West Bay Blog

Burton Bradstock/Bothenhampton Walk – September 2021

Sep 10th, 2023

Today we had a very pleasant walk from West Bay to Burton Bradstock then back via Bothenhampton. The weather was glorious for our 5.5 mile walk.

We set off on the footpath on the Burton Road out of West Bay just up passed the old railway station along the road taking the marked footpath on the right-hand side.  The path rises steeply and then levels out along West Bay Golf Course.  Following the clearly marked footpath signs and walk through Freshwater Holiday Park following the signs towards Burton Bradstock.

Cross over the footbridge and turn left across the fields towards Burton Bradstock.

We ate at the Anchor pub and enjoyed Beer Battered Fish & Chips and Grilled Seabass with Salsa Verde.  We then followed Shadrack and kept going when it goes into a track.  Follow the footpath up the hill.  When the footpath meets the track Bennetts Hill Lane, turn left and walk along the top of the hill back towards Bridport/West Bay.  Keep going straight and you will soon be on the track which heads downhill into Bothenhampton.

We crossed over Burton Road and then joined the old railway footpath back into West Bay.  Ice-creams from Baboo Gelato and a drink at West Beach Café finished off a wonderful day.
Market Day – September 2021

Sep 10th, 2023

A 30 minute walk through Parkdean Holiday Park, across the fields and into Bridport, passing Palmers brewery, Bridport United FC ground, St Mary’s Park and through St Mary’s churchyard.

South Street is busy with market stalls selling books, records/CD’s as well as antiques, bric-a-brac and individual crafts.

We had lunch at the Bull Hotel in East Street where they welcome dogs into the bar area.

We walked back through the antique centre which is being rebuilt following the fire a couple of years ago.

Following the path back the way we came and back to Bridport.
On Your Doorstep – September 2021

Sep 10th, 2023
This update is all about the things you can do without having to get in the car.

Parkdean Resort

Driftwood is right opposite Parkdean West Bay Holiday Park and this means you have access to some of their facilities including:
- Swimming pool (indoor)
- The Boathouse Bar and Restaurant
- Costa coffee
- Shop
- Launderette
- Amusement arcade
- Children’s play area – no charge
- Cashpoint machine
Eating out

We really like Rise and the Watch House.  Rise is good for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  The Watch House for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and stone baked pizzas.

For something a bit more up market the Station Kitchen is excellent especially if you reserve a table in the converted railway carriage.

There are three pubs in West Bay, the Bridport Arms, West Bay Arms and the George all are good for families and pub meals. Plus the Seagulls restaurant, Windy Corner café, Cherries.  All get good reviews.

S&E fish and chips in Forty Foot Way is excellent, as is takeaway food from the kiosks around the harbour.

Try amazing ice-cream from Baboo Gelato locally made in Bridport or Granny Gothards made nearby in Devon, plus Margaret’s kiosk on the Esplanade which has been there selling mugs of tea and ice-creams for over 50 years!  Margaret and her husband retired a couple of years ago after running the kiosk for other 46 years and now a new couple run it.

Walk into Bridport

The market town of Bridport is a walk away and there are three routes you can take.
- The quickest is to follow the path through Parkdean and keep going through the gates, across the fields and under the A35 road. There are footpath signs along the way. Look out for lamas and sheep in the nearby farm. The walk takes about 35 mins and you can join South Street near St Mary’s Church.
- Another good choice is to walk through West Bay to the old railway line behind the West Bay Arms Hotel and then take the footpath that follows the old railway line. At the end of the path carefully cross the A35 roundabout and walk the last bit up South Street into Bridport, or take Askers Meadow and Nature Reserve just past Morrisons to get off the main road and into Bridport.
- Finally, you can simply follow the pavement along West Bay Road, using the underpass to cross the A35 and then up South Street.
Market day in Bridport is every Saturday and every Wednesday when you will find an assortment of stalls including antiques, crafts.

Walks from West Bay

Eype 2.5 miles: Taking the path up West Cliff and past Hylands End holiday park you quickly descend into Eype with views of Golden Cap peak in the distance.  Check out the maps in the flat for walks in and around Eype or simply come back along the coast path.

