Finding fossils? And a few days away...where shall we go?

[Blu]

DS is obsessed with finding fossils, so we are looking for a self-catering cottage (or caravan) for a short break in April. Where is the best place to base ourselves, with access to:
One or two sure-fire fossil finding beaches
Other interesting attractions (e.g castles / natural features, not theme parks)
Nice little towns / villages
Scenery
Beach cafes
Indoor back-up attractions (museum / gallery) in the event of non-stop wind and rain.

We are looking for something economical, not a luxury hotel or anything involving a spa.

Bridport? Lyme regis? IoW?

[morningpaper]

Watchet is the best place for fossils IME although it's a bit of a dive at this time of year

[Mercy]

I'd recommend Lyme Regis, or Charmouth which is very close.

[Desiderata]

The Isle of Wight is rich in fossils, particularly the south coast. It's also nice and compact, with plenty of things to do.

[roisin]

NE coast is good: My boys have found fossils every time we've visited Whitby and Saltburn.

North York Moors & York - plenty of quaint villages plus low-key attractions if the weather is not great.

[BirdyArms]

I second the Whitby/ Robin Hoods bay area where I used to go as a child. Lots of little seaside villages. I remember finding lots of fossils particularly at Boggle Hole.

[AlienEars]

I'd say Charmouth - we had a day there last summer and DH found an icthyosaurus (sp?) fossil (and is still talking about it). There's a fossil centre there and the staff were lovely, giving us all sorts of handouts and booklets about his find for free!

[Blu]

Ooh, than you - but it's not helping as now I want to go to ALL these places! I have nostalgic childhood memories of Robin Hood's Bay and Boggle Hole, and the IoW, and am tempted to return - have not visited Dorset and devon places and want to see them...

As this will be a short trip and we only have a rattletrap of a car I might add 'not too long a slog from S London' to the criteria - which might mean one of the Dorset / IoW places this time.

[margoandjerry]

Lyme! It is lovely and I have a fantastic fossil from Lyme beach. Plus there's the lovely Dorset coastline and the whole French Lieutenant's Woman connection and you get cream teas...

If you are into walking and it's not too muddy, the walk from Lyme to the next town along the coast (westwards - Seaton??) is quite amazing.

[poshwellies]

Second everyone on Lyme Regis(Monmouth beach!) or Charmouth.West bay is a lovely place too

My family are from there so I'm biased
www.discoveringfossils.co.uk/lymeregis.htm

[Blu]

OK - I'm going to look fr somewhere within easy reach of Charmouth / Lyme.

Have always wanted to visit lyme regis, anyway.

How long would it take to drive to Wareham from there? (maybe I can fit in a long-promised visit to an aunt)

[luciemule]

Lyme Regis too - they've got a good dinosaur/fossil museum too for rainy days.

All along the Jurassic coast is good.
I especially like visiting the market at Bridport and having a mooch around the shops.

Charmouth beach is lovely too.

[Nbg]

I know you've probably made your mind up but I have another vote for Robin Hoods Bay.

I used to be obsessed with fossils as a child and my parents always took me there.
It was a haven.

[luciemule]

Forgot to say - the Abbotsbury Swannery is a good day out too, with a children's farm and activity centre.

[florenceuk]

The centre at Charmouth do a guided fossil hunt, worth doing if you have not gone before as they will tell you what one looks like. Lyme Regis has a fantastic shale(?) section full of ammonites as well.

[poshwellies]

Bridport is lovely isnt it Lucie? Make sure you go to Leakers bakery yum

[Tommy]

not far from Wareham at all - half an hour at most.

I think the Abbotsbury Swannery is still closed after bird flu outbreak so I wouldn't rely on that - shame

[sophiewd]

Sorry I am 10 mins west of Wareham and it would take 45 mins at least to get to Lyme Regis.

[sophiewd]

Abbotsbury Swannery is a great place to go, doesn't open until 15th March and should open then as there have been no more notifications of bird flu and the 21 days inncubation since last testing are almost up.

[Blu]

nbg - oh, don't worry - we will definitely head for Robin Hood's bay another time - and visit the N York Moors, and Whitby and...oh, I would love to take DS out of school for 18 months and do nothing but travel round the British Isles!

[Tommy]

sorry sophie - I was still thinking about Abbotsbury

[BernieBear]

How about Lulworth/Durdle Dor/Dancing Ledge i.e. the Jurassic Coast. About 6 miles from Wareham. Just got back after a weekend there. Really gorgeous, great beaches at Studland etc. Well worth it. Always went Fossil hunting there as a kid

[Blu]

Kimmeridge is along that bit of coast, isn't it, BernieBear?

If I do the duty visit to the aunt, we wil definitley go to Lulworth.

What about
A day ar Lyme regis, one at Charmouth (including the coast walk), one pottering around Bridport and something else and then a day visiting Lulworth, Durdle Dor and my aunt?

And isn't there a famous cafe somewhere?

Eni-i-i-i-i-i-id

[sparkybabe]

Def Charmnouht - it's the jurassic caost and they do Informed walks with a guide from the tourist office on te beach. Great fun for kids

[chelsygirl]

Whitby/Staithes/Robin Hoods Bay

[Mercy]

Beer is nearby too; has a great beach for rockpooling and has a model train exhibition (plus a mini steam train to ride on).

HFW has a shop in Axminster which is about 12 miles from Lyme.