Must See Sights and Landmarks in Lyme Regis Area

"Built in the 1590s for Sir Edward Phelips, a speaker of the House of Commons, Montacute contains some of the finest 16th- and 17th-century interiors in the country. Its plasterwork, chimney pieces and tapestries are renowned, but the highlight is the Long Gallery – the longest such hall in England, it's rich in Elizabethan portraits.Montacute is 5 miles west of Yeovil off the A3088."

"Rarely do you find such a nudge-nudge, wink-wink tourist attraction. Nude, full frontal and notoriously well endowed, this hillside chalk figure is revealed in all his glory. And he's in a stage of excitement that wouldn't be allowed in most magazines. The giant is around 60m high and 51m wide and his age remains a mystery; some claim he's Roman but the first historical reference comes in 1694, when three shillings were set aside for his repair. These days a car park provides grandstand views."

"For full-blown Victorian architectural excess, Knightshayes Court delivers in spades. It was designed by the eccentric architect William Burges for the Tiverton MP John Heathcoat Mallory in 1869. Burges' obsession with the Middle Ages resulted in a plethora of stone curlicues, ornate mantles and carved figurines, plus lavish Victorian decoration (the smoking and billiard rooms feel just like a gentlemens club). Outside is a waterlily pool, topiary, formal terraces and a kitchen garden. It's 1 mile east of Tiverton at Bolham."

"Occupying a massive slab of horizon on the southern fringes of Dorchester, Maiden Castle is the largest and most complex Iron Age hill fort in Britain. The first defences were built on the site around 500 BC – in its heyday it was densely populated with clusters of roundhouses and a network of roads. The Romans besieged and captured Maiden Castle in AD 43 – an ancient Briton skeleton with a Roman crossbow bolt in the spine was found at the fort."

"Visit Swallows Rest and discover Dorset, a county of outstanding natural beauty which boasts England’s World Heritage Site known as the Jurassic Coast, with rolling hills, breath taking countryside, beautiful villages, and sandy and award winning beaches. We're on the South West Coastal Path National Trail with 630 miles of superb coastline, one of the top walks in the world. At the bottom of our land is the world famous Chesil Beach and the Fleet Saltwater Estuary which runs 10 miles along to Abbotsbury."

" Founded in 1981, Hanburys has carved out a rock-solid reputation as one of the West Country’s top chippies, attracting hordes of locals as well as p ..." Read our full review"

" Founded in 1981, Hanburys has carved out a rock-solid reputation as one of the West Country’s top chippies, attracting hordes of locals as well as p ..."

"Occupying a massive slab of horizon on the southern fringes of Dorchester, Maiden Castle is the largest and most complex Iron Age hill fort in Britain. The first defences were built on the site around 500 BC – in its heyday it was densely populated with clusters of roundhouses and a network of roads. The Romans besieged and captured Maiden Castle in AD 43 – an ancient Briton skeleton with a Roman crossbow bolt in the spine was found at the fort."

"Every May some 600 free-flying swans choose to nest at this swannery, which shelters in the Fleet Lagoon, protected by the ridge of Chesil Beach. Wandering the network of trails that winds between the swans' nests is an awe-inspiring experience that's punctuated by occasional territorial displays (snuffling coughs and stand-up flapping), ensuring that even the liveliest children are stilled.The swannery is near the picturesque village of Abbotsbury, 10 miles from Weymouth off the B3157."