A cottage holiday in Charmouth in Dorset can offer you the best of both worlds. Surrounded by stunning countryside and with a golden sandy and shingle beach, this could be a great place for a family self-catering break or romantic getaway.
Offering easy access to the Jurassic Coast, Charmouth is in an ideal location for a self-catering cottage holiday. Just off the A35 road connecting Honiton and Dorchester, Charmouth gives you the opportunity to easily explore nearby Lyme Bay, the Jurassic coast and Chisel Beach between Sidmouth in Devon to Weymouth and Portland in Dorset. However, it’s what’s on your immediate doorstep that could interest you more.
Officially, the beach at Charmouth is split by the river Char into a west beach and an east beach. Both are a mixture of sand and shingle and at low tide hundreds of metres of sand are exposed. The beaches are clean with safe family bathing and occasional good surf. World famous for fossil hunting, Charmouth has its own Heritage Coast Centre that offers advice, information and education to fossil hunters. It is forbidden to hammer out the cliffs and the best place to discover fossils is in loose material on the beach, which has been washed out of the cliffs by the tides. Organised fossil hunts are available and the centre has some remarkable collections and exhibits. Rock pooling is also a favourite pastime on Charmouth’s beaches. The village is surrounded by some beautiful countryside and spectacular scenery, best viewed from guided cliffs and inland walks. Fishing in the bay and from the shore attracts enthusiasts in their droves. All in all it’s easy to see that this charming village has plenty to offer for fun packed cottage breaks.
Away from the coast, the village itself offers all the facilities for a trouble-free holiday. Pub food, restaurant dining and takeaway food outlets are plentiful. Food shops, a post office, a florist, a chemist shop, hairdressers, gift shops and of course fossil shops are all represented in Charmouth, mostly in the road called the Street. Charmouth is a traditional seaside resort without any glitz and glitter and the same traditional values are to be found in its retailing.
Within walking distance along the coast (check on tide movements beforehand) or a short drive away is the ever popular resort of Lyme Regis. A busy seaside town, Lyme Regis has a large selection of shops and services, a sandy beach and some tranquil seafront gardens which are worth visiting on a cottage holiday. As a reminder that Lyme Regis is on the Jurassic Coast, some street lighting along the front is crafted in the shape of ammonite. The most historic and much visited place in Lyme Regis is the Cobb, a wonderful piece of naval architecture that for centuries has safely harboured ships and boats. The Cobb has featured in Jane Austin’s novel, ‘Persuasion’ and more recently in the film ‘The French Lieutenant’s Woman’.
All in all, Charmouth has plenty to offer for families, couples and friends looking to discover this special section of the West Country on a cottage holiday. Choose from pet-friendly cottages, family cottages and romantic retreats for a comfortable, homely break away.
What Charmouth offers for Self-Catering Breaks
Whether you choose to book a holiday cottage in Charmouth, an apartment, a lodge or another type of self-catering holiday accommodation, we hope you have your best holiday yet in Dorset.
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