Wonderful Winter in Lyme
They say ‘there’s no such thing as bad weather’ but, let’s be honest, when the wind is blowing a hooli and the rain is beating your face, there is a limit to how much one can take.
Yet, if you’re anything like us, there isn’t a time of year when it doesn’t feel good to be by the sea. There are so many good things about Lyme Regis ‘off season’, and even in stormy weather the gamble of a winter break can pay off. With its stunning views and the sight of the huge powerful breakwaters crashing over the Cobb, there is no better place to witness a storm come in.
This stunning image by local photographer Richard Austin pretty much sums up how beautiful the fearsome waves can be.
For hardened walkers (with the right gear) the vista never tires, the scenery only superseding whatever gorgeous views came before. The fresh green of summer morphs into the kaleidoscope carpet of autumn, in turn fading into the promise of crunchy white frost and if you’re really lucky, snow!
Richard Austin captured the snowy seafront perfectly here.
And still the sun may shine!! You’ll wrap up against the cold and feel the warmth soak into your skin, permeating your layers, warming your insides! The beaches here are still busy on a winter’s day, the sand never tires of fun for children and the hardened sea swimmers don’t let a light frost get in their way!
When you’ve filled your lungs with fresh sea air and worked up an appetite, you can enjoy soaking up the views from the warmth of one of the lovely cafes and resturants along the beach. Try Swim for breakfast, The Lyme Bay for lunch. Then the Rock Point Inn or if you fancy something smarter, take a walk through the beautiful Langmoor Garden to Mark Hix Oyster and Fish House for dinner. For more culinary inspiration read our blog on our top 10 favourite spots here.
If lady luck is still not on your side (and you’re drenched), then the Lyme Regis Museum is well worth a trip. Built on the site of Mary Annings home, it’s packed with interesting and thought-provoking displays, full of stories about the local area from its interesting maritime history to its spectacular fossil collection and literary connections.
For the budding geologists and palaeontologists, Dinosaurland, housed in an old church, is a must. From floor to ceiling, it’s jam packed full of treasures including 16,000 fossil specimens from Lyme Regis and around the world. The no frills private collection speaks for itself, and you cannot fail but to be amazed by the passion that goes into sharing its treasures and the joy of fossil hunting with you.
As well as this, Lyme Regis is full of lovely shops to mooch around and enjoys a bustling art scene. The Town Mill area, nestled around a cobbled courtyard, is known as the creative heart of Lyme and is well worth a visit to see the 500 year old working watermill, the galleries and beautiful artisan shops.
So, if you’re impelled to see the sea, we say don’t let the weather put you off! Enjoy everything Lyme Regis has to offer ‘off season’. Here at Lyme 1 Hotel, we are open all year and our 8 cosy boutique bedrooms (and bottomless supply of hot drinks) are the perfect place to unwind and warm up after a wintry walk! https://lyme1hotel.com
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