Weymouth
National Rail | station code WEY
Weymouth is on the Heart of Wessex line.
Weymouth is popular seaside resort with a long sandy beach. It is also an important ferry port with services to the Channel Isles and France. Weymouth makes a good base for exploring the area by public transport with bus services to Abbotsbury, Bridport, Lyme Regis and Axminster (for trains west to Exeter). Weymouth PlusBus tickets are valid on local buses in Weymouth and to Portland.
A nature reserve of reedbeds and saline lagoons in the centre of Weymouth.
Wetland birds and other wildlife can be seen. Discovery Centre for information. Admission free.
Open Reserve paths at all times, see website for Discovery Centre.
www.rspb.org.uk/radipolelake
A Tudor building, thought to have been a merchant's property, furnished as an early 17th century home.
Guides describe daily domestic life of the period including furniture, clothing and cooking.
Open please see website.
www.weymouthcivicsociety.org
Weymouth Museum covers the history of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis from prehistoric times to the present day,
including their development into a fashionable Georgian seaside resort. Exhibits include a collection of local souvenir china.
Open closed for redevelopment.
www.weymouthmuseum.org.uk
The Victorian Nothe (pronounced 'No-th') Fort was built to protect the entrance to Weymouth Harbour.
Features include underground passageways, large guns and outdoor areas with views of Dorset's Jurassic Coast.
Displays tell the story of coastal defence. Café.
Open Apr-Oct, Daily 1030-1730 (1630 Oct). Nov & Mar, SSu 1100-1600.
www.nothefort.org.uk
A wide variety of marine life including sharks, sea turtles, seals, otters, penguins, seahorses, jellyfish,
coral reef inhabitants and rockpool wildlife. Food stalls.
Open Daily 1000-1700 (1100-1600 in winter, see website).
www.visitsealife.com/weymouth
With a large reebed, open water, saltmarsh and bushes Lodmoor Nature Reserve attracts
a wide variety of birds and other wildlife. Download a trail leaflet from the website. Admission free.
Open at all times.
www.rspb.org.uk/lodmoor
Chesil Beach is long shingle barrier stretching along the Jurassic Coast to West Bay near Bridport.
Behind Chesil Beach is Fleet Lagoon, a large saline lake. Displays in the Centre explain why the area is important for wildlife.
Birdwatching window overlooking mudflats. Café.
Open Daily 1000-1600.
www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk
Bus 1 from Weymouth Kings Statue to Ferrybridge, about 15 minutes journey,
then ½ mile walk. M-S every 12-15 minutes, Sun ½-hourly.
Weymouth PlusBus tickets are valid for this journey.
Operated by First.
A fortress built by Henry VIII to defend Portland Harbour. It has a rich history including being fought over
in the Civil War, protecting shipping from pirates, acting as a station for patrolling seaplanes during the First World War
and serving again the Second World War. Presentations, interactive exhibits and an audio tour. Garden with sea views. Tearoom.
Open Apr-Oct, Daily 1000-1700.
www.english-heritage.org.uk
Bus 1 from Weymouth Kings Statue to Portland, Victoria Square, about 20 minutes journey,
then ½ mile walk. M-S every 12-15 minutes, Sun ½-hourly.
Weymouth PlusBus tickets are valid for this journey.
Operated by First.
Ann authentic recreation of the wartime dockyard on the Isle of Portland from which in 1944 thousands of US troops
embarked for the D-Day landings in Nazi occupied France. Features include weapons, wartime vehicles, a replica Spitfire and a restored
Sherman tank.
Open Apr-Oct, see website for details.
www.ddaycentre.com
Bus as Portland Castle above.
Abbotsbury is a very old village with picturesque stone buildings including thatched cottages. Little remains of the ancient Abbotsbury Abbey except an archway which can be seen just south of the church. Abbotsbury is a 1¼ miles inland from Chesil Beach which can be reached by following the South West Coast Path. A combined ticket is available for the Children's Farm, Swannery and Subtropical Gardens.
Bus X52/X53 from Weymouth Kings Statue to Abbotsbury, Ilchester Arms. About 30 minutes journey. Daily and hourly in summer; otherwise X53 only, M-S 2-hourly, Sun & BH infrequent. Operated by First. Buses also operate from Axminster.
On a hill overlooking Abbotsbury and its Abbey, St Catherine's Chapel was built by monks in
the 14th century as a place of pilgrimage and retreat. There are spectacular views of Chesil Beach below. Admission free.
Open any reasonable time.
www.english-heritage.org.uk
Bus to Abbotsbury, Ilchester Arms (see above) then ½ mile (uphill).
Abbotsbury Swannery is home to the only managed colony of free-flying mute swans in the world.
Nesting and hatching take place from late May into June and this is a particularly good time to visit.
Visitors can help hand feed the swans. Café.
