Pictures of Charmouth
in the county of Dorset
About Charmouth
This pretty resort grew up in a gap of cliffs overlooking picturesque Lyme Bay. In the days prior to the motor car it was a fashionable coaching stop. One illustrious visitor of those far off days was Jane Austen who declared it to be " a nice place for sitting in unwearied contemplation". Today, very little has changed except that the village has expanded somewhat, but the same tranquillity exists along with the same dramatic hills rising on either side of the River Char. Stonebarrow Hill lies to the east, Black Venn to the west and as if springing from the beach, Golden Cap rises to 617 feet. This is part of the National Trust owned property The Golden Cap Estate which includes other hills, all offer outstanding views of the sea and surrounding coastal countryside.
The most famous building in the village is the Queens Arms. It is believed to have been built as a house for an abbot of Forde and is the place where Catherine of Aragon stayed soon after her arrival in England in 1501. Later, after the house became an inn, it was stayed in by the fugitive King Charles II in 1651 when he came disguised looking for a boat to take him to France following his defeat at The Battle of Worcester. Today, Charmouth may be a relatively small place, but it has certainly had its share of history and colourful characters.
Charmouth has its own lovely beach, a mixture of sand a pebbles, this fronts a background of stunning hills. It is a beautiful place to laze watching creamy tinged waves roll in and out of the bay, it is pleasurable too for anyone wanting to clamber amongst its scattered rocks searching for crabs and fossils.
The village has plenty for the visitor to sample, it has seaside leisure facilities which are of a gentle nature and thus ideal for all ages. There are several friendly shops including grocery stores, chemist, newsagents, gift and souvenir shop, fossil shops, cafe's and pubs. Sporting enthusiasts can take their pick of tennis, bowls a putting green and of course swimming in the sea.
Charmouth makes an ideal resort to simply stay and enjoy, or for exploring the nearby wonderful world famous "Jurassic Coast" which now ranks as a World Heritage Site. This has a unique natural history with fossils from millions of years.
Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.
Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner
Recommended attractions near Charmouth
| Lyme Regis Museum | (1.5 miles, 2.5 km, direction SW) | Pictures |
| Dinosaurland | (1.6 miles, 2.5 km, direction SW) | Pictures |
| Lyme Regis Marine Aquarium | (1.7 miles, 2.7 km, direction SW) | Pictures |
| Golden Cap | (2.8 miles, 4.5 km, direction E) | Pictures |
| Motoring Memories | (7.0 miles, 11.2 km, direction W) | Pictures |
| Forde Abbey | (7.1 miles, 11.5 km, direction N) | Pictures |
| Loughwood Meeting House | (7.6 miles, 12.2 km, direction NW) | Pictures |
| Pecorama | (9.1 miles, 14.7 km, direction W) | Pictures |
| The Wildlife Park at Cricket St. Thomas | (9.4 miles, 15.1 km, direction N) | Pictures |
| Cricket St Thomas House | (9.4 miles, 15.1 km, direction N) | Pictures |
| Blackbury Castle | (11.0 miles, 17.7 km, direction W) | Pictures |
| Farway Country Park | (11.0 miles, 17.8 km, direction W) | Pictures |
| The Donkey Sanctuary | (12.8 miles, 20.6 km, direction W) | Pictures |
| Abbotsbury Gardens | (13.1 miles, 21.1 km, direction SE) | Pictures |
| Dillington House | (13.7 miles, 22.1 km, direction N) | Pictures |
All attractions in CharmouthAll attractions in DorsetComplete A to Z of attractions in EnglandRecommended towns near Charmouth
Lyme Regis, in the county of Dorset (1.7 miles, 2.8 km, direction SW)
Almost the first thing you notice about this pleasant seaside resort, is the spaciousness of the town. The second, and nothing can prepare you for this, is the sheer scale of Lyme Bay with its splendid views towards the rugged sandstone cliffs west of Eype Mouth.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Seatown, in the county of Dorset (3.8 miles, 6.1 km, direction E)
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Pilsdon, in the county of Dorset (5.1 miles, 8.1 km, direction NE)
