A road trip along England’s south coast – Part III
I can’t even count the amount of times I have been to Dorset, and I still don’t feel like I’ve been there enough. With its dramatic coastlines, lots of scenic little townships waiting to be explored and many farm campsites, the vibe is similar to Cornwall, yet it’s much closer to London and therefore much more accessible. Mona and I headed back there this year whilst on road trip along the English south coast.
Lyme Regis
Our first stop in Dorset was Lyme Regis. Sometimes referred to as “The Pearl of Dorset”, the little town with its charming lanes and pebbled waterfront is in particular popular for its fossil finds on the so-called “Jurassic Coast” – a World Heritage Site. After our experience in Cornwall, where we had to scramble a bit to find a campsite late in the evening, we had decided to call up a campsite in Lyme Regis and reserve a spot upfront at Hook Farm Camping. We only made it just before sunset and got a spot up on the hill, so we could enjoy a serene and beautiful end of the day while indulging on some wine and cheese for dinner.
The town of Lyme Regis features lovely little houses and streets so narrow that it’s pretty unbelievable to see some massive tour buses squeezing through them. There are lots of cafes and even more fossil shops, but for those who don’t want to spend money buying fossils, they can always go for a nice long wander along the Heritage Coast or Jurassic Coast to find some fossils there and then.
Weymouth, Durdle Door & Swanage
My favourite area in Dorset is the stretch between Weymouth and Swanage, featuring Durdle Door, a famous arch in the water. The Man-O’-War beach right next to the arch is probably my favourite bay in whole of England: Tucked underneath the steep, curved-in cliffs, this beach is a bit more protected from the wind than wider beaches in England and the crystal-clear, turquoise waters are usually a bit calmer and warmer. If you bring your swimming goggles, you can see some fish and underwater life.
Durdle Door is best accessible from the Durdle Door Holiday Park – but be warned, don’t go there on a weekend or during summer holidays. The place has become so busy with tourists over the last few years that it really isn’t that enjoyable during peak season. Saying that, whilst the area is busy, Man-O’-War beach and the beach on the west-side of Durdle Door are relatively wide so there usually is still space – it’s mostly the walking paths overlooking these bays and heading east towards the very scenic but certainly even more overcrowded Lulworth Cove.
Weymouth is a bigger city in the area and to me it’s a typical bigger English seaside town: A little tacky, featuring many tourist shops but also cosy cafes, yummy fish and chips, and a nice, sandy beach front. A causeway leads to Portland Island with its lighthouse and plentiful birdlife.
Swanage is smaller and prettier, albeit just as busy (if not more) as Weymouth. Both places are absolutely worth a visit and both are very popular holiday destinations for English families with younger kids in particular.
Great farm campsites in Dorset:
- Hook Farm Camping (Lyme Regis)
- Acton Fields Camping, Swanage
- Tom’s Field Camping, Swanage
- Eweleaze Farm Camping (August only. If this one is full, they also have Shortlake Farm and Northdown Farm), Osmington
Read more about Dorset and some truly spectacular coastal hikes in this post.
