Dorset in August :: Lyme Regis

Lyme Regis is a smallish seaside town on the South West coast of Dorset, about 9 miles from where I grew up. It's a place so totally full of beauty and charm that one can't help but fall in love with it. In my humble opinion, it's "English Seaside" at it's absolute best. So when we are down visiting my folks, I always try to plan a day out there, even though J is not a fan (far too crowded for his liking, the hoards of holidaymakers cause a bit of a grump). Luckily for me, I have a  good friend who lives in Lyme (we met at Art College ooooo some twenty three years ago now), so I have a most excellent in-built reason to visit this lovely place.

Last Tuesday was to be our Lyme Regis Day and my fingers and toes were firmly crossed on Monday night with regards to the weather, I so very much wanted sunshine for my day in Lyme. I really did not want to do this day in the rain. Not at all. I think all the digit-crossing and secret wishing must have paid off cos the sun did indeed shine for us on Tuesday :: yippeeee!!!! I was so happy!!!! So on a lovely sunshiny day we arrived just in time for morning coffee.

We chose The Terrace cafe, with it's sensational location :: it was blissful sitting amongst bright blue pots of geraniums with a view right across my frothy cappuccino to the blue sea beyond. The Little People, who do not possess the ability to Sit Blissfully, gulped down their juice then zipped out of The Terrace to run up and down the promenade beyond. They were really excited actually, and I loved that, it was great to watch them run and climb with such energy and joy.

After all that blissed out sitty stuff was finished with, I upped myself and we all went for a wander along the sea front. As expected, it was very crowded, but still lovely nevertheless.

There are some quite amazing houses along this stretch of seafront, and they never cease to wow me.

So quaint! So impossibly pretty!

I am also wowed by these rather lovely ammonite lamp posts. Which of course I've seen many times before. Funny really, cos I know Lyme Regis quite well (I even worked a few of my late teenage summers in an ice cream shop there), yet every time I visit I always feel excited as if I'm seeing it for the first time. It never seems totally familiar to me, although I've no idea why.

Getting on for midday now and we are due at M's house for lunch. So we pull away from the seafront and wind down a pretty little side street to visit the Town Mill Bakery. The bread here has to be seen to be believed, some of the loaves are the size of a small child. We ooooh and ahhhh, gasp and wow at the vast range of baked products, then select some ginormous scones to take away with us.

It's lovely to reconnect with old friends isn't it? Friends you don't see often, maybe once a year if you're lucky and it does feel quite special when it happens. Incidentally I LOVE M's house. It's old and quirky and full of her personality. We have a very, very similar style actually (both of us studied art and textiles) and I feel right at home in her colourful rooms. Have to stop myself being too nosey cos like me she has a lot of Stuff around and about. Pretty things, interesting things, arty things. Things I dearly love to nosey at!

After a delicious lunch we head back out for a wander around Lyme. Through the little back streets we go, following the beck past this magnificent dahlia bed...

.....ahhhhh yes, another wowowowwwwsy moment for me as I take a little giddy trip over these flowers, me oh my I do so adore dahlias. AdORe them I tell you.

WOWsers!!! Just get a load of that COLOUR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

More beautiful houses tucked away down these tiny streets, and some amazing sunflowers growing ten feet tall.

We emerge at the top of the high street, isn't it lovely? I think it's lovely. Love the hilliness, love the summer bunting, love the little glimpse of the sea at the bottom. All round Loveliness really, and as Town Centres go, this has to be up there with the best I reckon.

We head away from the street now and start to wind our way down through the beautifully planted town gardens. There's been a lot of work done here in recent years, and it's looking really wonderful. The view down to the beach and the famous Cobb (the curving sea wall) are breathtaking. Busy though isn't it? The beach I mean? Look..........

Ooodles of people doing beachy things. J isn't sure about venturing forth to sit in amongst that lot, but the Little People are having none of it, they are sooooooooooo sure about what they want to do....

...........they race ahead and go straight into the sea. With their clothes on. No kidding, they really do. They just wade in, just like that. One minute they are dry, the next minute they are completely Not Dry. So we suddenly have two Very Wet children with no change of clothes or a towel, but hey, it's fine, they are happy and so why worry? They'll dry off soon enough. We sit and watch them as they come in and out of the sea, big grins on their little faces. I take photos of them stood waist deep in the water with their clothes on, arms outstretched, grinning Big.

Oh so Precious. Childhood memories are so very very precious aren't they?

We had such a lovely day in Lyme Regis, it was ace. And guess what, I even managed to wangle a little itsy bit of Retail Therapy too :: right at the end of the day on the way back to the car I pleaded with J to take the Little Peeps up the hill and allow me a quick squizzy in this most delicious little shop. Oh how I browsed! Think Greengate and Rice and Avoca, and imagine how bonkers with excitement I was. So yes, I did treat  myself to a few little bits, how could I not?? Want to know what I got?? I'll show you very soon I promise.

Been lovely as ever to share my tales with you....((thank you)) for being out there.

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Comments

[holy land tours]

I visit Lyme Regis couple times and fell in love with this place. I had such a terrific times! And your post reminded me the beautiful places. Great pictures an thanks for sharing.

