Lyme Regis, a coastal town in West Dorset is well known for ‘The Cobb’ a harbour wall full of character and history, featured in Jane Austen’s novel Persuasion and the film The French Lieutenant’s Woman; it now provides a breakwater to protect the town from storms.
The parish church of St Michael’s dominates the old town. Mary Anning is buried here and there is a stained glass window dedicated to her memory. The town water mill has been restored and now produces flour used in the mill’s bakery and sold in the local shop.
Cobb & Church Beaches are sandy town beaches but do have dog restrictions in summer months. Close by Monmouth Beach is a very long sand and pebble beach very popular with fossil hunters but beware of unstable cliffs.
If browsing around market stalls is your delight then you'll find interesting events located in and around the Marine Theatre where a wide selection of craft and antiques goods are on offer.
The town has a busy calendar of annual events, including the 'Lyme Regatta' which takes place over one whole week in August, The Lyme Regis Fossil Festival (in conjunction with the London Natural History Museum) which is in early May and The traditional conger cuddling event takes place during Lifeboat Week. This is a somewhat bizarre traditional event in which a dead conger eel, attached to a rope, is thrown at RNLI Members standing on flowers pots. In a similar vein to skittles. Two teams are involved and the winner is the last man standing.
There are top class restaurants, friendly pubs and inns that provide restaurant quality meals and bar snacks; tea and coffee rooms, beach side cafés, fish and chip take-aways. They all have access to fresh locally produced vegetables and freshly caught fish and shell fish straight off the boats which operate in the harbour. Most stay open all year round.
There are loads of activities to choose from such as deep sea fishing, wind surfing, diving and pleasure trips from the harbour. The local golf club has spectacular views along the coastline. For the younger ones there is a mini putting green and crazy golf. Discos are frequently held at The Marine Theatre. Numerous coastal paths and country trails are a favourite for the walker or exploring the nearby countryside by car takes you through many of Dorset's most ancient villages. The more energetic walker might want to try the nearby Dorset Coast Path along the Axemouth to Lyme Regis undercliff (a National Nature reserve) quite awe-inspiring.