Lyme Regis, Dorset: A Delightful Stay at Brook Cottage
Dorset. I can’t say this word without conjuring up images of Middle-Earth, with Froddo and his friend Sam hobbling around the Shire. So, it was no surprise when I found out that J.R.R Tolkien, who wrote the Lord of the Rings, was a frequent visitor to Lyme Regis and Dorset, lived in nearby Poole, and died in Bournemouth.
A Hobbit house would not look out of place in Dorset! Image credit: Photo by Jeff FinleyDorset. A Popular Location!
Dorset is one of the most photographed destinations in the UK and I can see why! Although I have never spent much time in the county, we drive through it often on our way from Sussex to Cornwall and the landscape and coast are rugged and dramatic.
The rugged coastline of Dorset with the imposing Jurassic cliffs in the distance.Along the dreaded A35 (if you know, you know) you’ll find yourself winding through extremely picturesque villages with plenty of thatched cottages dotted about and roads climbing steep hills up over the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site.
The Dorset coast runs from the east of Bournemouth on the Hampshire border, down to the west of Lyme Regis where it meets Devon. Along this glorious coastline, you will find the famous Durdle Door and beautiful sandy beaches at Lulworth Cove. It is also the home to Bournemouth, and Poole Harbour, the world’s second-largest natural harbor.
The unmistakable image of Durdle Door. Image credit: Photo by Chris Meads
Lulworth Cove. Image Credit: Photo by Jura
Bournemouth PierBrook Cottage
So, when Mila and Matt contacted me asking if I would like to stay in Brook Cottage, nestled in the seaside town of Lyme Regis in Dorset, I jumped at the chance.
We’d been meaning to get down to Lyme Regis for years, my son’s obsession with dinosaurs and fossils meant the Jurassic coast was the perfect place for us to go and explore, and staying in a Lyme Regis cottage would satisfy my interior design obsession! 🙂
We headed down to Dorset early on a Saturday morning and after navigating the very narrow lanes of Lyme Regis, we arrived at Brook Cottage. This is no ordinary park up and walk inside kind of cottage though! Due to its location, you can’t park directly outside the property.
Small narrow lanes of Lyme RegisBrook Cottage is located next to The Lynch, right alongside the River Lym. There is a footpath running high alongside the river to your right and a watercourse that feeds the Town Mill on the left.Brook Cottage’s unique position means it has its own little bridge over the watercourse and therefore, you have to park your car up by Gosling Bridge, unload, and then park nearby.
The river Lym noisily disappearing under Gosling Bridge
Heading down towards Brook Cottage
The River Lym down below on the right, the pathway in the middle, and the watercourse to the left. Watch your step!
The little bridge over the watercourse to the cottage
Looking back up along the watercourse.You make your way along the Lynch, over the little bridge, and through the gate to Brook Cottage. Immediately you are greeted with a gravelled courtyard garden with pathing stones leading up to the front door.
The property itself is semi-detached and very secluded, with only the sound of the river rushing towards the sea nearby, which is merely a 5-minute walk. You would be forgiven for thinking that this cottage is set in a rural Dorset location but it is right in the heart of Lyme Regis.
The little bridge over the watercourse leading to the cottage
A pretty entrance to the cottageThe cottage itself was constructed in the 1930s and has been renovated to an extremely high standard, using very on-trend colors and upcycling and repurposing furniture.
Downstairs
As you walk in the front door, the stairs lead up to 3 bedrooms and to the left is the door to the lounge. This was my favourite room in the house. It has a large bay window which floods the room with light.
In through the door to reveal a painted runner staircase
The beautiful living room with lots of period features and clever use of colors
The bay windows have blinds fitted letting all the wonderful light in and giving it a coastal feel.The fireplace has been lovingly restored with a beautiful wooden mantelpiece and the floorboards have been painted white to give it a fresh and airy look.
The walls have been painted in an exquisite green (Dulux Heritage – Waxed Khaki), with a large jute rug, upcycled furniture and plenty of throws and cushions.
I love green in the living room, it has a calming effect and has the ability to envelope you making it extremely cosy. I wrote about using green in your home here.
Pretty sage greens and pinks perfectly frame this characterful fireplace
The floorboards are painted white giving it a fresh feel
I absolutely adored this green color, Dulux Heritage Waxed Khaki and the jute rug is an inspired choice.
Perfect!Carrying on through the lounge, you walk into a large kitchen diner with all the mod cons including a washing machine, fridge, and freezer. The kitchen is painted in Farrow & Ball – Ammonite, which is very apt for the cottage seeing as this colour was named after the treasured fossils found on the Dorset coast!
In the center sits a dining table with enough room for 5 people.
The kitchen is tastefully done with glass-fronted cupboards and all the mod cons
I loved this corner of the kitchen and here you can see the exposed beams
Plenty of room for a dining space!
No detail is spared, the color scheme flows throughout the kitchenAt the end of the cottage is a separate shower room and toilet and a door leading out towards a small courtyard.
The door to the left takes you through to a separate toilet on the left and a shower room on the right.
The small but perfectly formed shower roomUpstairs
Heading upstairs, there are 2 generous-sized double bedrooms, with an en-suite toilet and sink leading off one and a single bedroom which have all been beautifully decorated.
I adored the color schemes Mila and Matt used throughout the cottage, using my favorite shades of green, pink, and blue which flowed seamlessly throughout the house.