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Axminster, a Historic Market Town in the county of Devon (5.1 miles, 8.2 km, direction NW)
Famous for its carpets often likened to Turkish, Axminster was one of the first West Saxon settlements formed along the River Axe in Devon.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Bridport, in the county of Dorset (6.4 miles, 10.3 km, direction E)
Bridport can be classed as having everything to please the holiday maker, it has a strong nautical atmosphere born of its long association with the sea, and its history as a flourishing rope making town during the great age of sailing ships.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
West Bay, in the county of Dorset (6.6 miles, 10.7 km, direction E)
West Bay nestles at the western end of spectacular Chesil Beach whose billions of pebbles have been a constant source of fascination for centuries.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Axmouth, in the county of Devon (6.7 miles, 10.7 km, direction W)
This quiet resort of colourwashed cottages sitting at the edge of the River Axe was once an important south Devon port.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Netherbury, in the county of Dorset (7.5 miles, 12.1 km, direction NE)
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Seaton, in the county of Devon (7.7 miles, 12.3 km, direction W)
The town is mostly Victorian and Edwardian in character, you only have to cast your eyes above today's modern shop fronts to see handsome overhanging bay windows which belong firmly to another era.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Burton Bradstock, a Picturesque Village in the county of Dorset (8.2 miles, 13.3 km, direction E)
This in one of the most enchanting villages to be found along the sweeping Dorset coast. It has gorgeous little lanes where...
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Dalwood, a Picturesque Village in the county of Devon (8.3 miles, 13.3 km, direction NW)
Charming village in the Devonshire countryside with a wonderful old thatched pub serving excellent food and a fantastic church....
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Beaminster, in the county of Dorset (8.6 miles, 13.8 km, direction NE)
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Powerstock, in the county of Dorset (9.6 miles, 15.4 km, direction E)
The village is completely pastoral and appears to be protected by a maze of deep lanes which once negotiated, reveal a gracious collection of orchards, gardens and enchanting cottages set at angles on a series of knolls.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Ilminster, in the county of Somerset (13.1 miles, 21.0 km, direction N)
Charmingly set in the favoured Somerset countryside is the pleasant little town of Ilminster.
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Abbotsbury, a Picturesque Village in the county of Dorset (14.2 miles, 22.8 km, direction E)
Abbotsbury is a small picturesque and historic village in the county of Dorset.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
All towns in DorsetComplete A to Z of towns in EnglandNearby travel help
| Axminster Station | (5.2 miles, 8.4 km, direction NW) |
| Crewkerne Station | (11.0 miles, 17.7 km, direction NE) |
| M5 Junction 26 | (20.4 miles, 32.7 km, direction NW) |
| M5 Junction 25 | (20.6 miles, 33.1 km, direction N) |
| Exeter Airport | (22.7 miles, 36.5 km, direction W) |
| Bristol International Airport | (45.4 miles, 73.0 km, direction N) |
| Charmouth to London | (132.0 miles, 212.4 km, direction NE) |
Hotels & Accommodation in Charmouth
| Hotel Name | Approximate distance from Charmouth center |
| Fairwater Head Hotel | (3.9 miles, 6.3 km, direction N) |
| Eype's Mouth Country Hotel | (5.4 miles, 8.8 km, direction E) |
| Bridge House, Beaminster | (8.7 miles, 14.1 km, direction NE) |
| The Lordleaze Hotel And Restaurant | (9.3 miles, 14.9 km, direction N) |
| Marquis Of Lorne | (9.7 miles, 15.6 km, direction E) |
| Bellplot House Hotel | (9.8 miles, 15.7 km, direction N) |
| The Manor Arms | (10.8 miles, 17.3 km, direction NE) |
| The Haymaker Inn | (11.0 miles, 17.8 km, direction N) |
| The Belfry Country Hotel | (11.8 miles, 18.9 km, direction NW) |
| Best Western The Shrubbery | (13.2 miles, 21.3 km, direction N) |
| All hotels in Charmouth |