Seatown 6 miles: If you want a longer walk then keep going along the coast path passed Eype and on to Seatown.  This is a longer walk roughly 3 miles but you will be rewarded with amazing views at Thorncombe Beacon before descending into Seatown and the Anchor pub awaits for great pub food on the sun terrace.

Burton Bradstock 4 miles: Take the footpath up the hill just past the railway station off Marsh Barn Road.  The path starts off quite steeply and then levels out as you walk through West Bay Golf Course. Follow the path down into Freshwater Bay and then continue on the coast path onto Burton Bradstock.  The Hive is a must, it’s a wonderful beachside café where you can have anything from tea and cake to a full meal and a glass of wine enjoying the sea views.

West Bay Golf Course

A scenic 18 hole links course with amazing views overlooking the Dorset countryside and the sea.  Look out for the signature hole, the 6^th which has a 90ft drop and rated as one of the top 100 holes in the world!

Boat trips

From West Bay harbour there are fishing trips, leisure trips.  The most popular are the RIB charter rides either a leisurely coastal cruise or the more exhilarating RIB Blast.

Beaches

West Bay is at the end of the famous Chesil Beach.  There are three beaches, the closest being West Beach and depending on the tide and wind direction you can hear the sea at night from the flat!

The beach to the right of West Beach is known as the Dog Beach and can have more of a surf and is used for paddle boarding as well as dog walking.

On the other side of the harbour is the larger expanse of East Beach.  During the summer months this beach has life guards and safe bathing flags.  A word of warning, do not sit under the cliffs as there are regular cliff falls, please adhere to warning signs.

West Bay Discovery Centre

Located in the disused Methodist Church ‘Chapel on the Beach’ the discovery centre will help you and your family find out more about West Bay and the Jurassic Coast, facts, local stories and history.

TV locations

The most recent being the very popular Broadchurch murder mystery series which was filmed in and around West Bay.  More information can be found at the West Bay Discovery Centre.

Back in the 1990’s following Nick Berry’s East Enders success came Harbour Lights filmed in West Bay.  Much of the filming was done in Cherries café and Rise.

Much further back the opening credits of The Fall and Rise of Regginald Perin was shot on East Beach, West Bay.
Lazy Days – Sept 2020

Sep 10th, 2023

A beautiful September week, days spent on the beach, we even swam in the sea – cold but somehow perfect.  Drinks on the beach and Scabble too.

Did things we’ve not done before, a RIB boat ride along the coast (Lyme Bay RIB Charter) was definitely worth it.

We completed the West Dorset Three Peaks – Thorncombe, Golden Cap and Colmer’s Hill finishing at Symonsbury Estate.  19km’s taking in wonderful views, steep climbs, discovering the wonders if slightly creepy ‘holloway’ of Hell Lane. A long walk but worth it for the views.

One of the strange sites during lockdown has been the six or so cruise liners moored up in Weymouth Bay.  From the Jurassic Coast Road beyond Abbortsbury you can see them in the distance.  Weymouth Bay is a naturally sheltered bay, east facing protected from the westerly Atlantic winds, has been home to half a dozen or so empty floating hotels since April. A new tourist attraction!

On this break we didn’t eat out as much as normal and enjoyed meals cooked ourselves. However we did have breakfast a couple of times at Rise.  Make sure you get a window table overlooking the water and I would highly recommend The Aussie! We ate out at the Club House in West Bexington.  Part of the Hive group we had high expectations for a special meal watching the sun go down.

We love Bridport especially on market day when everyone comes out, we did find the streets a little crowded, partly because the weather was so good and we did wear our face masks as we walked around.  However, the market was as friendly as ever.

We enjoyed a mystery drive from Bridport, taking in Mangerton Mill where there is an art studio, antiques and tea room.  On to Powerstock, and the spectacular Eggerton Hill with its amazing views.  Then on to Hardy’s Monument where we picnicked overlooking Weymouth Bay and Chesil Beach before driving back to Abbortsbury via the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang road!

Burton Bradstock/Bothenhampton Walk – September 2021

Market Day – September 2021

On Your Doorstep – September 2021

Lazy Days – Sept 2020