The best walks and hikes around Lyme Regis

Experience the home of palaeontology

Many walks around Lyme Regis explore the very cliffs in which Mary Anning made her important paleontological discoveries in the early 19th century. So began the incredible tale of the Jurassic Coast, the only place in the world where 185 million years of natural history is literally written sequentially into the rock.

From the town’s Marine Parade and its harbour: the iconic Cobb, it is not long before you are into some of the most splendid countryside in England. Routes to the pretty neighbouring village of Charmouth are deservedly popular, with lovely views back to the Cobb and superb sea views.

To the west, the coast between Lyme Regis and Axminster is a designated nature reserve. Over the years, many landslides have created a rare and unusual habitat for plants and birds. It is worth noting that any cliff-side route in the region is liable to such landslides. Always stick to the paths and stay well clear of the cliff edges.

Capping off a golden day’s ramble

One of the most strenuous hikes around Lyme Regis ascends the magisterial Golden Cap which, at 627 feet (191 m), is the highest sea cliff on the south coast. You’re in for a stiff climb but your reward is a sensational vista along the Jurassic Coast to Portland in the east and to the upland of Dartmoor in the west.

This massive cliff is flanked by verdant meadows, tranquil streams and gorgeous woodland, making it easy to extend your adventure. At sunset, the cliff face smoulders to a rusty gold, its humbling beauty an appropriate footnote to a day spent rambling.

Jurassic Walk – a landscape 185 million years in the making

As a result of its outstanding Earth science interest, the Jurassic Coast was awarded with Britain’s first natural UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 2001. Many of the best hiking trails around Lyme Regis explore further along this sumptuous coastline.

The crumbling, golden cliffs of West Bay are much-loved and act as the gateway to the unique majesty of Chesil Beach. Stretching for 18 miles (29 km), this raised platform of shingle beach stretches gracefully, cut off from the mainland for much of its reach. A place of spectacular scale and beauty, the elemental sound of the tide’s interaction with moving stone is a constant and relaxing companion here.