The Area

  • The Coastpath
    Minutes away from Roundham House
  • The Harbour
    A busy working harbour
  • West Bay
    Picturesque coastal village
  • Bridport
    Charming, ancient market town

At Leisure

Walking - This area is truly a walkers paradise with any type of walk, for any level of fitness, starting right from the Roundham. A favourite is from here to the Lyme Regis eight miles westwards along the cliff top coastpath.  There are also some extremely picturesque inland walks through glorious countryside.

Beaches - There are some of the finest beaches anywhere in the UK around this area.  Glorious, uncrowded long wide stretches of golden beaches.  Some are of gritty sand others of pebble.  A favourite is right here in West Bay (10 minutes walk) although some prefer the less crowded sections up to Burton Bradstock where the famous Hive Cafe is situated.  We provide beach towels free on request. For walking or sunbathing the beaches are jewels in the crown of this area.

Houses and Gardens - Within an hours drive there is an array of fine stately houses, gardens, ancient monuments, castles, wildlife centres and museums. Favourites include Forde Abbey, Montecute, Mapperton Gardens , Bicton Gardens , Abbotsbury Swannery, Sherborne Castle and Athelhampton.

Park up and relax - Not everyone can or wants to hike the coastpath. There are some lovely spots to park up and potter around however and perhaps have a cream tea or a spot of lunch at a beachside café or pub. Put up the deckchair by the car where the heather meets the beach and take in the scenery and watch the gulls and the waves crash in. Take one of our packed lunches with you!

Golf - Bridport Golf Club is a classic links course to test the best of golfers. It is a par 72, 6,400 yard course with a number of memorable cliff top holes including the signature hole par three 6th which requires a 130 yard shot to the green 150 feet below the tee!. There is a similar course at Lyme Regis.

Fishing - West Bay is a major centre for sea angling and supports two angling centres. The fishing is good from the shore (beach and jetty) and from the numerous boats that go out every day.

Horse Riding - There are no riding centres in Bridport but guests seem to enjoy trips to several centres situated within a fifteen mile radius.

Watersports – There are a wide range of boats now available for cruises and short trips around the coast. West Bay is also a major centre for divers.

Interested in any other type of activity which you would like to pursue?

Ask us we may be able to help.

The Spectacular
Jurassic Coastline

This area has been one of the best kept secrets - until recently. Now its stunningly beautiful countryside and coastline, friendly people, charming towns and villages, magnificent country houses, churches and gardens, museums and nature parks are being appreciated by more visitors than ever before. The coastline has been granted 'World Heritage' status, ranking it alongside natural wonders such as the ' Grand Canyon ' and the Great Barrier reef '.

The great man himself Thomas Hardy, who lived and wrote most of his novels based in this region, would surely not be unhappy with West Dorset today. The feeling is still that of being 'far from the madding crowd'. Long may it continue.

You can visit westbay.co.uk for a comprehesive guide to westbay and the surrouding areas.

Surroundings

Bridport/West Bay - Formerly one of the main towns in the country for rope and net making Bridport is now a charming, unpretentious market town with a bustling and friendly West country charm. The town is at its best on market days (Wednesday and Saturday) where an endlessly interesting range of stalls offer everything from high quality antiques and jewellery to bric-brac and locally produced food. West Bay, formerly Bridport Harbour, was given a separate identity in the last century. It is a busy, working, tidal harbour where fishing and pleasure boats of all descriptions dart in and out past the magnificent new Jurassic pier.

The Coastline

Surely the most picturesque section of coastline in the south of England , the majestic West Bay cliffs tower above the sea, on either side of the harbour, and present a stunning view to visitors, no matter how many times they come back. On one side is the awesome Golden Cap (the highest point on the South Coast ) to the left is the jagged East Cliff with a million years of history told in its fossilled face.