It was the perfect winter day in South West England for a hike. Dry, bright and cold. Wrapped warmly against the keen wind and elements in cosy hats, scarves and gloves and thermal layers, David and I (Alison) set out on our 8 mile Foot Trail from Lyme Regis in Dorset on 30 December.
We were crafting a brand new trail for our new 2026 ‘Coastal Seascapes of Dorset’ adventure. Perfect for 7 to 11 nights, this is where the rolling green landscape of Dorset meets the south coast. This Foot Trail is best described as ‘ moderate’ due to the up and down nature of the path along the coast.
The first part of our trail was flat and easy-going as we set off following along the stream and river. We admired the coastal cottages en route, wood-smoke furling out of the chimney tops.
We arrived at a lovely little historic village where we visited the local church and stocked up on freshly made sandwiches for lunch en route.
Our Foot Trail led us up and down over the cliffs on the coast. We were rewarded with plentiful clifftop views out to sea. Beautiful and dramatic, even on a winter’s day. A mix of blues, greys and browns. We soon warmed up!
The Undercliffs (a National Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest) are fascinating and one of the reasons we have chosen to include this trail. Described as the closest thing to a rainforest in the UK, they have a warm and humid microclimate that makes them a haven for ferns, fungi and wildlife including peregrine falcons, owls and reptiles. We were in a world of green vegetation!
Soon the path directed us back towards the town of Lyme Regis. We descended the path and headed down towards the famous Cobb. An historic curving harbor wall and breakwater. A delightful walk along the beach completed our Foot Trail. Interesting pieces of driftwood adorned the shore and we could see ammonites, the beautiful fossils of creatures who had lived thousands of years previously in the sea. It was a wonderfully varied walk with options to shorten or lengthen the trail as you wish.
To find out more about our new walks in Dorset (and the Cotswolds) send us an email or take a look at our trips.
