The Pearl of DORSET

The historic seaside town of Lyme Regis sits where the West Dorset and East Devon coastlines meet – heart of the Jurassic Coast

- KATY HOLLAND

As you drive along the winding country lanes of West Dorset towards the seaside town of Lyme Regis, you get butterflies. The steep harbor road drops dramatically, revealing a tantalising view of the cerulean sea, set against the Golden Cap and the towering cliffs of the breathtaking Jurassic Coast.

This spectacular location is one of the many reasons holidaymakers have been lured here for centuries (it’s no surprise that it was Jane Austen’s favorite place). The pretty town spills down the hillside towards the sea in a jumble of tiny fishermen’s cottages, thatched houses and elegant Victorian villas, with sloping genteel lawns, winding streams, and hidden alleyways just waiting to be explored.