INTERESTING TOWNS

This is only a very brief overview of the major towns of interest in the area. The history and number of things to do is far too large to create a comprehensive entry here.

Lyme Regis.

This is the closest town to Charmouth and was founded in 744 (no I did not miss off a ‘1’ from that date). It is very famous for its Cobb - an unusual barrier wall that protects the harbour which was constructed in 1294. In 1756 a causeway was added to connect it to the mainland so now you can walk out upon it and admire the town. The town has been a popular tourist spot since early Victorian times and was often visited by Jane Austen.
The town and the famous Cobb have been used in many movies especially those involving smugglers as it was a big haven from them during the 17th century.
Today the town is still a maze of narrow streets full of small shops, galleries, crafts, restaurant and tea rooms. It still supports a bustling fishing harbour which you can walk around or along the small golden sandy beach. Alternately you can take the river walk.
For those who like to hike you can walk into Lyme Regis along the coastal pathway from Charmouth. On a nice day it's a wonderful walk along the clifftops into Lyme for lunch and then back again.

Dorchester.

Is the county seat of Dorset (like a state capital). The town itself was a Roman walled town and many parts of the old Roman wall are still standing. There are also several Roman villas, one of which is located at the county offices with the mosaics protected by small glass walled buildings. Many Roman houses and villas have been found in Dorchester, a lot have been excavated then reburied to protect them. Some of the mosaics have been re-laid in the county museum. Many now lie under car parks and other protective surfaces.
The town itself is far older. At the top end of the town (just above the market square past the railway station) is ancient Maumbury Rings, a Neolithic henge which was adapted by the Romans as an amphitheater. Maiden Castle one of the largest Celtic hill forts in the world is located just outside the town.
The town itself is a bustling rural town full of small shops, supermarkets restaurants pubs and other interesting places. The market is one of the oldest in the area; the Doomsday book compiled in 1086 makes note of the market. Originally a farm market offering fruits vegetables and local wares as well as livestock it gradually grew in size to cover all kinds of offerings. In the late 80’s the livestock market was moved to another day and the antiques market took over the livestock pens on Wednesdays. Now the market encompasses a huge area and is one of the largest in the county.

Weymouth.

A port town located on the mouth of the river Wey (hence the name). It has been a port since at least the 12th century and is still today a major fishing port for the area. One of the delights of Weymouth is that so much is combined in such a small space.
The town has been a major tourist spot since about 1760 and King George III visited the town almost every year making it very popular. Most of the buildings that face the sea were built in Victorian times giving the whole town a air of beauty not seen in many other small seaside towns.
The major attraction to tourists is the beautiful golden sandy beach. A wide curve of pure sand stretches along the arc of the town. The water in Weymouth bay is very shallow and when the tide recedes it is possible to walk about half a mile out to sea and still be only in knee deep water. This makes the town very popular with sun lovers who come to bask on the sandy beach, and safe for children who can play in the shallows with no fear of getting into deeper water.
The estuary located just across from the beach offers deep water making it an excellent port from which boats can be taken to the Channel Islands and Cherbourg in France. Once conventional ferries which took a day to make the crossing, they have been replaced by fast catamarans which now make the crossing in a matter of hours making day trips to Guernsey a possibility (one well worth taking).

The estuary is also the main harbour area for fishing boats and access to the marina which has grown from a few boats in the 60’s to a huge mass today. Access is still via a lift bridge which opens on the hour to let boats in and out, and allow free access to the other section of Weymouth known as Brewers Key. Once an old Devonish brewery and warehouse district is has been revived by covering the narrow streets to create a wonderful indoor shopping center with far more charm than the area had before the streets were enclosed. Farther along is the Nothe gardens and Nothe fort which has now been restored and opened to the public. You can also walk on the old stone pier for a good look back at the whole town of Weymouth along the shoreline.

Weymouth Bridge © Visual Encounters 2004

The town now boasts a great number of good shops and excellent pubs restaurants and fish and chip shops. There are many activities, museums and other attractions to keep the you occupied and interested during your visit if walking around the beautiful town and harbour is not sufficient.

Preston.

This is a little village just outside Weymouth. The village itself is not noted for anything much (except it's a fairly steep hill if you are walking up it). However just above Preston the main road bends left and along the ridgetop. Across the valley on the next hillside is the ‘white horse’. This is a chalk image cut into the hillside of a man riding on a horse. This was constructed in the early 1800’s by the local population and represents George III. It was meant to honor the king who spent so many summers in the town. However the king was outraged because the figure is depicted riding away from Weymouth not towards it. The king considered they did not want him there and never returned. Today however we can still admire the lovely white horse and its rider. Take care however, the road at this point is very narrow and there are no parking places so you can only look at the image as you ride by. If you want a better view you will need to take the road to Osmington in the village and take the footpath up to the viewpoint. Be warned it's a steep climb.

Portland

Portland is not a town it's an island which contains many villages. However it is well worth a visit. The view of Chesil bank from the top of Portland is not to be missed. The island of Portland is a giant piece of limestone which has been quarried for years for building and cement making (Yes, this is the origin of Portland cement). The island is very bleak but contains some wonderful scenery and a delightful lighthouse at the bill (tip of the island). The seas around Portland can be treacherous so only experienced fishermen ply the waters. Because there are no real beaches on Portland the fishing boats are hoisted up the sheer limestone faces on winches called davits. Many can still be seen along the eastern shore. Portland offers some beautiful scenery which can be dramatic in winter when huge waves crash on the rocks at the Bill creating wonderful water displays.

Lighthouse at Portland Bill. © Visual Encounters 2004