Activities and things to do in our Local Area.
Here are a few suggestions and ideas of things to do and places to visit which will be updated and added to regularly.
Mackerel fishing at West Bay
This is a perfect way to spend a couple of hours during a lovely summer day and the kids absolutely love it! I can recommend Harry May as your Captain. Contact him on 07974 753287 and arrange a time to meet and pitch up with a small picnic and a few cold drinks. He will take you out of the harbour and bait up a few lines which you troll behind the boat. Very soon you should start pulling those mackerel in. Everything you catch is yours to take home! The views of Lyme Bay and the Jurassic coast are stunning when viewed from out at sea. Once you return grab a bite to eat at the Harbour Inn pub.
My favourite way of cooking mackerel is to fillet the fish, rub the fish in flour and seasoning then fry in a hot pan and eat with fresh bread and a salad. Absolutely delicious!! (Top tip - try to persuade Harry to let you fillet the fish as you catch them and throw the remains over board, saves the mess at home.)
Breakfast at the Hive Beach Cafe www.hivebeachcafe.co.uk Read their news letter here
The Hive Beach Cafe is situated just to the south of Burton Bradstock and has magnificent views towards Lyme Bay. It prides itself on sourcing all of its food locally and is renown for its seafood. As the name implies it also functions as a cafe so you can call in for just a coffee and slice of cake. However my recommendation for the summer is to go there for breakfast! Served from 1000am the breakfast typically is a choice of a full English, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, eggs benedict or pancakes with lovely fillings and is absolutely delicious. It is worth booking a table as it can get quite busy. Afterwards you can head down to the beach or join the coastal footpath and turn east or west to work off the calories! For the very fit, it is possible to follow the coastal footpath for approximately 10 miles all the way back to your cottage (make sure you turn east!!) which is a lovely scenic walk and not too hilly.
Car parking is available next to the cafe.
Abbotsbury Walk and Explore.
A great way to explore Abbotsbury by foot. Park your car at the Abbotsbury beach carpark (drive through Abbotsbury and follow the signs to the Tropical Gardens. Continue past the Gardens down the hill and there is a car park with a small cafe by the sea.) Then follow the coastal footpath which takes you due east through the car park and then across fields with the Fleet on your right. Very soon you will see St Katherines Chapel sitting prominently on top of a hill. The footpath “contours” around the hill with spectacular views as shown below. After passing the chapel the Swannery comes into view and by following the footpath down the hill, you find yourself at the Swannery cafe - an excellent stop for some refreshment.
After spending some time at the Swannery, exit and follow the road round to the left past the Tithe Barn (excellent vienue for young kids) and continue into the small village of Abbotsbury where a good lunch can be had at the Ilchester Arms or afternoon tea in the tea room.
If you follow the road to the west leaving Abbotsbury behind you will see the road veering off to the left leading to the Sub-Tropical Gardens which are definitely worth spending some time admiring the stunning gardens and plant life. Within the gardens is a wonderful restaurant built in a wooden colonial style. You certainly feel like you are in a tropical country as you sit on the verandah enjoying a drink!
When you have finished in the gardens exit and turn left following the road down the hill to the car park.
The whole walk is approximately 4 miles. If you want to leave the car behind, Abbotsbury is easily accessible from all the cottages by following the coastal footpath for about 3.5 miles.
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Go on a Jurassic Safari www.jurassicsafari.co.uk
In 2001 Dorset's Jurassic coast became the UK's only World Heritage Site of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This truly is high praise when we consider some of the other places enjoying World Heritage status ~ The Great Barrier Reef ~ The Grand Canyon ~ The Taj Mahal.
Go on a guided tour on a Land Rover Safari off the beaten track and get up close and personal to some of the most spectacular views and wildlife the Jurassic coast has to offer.
Jurassic Safari's vision is to leave you with an unforgettable memory of exploring some of the surrounding countryside which makes Dorset so special. Success for them is to give you the unique experience of enjoying something you won't find else where.
