I travel to Weymouth regularly to visit family and I feel like despite being one of the most beautiful destinations in the UK, the South-West of England is underrated. So I thought I’d share a few of my favourite things to do, see and eat down South.
1) Take a tasty trip to Winchester
The weekly food and produce market is on every Wednesday from 9 till 5 and is the perfect place to find an antidote for an empty stomach. There are stalls bursting with bread and bakery products, olives and nuts and hundreds of types of cheese!
2) Explore Lulworth Cove
This beautiful cove is in my opinion, one of the highlights of the Jurassic Coast. With chalk-white cliffs and azure blue waters, it's a photographer's paradise.The cove also leads you to the path for the hike up to Durdle Door. The hike can take between 45 mins-1 hr depending on how fast you walk. It can get pretty slippery on a rainy day though and its is quite steep so be careful!
3) Photograph Portland from the Olympic Rings
Drive up the winding road to the top of Portland and stop at Heights Hotel. From here skip across the road to the Olympic Rings where you will have stunning views all across Portland, Chesil Beach and the Fleet. On a clear day you can get some epic photos. Peek into the corner of Portland to look for any surfers that may be frolicking in the waves.
4) Chow down on fresh, local lobster
When you step inside, the average age does raise to about 75 but don’t be fooled, The Lobster Pot serves fantastic fresh fish, my favourite being the scampi. You can also walk around the lighthouse for some photo ops. I may have tricked you a little bit though, because for all the times I’ve eaten here, there has only once been actual lobster on the menu. Ironic, right!? Oh well, the scampi is still pretty good!
5) Stroll through Lymington
Lymington is located on the coast near to Southampton and opposite the Isle of Wight, for which there is a regular car ferry service for anyone who wants to hop over for the day. You can head down the high street for photography opportunities or eat at any of the little cafes or restaurants along the way.
6) Have lunch at Hive Beach Cafe.
When I tell you that this is my favourite place to eat in the UK, I am not joking. This cafe is located right on the beach along the Jurassic Coast at Burton Bradstock and serves some of the most delicious fresh seafood and chips I have ever tasted. It does get incredibly busy because you can’t book a table. We ended up waiting for 30 minutes, but the line does move fast.
7) Admire the landscape of Hive Beach.
To finish your trip to Burton Bradstock head along the beach to admire the honey coloured cliffs and bright, blue skies. The sea is a little bit too chilly for swimming, but the photos I took made up for it. You will be able to see some of those on my Instagram and here on my blog.
8) Take a visual geography lesson at Durdle Door.
After your hike across from Lulworth Cove, head down to Durdle Door- one of the South-West’s most popular attractions. It has been formed by erosion of the cliff over thousands of years. One day the arch will collapse and form a stack and then consequently a stump. The process will then begin again as the waves erode the bottom of the cliff and form a new arch.
9) Experience the country’s theatrical side
The UK has always been a major global power in the theatre world. Locations like the Royal Albert Hall and the Royal Opera House have projected opera, theatre and dance to a mainstream audience. I have grown to love watching theatre and dance and so have seen many productions across the UK- The Royal Ballet’s The Nutcracker, The Lion King, Russian State Ballet’s Nutcracker, Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, Aladdin. So to complete your trip to the South-West attend a theatrical performance. There are many great venues including the Mayflower Theatre, Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre and Weymouth Pavilion.
10) Hike up to Hardy’s Monument
This attraction was erected in 1844 in memory of Vice Admiral Sir Thomas Hardy and has been standing strong ever since. The rolling countryside all around you is perfect for photos and for exploring.
11) Soak in the history, at Moonfleet Manor
Moonfleet Manor is a luxury Georgian manor located just out of Weymouth. It has an enticing history and has been long associated with Falkner’s 1898 tale of smuggling and secrets. (Make sure you pick up a copy of this story during your stay) The hotel is primarily family orientated, but Juliana and I felt it was perfect for anyone. The decor is unique with contemporary twists on animal skins, ornate furnishings and elaborate chandeliers. If you’re looking for a nice meal I have always enjoyed the food here and felt that it is some of the best in the area. (best rooms= Aphrodite + Elzevir)
12) Walk across Chesil Beach
The very, famous Chesil Beach is one of the three major shingle structures in the South-West of England. It is a natural wonder and a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it would be pretty ridiculous to go all the way to Weymouth and visit it. It has also been featured in the film “On Chesil Beach”
13) Take Snoopy for a walk (Dog Lovers- Sign Up Here!)
You will be able to find resident dog (formerly puppy in training!) Snoopy wandering around Moonfleet Manor at any point in the day. He’s a hard-working dog and so deserves a little treat every now and again so guests are permitted to take him for walks in the surrounding area. A dog lover’s dream!
Enjoy your trip to the South-West and be sure to tell me what your favourite things to do are.
-Donny-