This panorama was taken standing on the boulders that form a groyne on Charmouth beach. The beach here is stony, set below the steep hills and cliffs of Dorset. There is a clear view along the coast to both Lyme Regis in the west and Gold Cap to the east. There is a short row of beach huts next to the Heritage Centre and Fossil Shop. Beyond this the coastline rises to to Stonebarrow Hill, and then descends to near sea level again before rising to Gold Hill, the large hill in the far distance along the shoreline to the east in this panoramic picture.

Charmouth Beach - Charmouth visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Charmouth Beach' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Dorset.

Charmouth is a small village at the mouth of the River Char in west Dorset. The village lies very close to Lyme Regis on the Jurassic Coast and about 9 miles from Bridport. The Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre on the beach has displays about this part of the Jurassic Coast and information about the fossils that can be found here.

The two things that attract people to Charmouth are the coastal walks (it is on the Southwest Coast Path) and fossil hunting. The soft clay cliffs are continuously being eroded, exposing 200 million year old fossils. Collectors must take care among the unstable cliffs. The area is well known for ammonites, Belemnites, Crinoids and many other marine creatures. Among some of the best finds in this area include the bones of Ichthyosaurus. Charmouth Fossils, a shop that specializes in fossils and semi-precious stones, is situated just beneath the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre beside the beach. Details for both the fossil shop and the Heritage Centre are given below.

The other attraction is walking the coastal path of this part of the World Heritage Site. To the east of Charmouth is Golden Cap which, at 189 m (619 ft), is the tallest cliff along the south coast of England. The round walk from Charmouth to Golden Cap is about 5 miles long and starts at Stonebarrow Hill near to the seafront. On the way it passes the hamlet of St. Gabriel, which was a much larger village until most of it fell into the sea. Just beyond Golden Cap is Seatown.

Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre,
Lower Sea Lane,
Charmouth,
Dorset, DT6 6LL
Tel: 01297 560772
For information on local activities, beach and cliff conditions and history of the surrounding area.

Charmouth Fossils Address:
Charmouth Fossils
Lower Sea Lane,
Charmouth,
Dorset, DT6 6LL
Charmouth Fossils are below the Heritage Centre. They sell both local fossils and other fossils from around the world. They will occasionally buy fossils found on Charmouth itself, but these have to be very good quality and rare fossils. The world wide fossils are sourced from Madagascar, USA, Brazil, Morocco, Italy and China among other places.

Car: Charmouth lies off the A35 which links Bridport to Lyme Regis. The village is a couple of miles east of Lyme Regis. In the village Lower Sea Lane leads from the A35 down to the sea front and car parking at Stonebarrow Hill.