The master bedroom is painted in Dulux Midnight Teal, a deeply rich and velvety blue. The floorboards were also painted white and there were vintage pieces of furniture dotted throughout
I loved this mirror! I was wondering if Mila and Matt would notice if I put it in my suitcase? 🙂
The morning sun streaming through the blinds. The headboard is made from an old door. Genius!
I also adored the color scheme in this room. The wall is painted in Dulux Blush Noisette 2 and provides a great contrast for the blue furniture and white floorboards
Beautiful pieces of artwork and accessories are dotted around the cottage
The single room is paneled and painted in Farrow & Ball Lamp Room Grey which has a green overtone to it.
The toilet and sink in the master bedroom en-suiteGoing back outside the property, there is a south-facing garden to the front surrounded by beautiful shrubs and plants. It is the perfect place to sit with a cuppa or a glass of wine after a day at the beach.
Every corner of the cottage has been tastefully decorated. These oars were repurposed and painted.
Pretty entrance
The south facing front garden is perfect for eating al fresco
And for a morning cuppa.Lyme Regis – Things to do
With our suitcases dropped off, we decided to head straight into town. It was hard to leave the beautiful surroundings of the cottage but after a 3-hour drive with 2 kids in tow, we knew it was time to take them for walkies around our Dorset surroundings!
Museums
Lyme Regis is an ancient town featured in the Domesday Book, surrounded by breathtaking Dorset scenery and several historical landmarks. It is considered the home of paleontology, where Mary Anning discovered a complete ichthyosaur fossil when she was just 12 years old.
It is no surprise that Lyme Regis is the perfect place to go fossil hunting, so we headed straight to the museum and beach to find out more.
Lyme Regis is full of beautiful architecture
Looking from the museum over the beach
Stairs up to the museum
Costumes from the film Anthracite, featuring Kate Winslet. It was mainly filmed in Lyme Regis
The Museum is built on the old site of Mary Anning’s homeThere is also an Aquarium at the end of The Cobb and Dinosaurland Fossil Museum to explore but unfortunately, both were shut when we went to visit (I need to get better at planning trips away! I’ve always been so jazz hands about it. Haha!)
The Aquarium sitting precariously on the end of The Cobb
Dinosaurland Museum is in an old church buildingLyme Regis Beaches
Lyme Regis is also surrounded by some of the best beaches in Dorset. There is the main beach – Town Beach – which Lyme Regis town center is built around. The beach is mainly pebble, but at the Cobb end, there is sand which is perfect for families and swimming.
If you go past The Cobb, Monmouth Beach extends over a kilometer southwest and has plenty of holiday chalets, beach huts, and bowling green. Charmouth Beach is also only a few miles down the road.
Looking east towards the Jurassic Coast and Church Cliff Beach
A bit blustery
Beautiful views
Town beach with shingle to the left and sand to the right
Seagulls fighting over a chipThe Cobb and Harbour
The harbor and wall protecting it is called The Cobb and has been here in some shape or form since 1313, protecting the town and beaches.
Lyme Regis would not exist in its present form without this sea defense and stops the eastward movement of shingle, likely burying the town.
Looking back from The Cobb toward town
Not for the faint-hearted.
Dramatic skiesIt is an old stone pier that curves 265 meters out into the sea and gently slopes from the harbor out into the ocean. It is not for the faint-hearted who dare walk along the top!
The Jurassic Coast in the distance
Boats a’ bobbing
Blustery one minute, tranquil the nextWalks
There are plenty of coastal paths, gardens, and parks to visit whilst in Lyme Regis, just be prepared to walk up some very steep hills!
We particularly enjoyed Longmoor and Lister Gardens with its stunning views over Lyme Regis and the Dorset coast and featuring contemporary sculptures by local artists.
The view of the beach from Lister Gardens
The dramatic Jurassic Coast and Lyme Regis Beach
Heading into the woodland walk
Even the graffiti is prettyTo Eat
Lyme Regis is full of wonderful independent cafes, restaurants, and bars, you are really spoilt for choice. Brook Cottage is right next to a delightful little area surrounding the Town Mill.
Here you will find Millside (a seafood restaurant), The Strawberry Tree (Spanish Tapas), and the Lyme Regis Brewery, all centered around the River Lym and a pretty little courtyard.
Millside restaurant
Microbrewery and restaurants around the Town Mill and a pretty courtyardLyme Regis is just as pretty at night, so if you are going out to dinner, give yourself plenty of time to wander the streets and take it all in. There are plenty of fabulous restaurants to choose from including –
Mark Hix’s The Oyster and Fish House (book in advance! We couldn’t get a table)
The restaurant boasts a stunning location
SWIM also boasts an enviable location
Looking back from The Cobb to the Cobb Arms
Lyme Regis Marine Parade at dusk
I love the nod to its fossil heritage with the ammonite shapes in the lampshades
A view along the sea defences
Beautiful sunsets
The Jurassic Coast
Colourful shop displaysWe adored our stay in Lyme Regis. It is a town full of history, dramatic landscapes, restaurants, and bars to suit all, and beaches to go fossil hunting.
Brook Cottage is the perfect place to stay when visiting the town and the surrounding Dorset countryside. Its beautiful and thoughtful décor and furnishings make staying in just as enjoyable as going out. Head over to The Cottage or visit the Brook Cottage website to find out more.
For more information on travel, weekend breaks, and holidays, head to – boardingpassesready.com
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