Looking for an amazing staycation in Dorset just moments from the beach? Then don’t miss Cobb Cottage – a beautiful coastal escape just moments from Lyme Regis.
Growing up, Lyme Regis always felt like one of those classic English seaside holidays I’d somehow missed out on. It’s somewhere everyone seems to have fond childhood memories of. Even speaking to friends now, they rave about their holidays on the beach in Lyme Regis. My parents always took me elsewhere though, so I never actually made it there as a kid. Now that I’m a parent myself with two little ones, I call the shots. And there was only one place I wanted for a proper seaside break – Lyme Regis.
This place was everything I expected and more. It had a sandy beach for the kids to play on, there was an old school arcade to waste your money in, and of course daily ice creams while exploring the quaint little town. While we were in Dorset, we also got to explore a few other places like Charmouth and West Bay.
In Lyme Regis, we stayed in a lovely holiday home called Cobb Cottage (which we booked on Classic Cottages). It was just perfect. This four-bed fisherman’s cottage overlooks the water and is just moments from the beach. It’s down by the Cobb and the harbour, so at the other end of the town. We actually really liked being tucked away down here. It felt like we could enjoy all Lyme Regis had to offer, before retreating back to our holiday home to enjoy the views in the evening.
The house came fully equipped with everything you could need for a family. We thought the kitchen was really well kitted out. There was even a load of stuff for baking and entertaining, which was a nice touch. There was plenty of space for everyone to spread out too, with a main living room and an extra cosy snug to unwind with a cuppa after a long day exploring Dorset.
What made it really special for me was waking up to those sea views and being able to walk straight out to the harbour in just a couple of minutes. It felt like proper coastal living – I really didn’t want to leave at the end of our stay!
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Where is Cobb Cottage in Dorset?
Cobb Cottage is tucked away right by The Cobb (the iconic harbour wall) in Lyme Regis, at the far end of town. It’s a great location if you want to be close to the sea but slightly removed from the busier centre. This is particularly handy during the summer season when Lyme Regis is packed with tourists.
It’s around a 4-minute walk to the main beach, and a 10-minute walk into town where you’ll find most of the shops, cafés and restaurants. It’s an easy, flat walk along the seafront too, so perfect with kids in tow or if you’ve got a buggy. It means you don’t have to tackle the big hills!
The views from the cottage look straight out over the sea and along the coastline. Even though everything is close by, it feels surprisingly peaceful down here, especially early in the morning or in the evening once things quieten down.
Also, having the seafront just a couple of minutes away makes a big difference. We could nip out for a quick stroll, let the kids run around by the water, or just sit and enjoy the fresh sea air without having to plan too much. It’s one of those locations that makes a family break feel really easy.
Kitchen and living room at Cobb Cottage
As you’d expect from a traditional fisherman’s cottage, the layout at Cobb Cottage is all about those cosy vibes as opposed to being open plan, but that’s all part of the charm.
As soon as you walk through the door, there is a little conservatory at the front of the property. This is so you can enjoy those seaside views no matter the weather. It’s nice thinking that it could be used in shoulder season or even in winter.
The main living room is a really comfortable space to unwind in the evenings, while there’s also a separate snug which quickly became our go-to spot for a cuppa once the kids were in bed. It’s one of those houses where you can spread out a bit, which always makes a big difference on a family trip.
The kitchen was the biggest surprise for me as this was super modern. It’s brand new with a really smart island and induction hob in the middle of the room. It came fully equipped with everything you need for a family stay. Kids definitely weren’t an afterthought which is always nice. There was even kids crockery and cutlery! We cooked a couple of meals here and never felt like we were missing anything.
There’s a little dining room off the kitchen with a table that seats 8. This is where we ate most evenings and it was a great space keeping the whole family together.
Bedrooms at Cobb Cottage
There are four bedrooms at Cobb Cottage, so there’s plenty of space for a larger family or if you’re travelling with friends.
Each room is simple, comfortable and in keeping with the character of the house. You’ve got a mix of double and twin rooms, so it’s easy to split everyone up depending on who’s staying. The beds were all really comfy too, which is always a win after a long day walking along the coast. The main bedroom we stayed in was a twin room, but they managed to put the beds together to turn it into a king which is a bonus.
There’s also enough storage space in each room to unpack properly, so you don’t feel like you’re living out of a suitcase all week. It definitely gives the place more of a home-from-home feel.
It was really lovely waking up each morning, pulling back the curtains, and seeing the sea. We had Chloe’s mum with us on this trip, and she said it was her favourite moment each day! You really can’t beat that sea view.
Bathrooms at Cobb Cottage
There are a couple of bathrooms in the house, which is always handy when you’ve got a full house of people. There is one downstairs at the back of the property, which has a bath and is quite spacious. The other one, a shower room, is upstairs on the landing by the bedrooms. It’s compact but practical.
