Weymouth, the Jurassic Coast & Swanage Steam Railway

Included Excursions

Jurassic Coast (Lyme Regis, West Bay & Abbotsbury) (full day)

For our first half-day excursion, we take in some of the highlights of the Jurassic Coast. We start in the charming seaside town of Lyme Regis, home to Britain’s most famous paleontologist, Mary Anning, and the site where she made many of her findings. We continue on to the scenic marvel of West Bay where the popular TV programme Broadchurch was filmed, before concluding our trip in picturesque Abbotsbury, a quaint little village that has one foot placed firmly in the past.

Lulworth Cove, Corfe Castle & Swanage Steam Railway (full day)

We start our day in West Lulworth where we enjoy a visit to Lulworth Cove. This unique clam-shaped inlet offers panoramic views and the opportunity to see millions of years of history through the layers of sedimentary rock on display in the Lulworth Crumple. We then travel to the magnificent ruins of Corfe Castle to explore the features of this imposing 12^th-century stronghold including the stone hall, the castle’s oldest feature, built during the reign of William the Conqueror. We finish our day with a ride on the heritage Swanage Steam Railway, where we can sit back and take in Dorset’s stunning scenery on our journey to the coastal town of Swanage where we spend some time at leisure.

Optional Excursion

Dorchester Market – £11pp (half day)

Join us on an optional excursion which takes us to the attractive county town of Dorchester, situated on the river Frome where we have time to browse the stalls of its traditional and charming market. Founded in the 19^th century, the market has been a fixture of Dorchester’s community for generations and welcomes thousands of visitors each year due to its wide range of products from over 200 traders.

Located on the Dorset coast, Weymouth is a traditional seaside resort which has retained its original charm but has plenty to keep all ages and tastes happy.

With a majestic sweep of golden beach, a historic harbour, plenty of family-friendly attractions and a nature reserve right on its doorstep, Weymouth is a delightful coach holiday destination.

See more

So much more than just a Year 8 Geography school trip, Dorset’s World Heritage Jurassic Coastline is well worth another look. Stretching almost a hundred craggy-cliff miles between Dorset and Devon, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the richest areas for prehistoric remains. It’s not all about fossil-hunting and chasing T-Rex tails though! Take in the stunning bays and secluded villages complete with lovely, thatched tearooms.

Lyme Regis

A bit like a coastal car boot sale, but with people scouring for fossils instead of vintage tea cups! We’re picturing dinosaurs on deckchairs back in the day, but these days Lyme Regis stuns with its iconic Cobb harbour, acclaimed seafood cuisine and lovely, sandy beaches. Check out the limestone layers and have a rummage for your very own fossilised souvenirs down on Monmouth Beach; a veritable gift shop if you fancy rootling around for rocks.

West Bay

With its cinematic clifftops, West Bay is instantly recognisable as the filming location of Broadchurch. As one of the more dramatic sections of the Jurassic Coast, this little village boasts two beaches; East Beach and West Beach. The former offers sloping shingles which meet dramatic cliffs reaching a mammoth height of 50 metres and the latter features a small cove, popular with families and perfect for paddling. Be sure to take a stroll from West Beach along the restored Jurassic Pier and watch the boats bobbing in the harbour.

Abbotsbury

Crammed with lovely thatched cottages, farm shops and tearooms leading to an old market square, you’ll feel like you’ve wandered into a Thomas Hardy novel when you arrive in Abbotsbury. Tucked up in a valley, the Ridgeway hills act a bit like an electric-blanket, resulting in the village having its very own warm microclimate. The subtropical gardens and old abbey building are well worth a look, and did we mention this village has its very own swannery?! It’s the only place in the world where you are able to walk through a colony of nesting Mute Swans!