Local Route--Lyme Regis

Start at the northeast portion of Lyme on Church Street.
Have a look at the 15th century parish church of St. Michael the Archangel on Church Street. Inside are a 17th century pulpit and a massive chained Bible.
As you stroll south, Church Street turns into Bridge Street. Stop into the Philpot Museum, on the left side of Bridge Street. Here you can see some of paleontologist Mary Anning’s most remarkable fossil finds.
As you move southeast, you will approach the seashore. As you look out at the sea, notice to your left the beautiful limestone cliffs that Anne Elliot would have admired. This area of cliffs is rich with fossils. Lyme’s pride of its fossils exhibits itself all over the town; throughout your walk, notice that even the tops of the lampposts are shaped like ammonites.
As you stroll southwest along Cobb Gate Beach (which turns into Front Beach), watch for ammonites in the walls and stones. The color-washed cottages and stylish villas near the beach give a sense of why Lyme was such a popular holiday town.
As you near the southwest end of the beach, you will approach the famous harbor wall known as the Cobb. The wall is a 183m-long stone jetty-cum-breakwater, first constructed in the 13th century. Walking up onto the Cobb, you will feel the mist of the sea water brush your skin. Notice Granny’s Teeth, the rock steps that Louisa Musgrove may have jumped down in Persuasion. Besides figuring in Persuasion, the Cobb plays an important role in John Fowles’ The French Lieutenant’s Woman (see the John Fowles page of this website for more information). Avid readers may wish to read Fowles’ novel alongside Persuasion to see the difference in mood in each author’s vision of Lyme.
To the west (your right side, if you’re looking out to sea) is the Undercliff, an area of overgrown landslips that is now a nature reserve.
Going back into town the way you came, along the beach, turn left onto Broad Street and peek into some of its many shops. Not to be missed is the Fossil Shop, where you can pick up an ammonite if you weren’t lucky enough to find one on the beach.