They’re clean, there’s lots of hot water, and they do exactly what you need them to do. Nothing overly fancy here, but everything works well and is perfectly suited to a relaxed family holiday by the sea.
The garden
One of the standout features of Cobb Cottage is its outdoor space. There’s a lovely terrace where you can sit out and enjoy the sea views.
We found ourselves naturally gravitating out here in the mornings with a coffee or in the evenings to wind down after a busy day. There’s something about being that close to the water that just helps you switch off, especially with a glass of wine or g&t in hand!
It’s also a great little space if you’ve got kids, giving them somewhere to stretch their legs without having to head far. Simple, but exactly what you want from a seaside stay. The other thing I loved is there’s a giant ammonite in the garden. Our toddler was absolutely fascinated by this. I’m not quite sure he understood it was over 100 million years old, but it was really cool teaching him about fossils in the back garden. There aren’t many places you can do this!
Things to do in Lyme Regis and the surrounding area
In this section, you’ll find a mix of the best things to do in Lyme Regis and the surrounding area, from seaside attractions and fossil hunting, to coastal walks and nearby towns. It’s everything you need to plan a fun, easy-going trip along the Jurassic Coast. These are just a few of the things we got up to while in Dorset – there are plenty of others!
Learn all about Mary Anning and fossils at Lyme Regis Museum
One of the best things about being in Lyme Regis was learning all about fossils and the Jurassic Coast. That includes the town’s most famous resident, Mary Anning. One morning we visited Lyme Regis Museum which does a great job of telling her story, from her incredible fossil discoveries along the Jurassic Coast to the impact she had on science.
It’s a small but really interesting museum, and it gives you a much deeper appreciation of the coastline you’re walking along. The fossil displays are especially good. There’s a huge ichthyosaurus head which I loved showing our son. It was massive, probably twice the size of him! I’d say the museum is a great stop if you’re visiting with kids as there’s just enough to keep them engaged without it feeling too heavy.
Eat at Millside
One of the benefits of having a family holiday is we had Chloe’s mum with us. That meant we had a very rare date night, so we went to somewhere fancy as a treat. Millside was absolutely brilliant; we lucked out with our choice. It has a relaxed, welcoming feel and serves up a mix of seafood and classic dishes using local produce.
We had the set menu which was a starter, main and a glass of wine for £30pp. I thought that was really good value for money. The main was delicious too. It was plaice with new potatoes and asparagus with a creamy sauce. I wish we could go on more date nights like this!
Go fossil hunting at Charmouth Beach
After visiting the museum, we really wanted to put our new found knowledge to the test and go fossil hunting. This is one of those classic Jurassic Coast experiences you just have to do while you’re in Dorset. We headed down to Charmouth Beach and spent a good couple of hours just slowly walking along the shoreline, scanning the pebbles and cliffs. It’s amazing how engaged our little one was in this. Maybe that’s because we were just bashing rocks apart.
Even if you don’t find anything major, it’s still brilliant fun — especially for kids. There’s something really exciting about the idea that you could stumble across a piece of history just lying on the beach.
Walk by the cliffs of West Bay
West Bay has some of the most dramatic cliffs on the Jurassic Coast. Hopefully my photos do them justice. The golden cliffs tower above the beach, and the views out to sea are absolutely stunning. It’s just another stunning section of coastline – it’s definitely up there with places like Lulworth Cove in my eyes.
We spent a good few hours here just playing on the beach and walking along the shore. It’s a pebble beach, so harder to play and walk on, but still great fun with the kids. The little village of West Bay looked really cool too. I wish we had more time to explore it – a couple of restaurants definitely caught my eye.
Eat at Hive Beach Café
A trip to this part of Dorset isn’t complete without stopping at Hive Beach Café. It’s right on the beach at Burton Bradstock and is one of those places that’s just perfect after a coastal walk.
We grabbed lunch here and sat looking straight out over the sea – it’s hard to beat this kind of setting. The food is simple but really well done, with plenty of seafood options and great cakes if you just want a coffee and something sweet. I had the stonebass with lots of seafood thrown in there for good measure and it was delicious.
Take on the Stonebarrow Hill circular walk
I absolutely loved the Stonebarrow Hill walk we did. It was probably my favourite activity while we were in Dorset. This is a 6.5km that has some of the most incredible views of Golden Cap and the coastline. It’s a mix of coastal paths, quiet fields and little historical stops along the way.
Even though some of the hills are fairly steep, you can easily do it in a couple of hours meaning you can squeeze it into a day. I’ve written a whole guide about it HERE, so if you’re thinking of doing this walk then check it out.
This post was in association with Classic Cottages showcasing some of their top properties in the UK. As always, all views are entirely my own and without bias.
Are you planning a trip to Lyme Regis? Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below and I’ll get back to you!