Charmouth Beach voted the best in the World to visit in Winter!
Prestigious travel guides Lonely Planet have recently voted Charmouth Beach in West Dorset as one of the best beaches in the world to visit in Winter. In fact, it came out at the top of their list, above some beautiful beaches in Iceland, Norway, New Zealand and others from across the world.Â
Our Golden Cap Holiday Park is located just 5 miles from Charmouth Beach and offers holidays all year round in beautiful 2 and 3 bedroom lodges, many with sea views. Highlands End, just a further 3 miles east also offers winter breaks in bungalows, apartments and has gravel and hard-base pitches available all year round for touring and motorhome holidays.
The Jurassic Coast
Charmouth Beach is located within the UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Jurassic Coast, a 95 mile stretch of coastline between East Devon and East Dorset. The coastline here is hugely geologically important, as the rocks here record over 185 million years of the Earth’s history. It’s home to some incredible landforms, and is known to be one of the best places in the world to find fossils. Within the Jurassic Coast, certain areas are more fossil-rich than others, and Charmouth Beach, along with neighbouring Lyme Regis, is particularly abundant. Here, it’s possible for almost anyone to find some prehistoric treasures to take home with them, even those without prior experience.
If you want a helping hand or some inspiration, make sure to visit the Charmouth Coast Heritage Centre, where you can see some amazing fossils, ranging from large ammonites to whole dinosaur skeletons, all found locally. The volunteer team here are hugely helpful and can offer you some great tips, and they even run guided fossil hunting walks, giving you the best possible chance of making an exciting discovery. Winter is traditionally the best time of year to find fossils, as wet weather and stormy seas loosen the rocks in the cliffs, bringing new material down onto the beach regularly.
More about Charmouth
Charmouth Beach is a mixed beach, with some areas made up of sand and others made of shingle. The beach is split into two separate sections by the River Char, which sometimes forms a lagoon where birds come to swim, and paddleboarders enjoy calmer waters. At low tide, a number of rockpools can be discovered, and it’s possible to walk along the beach all the way to Lyme Regis. You could also take to the South West Coast Path, a challenging and scenic National Trail that attracts walkers from all across the country. It’s not far to walk to Golden Cap, an impressive cliff that’s the highest point on the South Coast of England, and dominates the coastline here. There is plenty of pay and display parking by the beach, public toilets and beach huts which can be hired if you want some shelter when the wind picks up. The village itself is a traditional seaside village, with a small number of shops including a pharmacy, post office, bakery and butchers. There’s also 2 pubs where you could warm up after a winter walk with some delicious homecooked food.
A Dog’s Paradise
Charmouth Beach is completely dog-friendly during winter, so the whole family can enjoy spending time here. The water is relatively shallow, as the shingle doesn’t shelf as much as other beaches in the area, making it quite safe to paddle in. However, if your four-legged friend isn’t a fan of waves, they might enjoy a swim in the small river that meets the sea here. There’s also dog poo bins in numerous locations.
Holidays near Charmouth
West Dorset Leisure Holidays have 6 Holiday Parks on or near the Jurassic Coast, just a short drive from Charmouth Beach. Our closest park is Golden Cap Holiday Park, located in Seatown, another small coastal village, less than 5 miles from Charmouth. During Winter, we have luxury Lodges available here, many with spectacular sea views. Slightly further down the coast you’ll find Highlands End Holiday Park, an award-winning clifftop park with a wide range of accommodation and fantastic facilities. Here, you can stay in our of our luxury Lodges, Bungalows or Apartments, or bring your own touring caravan, motorhome or campervan to one of the only parks in the area offering pitches throughout the winter period.
Winter is a fantastic time of year to enjoy a holiday in Dorset – you’ll be able to enjoy spectacular sunsets, quiet roads, cosy pubs and explore some of Dorset’s best attractions and places to visit without the Summer crowds.
More Information
Interested in finding out more about any of the things we’ve mentioned here? Take a look at these pages…
Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre
Dog Friendly Beaches in Dorset
Over 35% of all of our guests bring a dog with them on holiday and who can blame them! The Dorset coastline is a superb place to enjoy the scenery...
Charmouth
Unique Coastal Landforms in Dorset
The county of Dorset sits on the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, a breathtaking stretch of coastline known for its unique geological significance. The varying rock structures in this part...
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