Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre

What a fab place. Fun for fossil Hunting We also found loads of sea glass. The shop there was reasonably priced and there was toilets and a cafe toilets were free. Car park decent price and right on the beach. Dogs allowed in the beach.

Today we visited the heritage centre and was amazed at the amount of fossil information on display. Super friendly staff. After spending time on the beach at Black Ven the staff were happy to review some of my finds and help explain what they were. Great for families. Well worth a visit 👍

All staff were welcoming, friendly and informative. You could really tell that they enjoyed paleontology and were keen to share their knowledge and tips with both children and adults! What a fun and informative outdoor activity!

Thoroughly exceeded my expectations. Thought there'd be a bunch of ten-a-penny ammonites and a few photos of more impressive fossils found decades ago. Actually there are some astonishing fossils including huge ichyosaurus found as recently as last year, plus loads of maps and models about the geology, fossil hunting advice, friendly volunteer staff to ID anything you find, etc. And all free!

Charmouth is a beautiful and interesting beach with constantly changing scenery due to erosion and just the sheer natural aspects of the constantly changing ocean and weather. I come here often to put it midly as it has a real sense of calm and tranquillity for me whether it be to eat my sandwiches, have a quick snooze on my way to or from fishing, grab some air, recharge or simply watch the stunning sunrises and sunsets ill always stop. It stretches for miles as does your imagination when there. I prefer winter time in all honesty as I prefer if im the only person around although in the warmer months I usually am as I arrive at 4am probably at the latest. The car park attends are welcoming and friendly and also work hard to maintain cleanliness especially after spring tides or/ and strong south westerlies. It gets very crowded at weekends and summer holidays though with people searching for fossils as its world renowned for precisely this. Thoroughly recommended.

Charmouth is a fantastic base for walkers. The South West Coast Path runs right through the village, offering a variety of trails. You can take a scenic, albeit steep, walk up Golden Cap for breathtaking panoramic views of Lyme Bay. For a less strenuous option, a circular walk between Charmouth and Lyme Regis offers beautiful coastal and countryside views. You can even walk directly along the beach to Lyme Regis at low tide, which is a popular and rewarding trek. Just be sure to check tide times to avoid being cut off.

As I had a dog, I went up stairs to the Heritage coast centre to ask the rules around dogs. Meredith, the woman on guard duty, told me to tie up my dog downstairs, ( I did not enter into the museum Because dogs can’t go in). I asked if she had any leaflets of information regarding the fossil beach and she just said tie up your dog and you can get them yourself, and refused to hand me any. I found her attitude extremely rude and condescending. I then met Steve who works for the local council and he was the total opposite, he even went to change my £5 note, into coins for the parking. WiFi is not very reliable there. I also have to mention that Meredith was watching as I talked to Steve and was smirking. I didn’t appreciate that when I challenged her attitude she responded I’m a volunteer. Does that give her the right to be rude? I don’t think so. I did not go in to the facility. I was extremely disappointed with Meredith’s attitude.

Pebbled shingled beach people swimming, bathing in sea heritage centre very interesting wheelchair access at different levels ok setting along pier head