry Rocks & all NT carparks, so is useful.

yy to NT, you'll get your money's worth from it in Dorset.

Climb Golden Cap. That'll wear the kids out We flew kites on one of the deserted NT beaches between Weymouth and Bridport. Cogden I think.

you can also park free at corfe castle (and visit the castle)

another free with NT family day out

We went to Charmouth last year and found lots of fossils. Ds thought he was in paradise!!
We went on a prebooked walk with the fossil centre based on the beach. It was excellent for kids, very friendly helpful staff and they knew just what to look for and where. Would certainly recommend.

Bumping, to keep the thread in my "I'm On".

We went on an organised fossil walk during Feb half term in Charmouth with an 8 and 6 year old - found loads of shiny fossils (ammonites and belemnites) which will be treasured. Burton Bradstock has a great beach cafe and suits children and adults. Two family friendly pubs in the village with great food too. Jurassic Coast Bus X53 is great fun - can walk along the coast path and get the bus back. Abbotsbury has a lovely farm in a Tithe Barn for children.

I love Dorset too and have been every year for many years. Now have our own cottage near Bridport/Beaminster. In the summer hols there are loads of fetes with pony rides and quaint "switchback" rides (man powered!) and homemade cakes. Sometimes these are held in the grounds of houses not usually open to the public.
Charmouth is good for fossils and has a museum & programme of guided walks. There's a cafe and shop selling fossils and related gear there too. The Council probably still runs guided walks from various areas. We used to go a lot but now find our own walks from OS maps. Dorset is keen on sustainable tourism and puts a lot of effort into maintaining footpaths. I'd recommend Bridport, especially on a Saturday when there's an excellent market plus farmers market on I think 3rd Sat. There's also a market on Wednesday, good in summer hols but less busy at other times. Good pubs/cafes, art centre which runs children's events too and cinema/theatre plus child friendly museum. It's a short drive from Burton Bradstock for swimming (pebbly beach) and good cafe, or West Bay for harbour, coastal walks and fish and chips, but beware robbing sea gulls!

Ah yes, free parking for NT members at Burton Bradstock too.

We went to Dorset last September and had a fabulous week. We stayed in Lyme Regis, went fossil hunting at Charmouth (and found only a few little broken bits of stuff - so definitely go with a guide!), went to the aquarium at Weymouth, Hive Beach and cafe in Burton Bradstock (both lovely on a summer's day), Seaton tramway, River Cafe in Axminster, Monmouth beach in Lyme Regis for amazing ammonites on the beach (they're all stuck in the rocks and look fabulous), Hix Oyster and Fish House restaurant in Lyme Regis, Dinosaurland - it was a really great holiday with a dinosaur and fossil-mad almost 4-year-old. We would definitely go back as there was TONS to do and we only scratched the surface in one week.

Bumping again to keep. I'm really looking forward to our holiday.

We have been lots of times with the girls and stay in Charmouth- you can walk to the (pebble/ fossil) beach and it has decent shops for food etc, but it is bypassed so lovely and quiet. Lyme Regis is great for a day trip and has an artificial sandy beach which the children love. Parking in Lyme is crazy but you can get a bus from the main street in Charmouth directly to Lyme beach several times an hour.

We have found a couple of ammonite fossils- I wouldn't like to give you the impression that there are hundreds of them underfoot, but we have been lucky enough to stumble upon them on two occasions.

I really love it down there, there is loads to do on a wet day too and we have always had a brilliant time!

Is there a regular bus service to Lyme from Chideock?

Me too - now I need to find the perfect cottage and decide whether to go during the Olympics or not.

If you need to fill a wet afternoon I recommend the cinema in Dorchester - the Plaza. Seats are only £2.50 each (regardless of age) Monday to Friday. They have a website and you can book on-line in advance.