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in the county of Dorset

The beach at West Bay, Dorset

About West Bay

Looking around this enchanting harbour setting it is clear to see that it still retains much of its 13th-century lifestyle as a busy port which at one time also served as a harbour for near-by Bridport. A new harbour was built here in 1740, and during the 19th-century as many as 500 ships a year visited. The town also has a tradition of ship building with Schooners, and both merchant and naval vessels being built in West Bay until 1879.

West Bay nestles at the western end of spectacular Chesil Beach whose billions of pebbles have been a constant source of fascination for centuries, and which now lies within the World Heritage Jurassic Coast of Lyme Bay. It is a small town that offers fun for all the family where children and adults enjoy hunting down fossils, sailing, sea-fishing and walking the soft downs above the beautiful tawny cliffs overlooking nearby Burton Bradstock beach. A few miles out of the town, by-passing Eype's Mouth beach, you reach the golden clumps of bright yellow gorse clinging to the sandstone summit of the Golden Cap. At 626 ft, this is the highest cliff in southern England and sits within 2,000 acres of National Trust Land of breath-taking beauty providing a wonderful vantage point with spectacular sea and coastal views.

The town offers a limited number of shops, restaurants and pubs. However, a short journey to nearby Bridport provides ample more shops, restaurants and pubs to explore. Accommodation for those wishing to enjoy a longer stay and spend time exploring, ranges from pleasant caravan & camping parks and friendly B & B's, to comfortable hotels where you can dine in style from tables layered with freshly caught local fish and seafood.

West Bay is a pleasant traditional little resort where the sun shines down on beautiful shingle beaches.

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Recommended towns & villages near West Bay

Burton Bradstock, Dorset

Burton Bradstock

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Charmouth

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Lyme Regis

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Across the Fleet Lagoon

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All towns in Dorset
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Recommended attractions near West Bay

Golden Cap in the distance

Golden Cap

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Abbotsbury Gardens

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St Catherine's Chapel

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A picture of Abbotsbury Swannery

Abbotsbury Swannery

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Lyme Regis Museum, Lyme Regis, Dorset

Lyme Regis Museum

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All attractions in West Bay
All attractions in Dorset
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Hotels & Accommodation in West Bay

Book the Eype's Mouth Country Hotel in Eype, Bridport, Dorset, England2 stars

Eype's Mouth Country Hotel

Eype, Bridport, Dorset, England (1.3 miles, 2.0 km, direction NW)
Set in the small Dorset village of Eype, Eype's Mouth Country Hotel is a family run 18 bedroom hotel with superb sea views. The hotel occupies a unique position on the Heritage Coastline. Highly rec...
More info and book online..  Price from £50.00

Book the Marquis Of Lorne in Nettlecombe, Bridport, Dorset, Dorset, England

Marquis Of Lorne

Nettlecombe, Bridport, Dorset, Dorset, England (4.6 miles, 7.4 km, direction NE)
Award winning rural Country Inn with great reputation for food. Nestling in the Dorset hills and close to Eggardon Hill, an ancient hill fort, this sixteenth century Inn is very popular, and deservedl...
More info and book online..  Price from £60.00

Book the Bridge House, Beaminster in 3, Prout Bridge, Beaminster, Dorset, England3 stars

Bridge House, Beaminster

3, Prout Bridge, Beaminster, Dorset, England (6.8 miles, 11.0 km, direction N)
The Bridge House is in the heart of beautiful Beaminster (Hardy's Emminster) surrounded by stunning countryside and ... ...Close to Dorset's fossil paradise, the Jurassic Coast. The walled garden is...
More info and book online..  Price from £90.00

Book the Fairwater Head Hotel in Hawkchurch, Near Lyme Regis, Devon, Devon, England3 stars

Fairwater Head Hotel

Hawkchurch, Near Lyme Regis, Devon, Devon, England (9.4 miles, 15.1 km, direction NW)
Nestled in 2 acres of beautifully kept gardens, our charming country house hotel is a place of comfort, good food, peace and tranquillity.

In the winter sit by the fire and enjoy a good book, and ...
More info and book online..  Price from £95.00

Book the Summer Lodge Hotel in Evershot, Dorset, Evershot, Dorset, England4 stars

Summer Lodge Hotel

Evershot, Dorset, Evershot, Dorset, England (11.1 miles, 17.8 km, direction NE)
Only two and a half hours away from London nestles Summer Lodge, a beautiful Georgian manor house built in 1789. This beautifully restored manor house lies in the heart of Thomas Hardy's Dorset, withi...
More info and book online..  Price from £328.00


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Nearby travel help

Maiden Newton Station(9.6 miles, 15.5 km, direction NE)
Crewkerne Station(11.4 miles, 18.4 km, direction N)
M5 Junction 25(25.1 miles, 40.4 km, direction NW)
M5 Junction 26(26.0 miles, 41.9 km, direction NW)
Exeter Airport(29.1 miles, 46.9 km, direction W)
Bournemouth Airport(41.0 miles, 66.0 km, direction E)
West Bay to London(127.1 miles, 204.5 km, direction NE)

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