Open Apr-Oct, Daily 1000-1700
www.abbotsbury-tourism.co.uk
Bus to Abbotsbury, Ilchester Arms (see above) then ¾ mile.
A magnificent Victorian walled garden in a woodland valley with a micro climate that allows rare
and exotic plants to thrive. Nature trail and adventure play area. Teahouse.
Open Daily 1000-1700 (1600 Nov-Mar).
www.abbotsbury-tourism.co.uk
Bus to Abbotsbury, West Street (just beyond village), then ½ mile.
The Subtropical Gardens are 1 mile from the Ilchester Arms at the centre of Abbotsbury.
Bridport is a historic rope and net making town, it's port is at West Bay, 1½ miles south at the mouth of the River Brit.
TI South Street, tel. 01308 424901.
www.bridportandwestbay.co.uk
Bus X52/X53 from Weymouth Kings Statue to Bridport West Street and Bus Station.
60-70 minutes journey. Daily and hourly in summer; otherwise X53 only, M-S 2-hourly, Sun & BH infrequent.
Operated by First.
Buses also operate from Axminster and Dorchester.
Housed in one of Bridport's oldest buildings the Museum covers the history of the town and local area including
the Jurassic Coast. Rope and netting collection with working machinery. Fossils. Events and exhibitions programme. Admission free.
Open Apr-Oct, M-S 1000-1600. Nov-Mar, see website.
www.bridportmuseum.co.uk
Bus see Bridport above.
Golden Cap is a high flat-topped hill of orange sandstone on the Dorset coast. Its summit at 627 feet (191 m)
is the highest point on the south coast with spectacular views east to Portland Bill, west to Start Point (in Devon) and inland to Dartmoor -
well worth the effort of the uphill walk!
Nearby Langdon Hill woodland is part of the extensive Golden Cap estate, there's a 1½ miles circular walk around
the wood with great views of the surrounding countryside including Golden Cap. Bluebells can be seen in spring.
Open at all times.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/golden-cap
Bus X53 from Weymouth Kings Statue to Chideock, Bridge, then 1½ miles walk.
75-90 minutes journey. M-S 2-hourly, Sun & BH infrequent. In summer extra X52 buses to Bridport then change to X51.
Operated by First.
Buses also operate from Axminster and Dorchester.
Charmouth is a traditional seaside village with a large shingle beach (½ mile from bus stop).
Charmouth is at the heart of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and a great place to look for fossils.
www.charmouth.org
Bus X53 from Weymouth Kings Statue to Charmouth Church, 85-105 minutes journey.
M-S 2-hourly, Sun & BH infrequent. In summer extra X52 buses to Bridport then change to X51.
Operated by First.
Buses also operate from Axminster and Dorchester.
Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre has impressive fossil collections and you can find out how to discover
your own fossils on the beach. Guided fossil hunting and rockpool exploring walks are available. Admission free.
Open Apr-Oct, Daily 1030-1600. Nov-Mar, MFSSu 1030-1600 but subject to change.
www.charmouth.org
Bus see Charmouth above.
Lyme Regis has been popular as a seaside resort since the 18th century. Georgian houses line the steep main
street down to the harbour. The old harbour ½ mile to the west of the town is known as the Cobb.
The Lifeboat Station is on the Cobb and usually open to visit daily.
The area is rich in fossils and Lyme Regis is at the heart of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site
which stretches from Exmouth to Swanage.
TI Church Street, tel. 01297 442138.
www.visit-dorset.com/lyme-regis
Bus X53 from Weymouth Kings Statue to Lyme Regis Square, 95-120 minutes journey.
M-S 2-hourly, Sun & BH infrequent. In summer extra X52 buses to Bridport then change to X51.
Operated by First.
Buses also operate from Axminster and Dorchester.
Guided tours of the restored working watermill. Other buildings house craft studios and galleries.
Garden. Café.
Open Daily, see website for times.
www.townmill.org.uk
Bus see Lyme Regis above.
Lyme Regis Museum is built on the site the home of Mary Anning who made some of the most significant
geological finds of all time. The museum displays a spectacular collection of fossils and it is a good place to learn about them.
Displays also cover Lyme's history, geology and literary associations. Great sea views.
Open Apr-Oct, TWThFSSu 1000-1700 (1600 Sun).
www.lymeregismuseum.co.uk
Bus see Lyme Regis above.
A traditional museum with a collection of local Jurassic marine fossils housed in a converted church.
Also shells and skeletons.
Open Mar-Oct, Daily 1000-1600.
www.dinosaurland.co.uk
Bus see Lyme Regis above.
A variety of local fish and other marine life on display. Nautical items. History of the Cobb.
Open Mar-Oct, Daily 1000-1630. Please see website for winter opening.
www.lymeregismarineaquarium.co.uk
Bus see Lyme Regis above.