[Barbara Pardun]

Sounds absolutely wonderful, from this American. I, too, want to vacation with you. Barb

[lizzie]

Love Lyme ! Have you read Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier the story of Mary Anning. And The French Lieutenants Woman - visions of the Undercliff ! I was there a few years ago, they were tearing the beach to put new sand down from way out in the Channel. Have you been up Golden Cap.
Love your blog !

[Lisa]

I'm just reading Tracy Chevalier's 'Remarkable Creatures' and all I can think of is your posting about Lyme! I've just been to Whitby (another favourite area of yours, I know!) and now want to go to Lyme one day. Thank you for the gorgeous photos as always.

[Julia]

How lovely to see Lyme Regis in bloom. I visited there last year in February while my son did field study for his Geology 'A' level. It was a fabulous place to visit even in the winter.

[MariaElena]

Yes, yes, yes!!! I am so addicted to your blog!! It is the first one I visit just about every morning. Your photos are very beautiful, colorful. By the way, what is the yarn you're using to make the flower granny squares?

[Cybèle]

Odd to see Lyme Regis so busy and full of flowers - I normally visit in February when it's equally charming but less full and definitely less floral!
Have you been to Rinky Tinks on the sea front? They started last year I think, do very good coffee and scones and the best sundae icecreams.

[Lee]

Lucy, I've been enjoying your posts for some time - love the colors, photos and charm

[Nora]

Dear Lucy, thanks so much for the trip around Lyme. I'm just re-reading John Fowles, so it was great to be reminded of exactly what Lyme looks like. I've only been there twice and it was ages ago. Wonderful photographs and descriptions, as ever.

[greedy nan]

We went to Lyme for the 1st time in the van a few months ago and LOVED it. HAD to have [haha] chips on the prom for tea as we'd forgotten to pack a saucepan - how organised were we?
Your pics were just as I can remember it.

[jennie]

Thank you so much for sharing your trip to Lyme. I love it there its my second favourite seaside but oh so far away so first favourite wins most trips away (Saundersfoot in south wales in case your interested its very similar but less hilly and bigger beach). Thanks again I've got to go look at holiday snaps now and convince my husband that we need another trip away.

[illahee]

i love your blog so much, it definitely brightens my day!! that dahlia bed is so gorgeous! *happy sigh* thank you so much for sharing...

[Heather Hoekstra]

I love how you describe everything. The coffee and that cake loook scrumptious. All of your pics are so quaint. Thank you for sharing a bit of your wonderful world. My 5 year old daughter Anneke says "hi", she loves to look at the "pretty pictures" on your blog.

[Ann]

Love your photos and the stories you tell. I've never been to Lyme Regis but you make me want to go there one day. Little ones getting wet in the sea makes for a fun day, as does the retail therapy ;)

[Yvonne]

What a lovely virtual tour of Lyme Regis - thank you! My introduction to Lyme is through the tongue twister "she sell seashells by the seashore..." the she being Mary Anning the fossil hunter. I've recently read her biography - The Fossil Hunter by Shelley Emling and now am anxiously awaiting my library copy of Curiosity a work of fiction based on a period of her life by Joan Thomas a Canadian writer. Love your blog.

[louise]

Hi Lucy, glad you had a good time in Dorset - am not stalking you but we were there too...in Lyme on Tuesday I also took some pictures of the lovely sunflower house and bought a loaf of bread (it was fab as was the cheese from the cheese shop behind) at the bakery and a couple of bits from that shop-The other benefit from the rain was managed to finish the rows on my granny stripe just the ends and the edge to do now... Thanks so much for a great pattern...my S also thought L too busy ...bit odd for a Londoner!

[Linda Rappaport]

Thank you for sharing your wonderful day!

[Gabrielle]

Attic 24.... you truly make my day brighter. I've been following your blog for about 1 year and have come to love it. Your joyfull presentation's of your life and passion for color, crochet, and beauty lifts my spirit. Thank you Lucy. :)) Gabrielle

[Modern Country Style]

I really love the way you write. I could immerse myself in your writing (and often do!!). It's so alive and frothy and bubbly and...and.... and lovely.
xx

[Pj]

Glad you enjoyed your holiday,Dorset is such a lovely place and it sounds like you had a wonderful time despite the weather, best wishes Pj x

[Anna]

Thanks for the walk-around, I'd never have thought Lyme Regis was like that, it looks lovely will add it to my list of future destinations!

[Penny]

Thanks for sharing Lyme Regis with us. I live in Australia and my Grandma used to live in Seaton, Devon and many a day I visited Lyme. So lovely to see the pics and remember happy days as a child. I am a big fan of your blog, thanks for sharing.
Penny

[Terrie]

Gorgeous photo's. Lyme Regis looks mighty pretty! x

[Lori Daly]

Oh Lucy, What a lovely post. Thanks for sharing your holiday with us. I too love the way your excitement comes off the page...about everything you share. You have such a gift. Oh, and my husband hates crowds too...love him, but not exactly convenient...right? And it makes me think or sing “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.”

[lizzybethr]

i love lyme regis well apart from all those very steep hills we went when my kids were small they loved the fossil museum