The Rushay Guide to West Dorset (and a little bit of Devon)
City/town information
Bridport is a miracle town, just the right size to support a thriving commercial and arts scene, with good restaurants and pubs, and just far away enough from bigger cities to do its own thing.
Once upon a time, Bridport flourished on flax, which was braided to make rope for ships and the hangman - the noose was known as a Bridport dagger. The streets are very wide, to accommodate the length of rope that was produced, and all the shops go back inside a long way, too.
That makes the town very comfortable to amble around, and the streets are laid out in a simple T shape. There are a lot of really fine Georgian buildings in town, and lots of small independent shops.
Waitrose is bang in the middle of town, at the end of West St, and the car park behind usually has space.
Our friend Sophy wrote this piece for CN Traveller and was almost ostracised for a year for calling Bridport Notting-Hill-on-Sea - people here like to keep it a bit secret, and why not?
https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/guide-to-dorset-england
Here are some ideas for a visit to Bridport:
Gelateria Beppino, freshly made ice cream from a local organic Jersey herd plus some delicious pastries and very good coffee. It's the real deal, just beside Costa on West St.
Fruits of the Earth: brilliant health food shop, food shop and wine shop and everything you could want shop, really. Small but perfectly formed, just a few yards up Victoria Grove, off West St.
Morrish & Banham is a wine shop and small bar under the wing of the Electric Palace cinema on South St. Quite new, and very well-stocked.
South St's shops are well worth browsing - clothes, books, boutiques.
Smith and Smith are the outfitters who sell all kinds of traditional country clothing. T. Snook is almost next door, selling 'a vast yet discerning collection of headwear for both ladies and gentlemen, stocking a large range of tweeds, woollens, waterproofs and hats built to cope with both British and foreign climes.' So there.
On Saturday morning, and to a lesser extent on Wednesday, the market hosts loads of stalls. On South Street is the bric a brac, antiques, junk, old records etc. The food stalls are on East St and West St. Macsorsons do very good local fish, and the Spice & Rice guy is really good - curries from Devon! On West St you'll find good local vegetables and a delicious Italian food stall. There's also a man who sells useful and unusual brushes, near Waitrose.
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Bridport
Bridport is a miracle town, just the right size to support a thriving commercial and arts scene, with good restaurants and pubs, and just far away enough from bigger cities to do its own thing.
Once upon a time, Bridport flourished on flax, which was braided to make rope for ships and the hangman - the noose was known as a Bridport dagger. The streets are very wide, to accommodate the length of rope that was produced, and all the shops go back inside a long way, too.
That makes the town very comfortable to amble around, and the streets are laid out in a simple T shape. There are a lot of really fine Georgian buildings in town, and lots of small independent shops.
Waitrose is bang in the middle of town, at the end of West St, and the car park behind usually has space.
Our friend Sophy wrote this piece for CN Traveller and was almost ostracised for a year for calling Bridport Notting-Hill-on-Sea - people here like to keep it a bit secret, and why not?
https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/guide-to-dorset-england
Here are some ideas for a visit to Bridport:
Gelateria Beppino, freshly made ice cream from a local organic Jersey herd plus some delicious pastries and very good coffee. It's the real deal, just beside Costa on West St.
Fruits of the Earth: brilliant health food shop, food shop and wine shop and everything you could want shop, really. Small but perfectly formed, just a few yards up Victoria Grove, off West St.
Morrish & Banham is a wine shop and small bar under the wing of the Electric Palace cinema on South St. Quite new, and very well-stocked.
South St's shops are well worth browsing - clothes, books, boutiques.
Smith and Smith are the outfitters who sell all kinds of traditional country clothing. T. Snook is almost next door, selling 'a vast yet discerning collection of headwear for both ladies and gentlemen, stocking a large range of tweeds, woollens, waterproofs and hats built to cope with both British and foreign climes.' So there.
On Saturday morning, and to a lesser extent on Wednesday, the market hosts loads of stalls. On South Street is the bric a brac, antiques, junk, old records etc. The food stalls are on East St and West St. Macsorsons do very good local fish, and the Spice & Rice guy is really good - curries from Devon! On West St you'll find good local vegetables and a delicious Italian food stall. There's also a man who sells useful and unusual brushes, near Waitrose.
Lyme is the closest town to Rushay, and world-famous for fossils, Jane Austen, the Cobb and The French Lieutenant's Woman. It is also a very picturesque seaside town with a huge range of shops and bars and restaurants and museums.
By the Cobb is the West Fish Shop, always good for local fish and shellfish. Or contact Harry May (07974 753287) for a fishing trip and catch your own.
Red Panda does yummy bao buns.
“A remarkable museum, a gem”, said Sir David Attenborough of the Lyme Regis Museum, and he's right - it's an amazing museum. Do go. The number is 01297 443370.
They also organise fossil walks: check times at http://www.lymeregismuseum.co.uk/events/category/walks/fossil-walks/
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Lyme Regis
Lyme is the closest town to Rushay, and world-famous for fossils, Jane Austen, the Cobb and The French Lieutenant's Woman. It is also a very picturesque seaside town with a huge range of shops and bars and restaurants and museums.
By the Cobb is the West Fish Shop, always good for local fish and shellfish. Or contact Harry May (07974 753287) for a fishing trip and catch your own.
Red Panda does yummy bao buns.
“A remarkable museum, a gem”, said Sir David Attenborough of the Lyme Regis Museum, and he's right - it's an amazing museum. Do go. The number is 01297 443370.
They also organise fossil walks: check times at http://www.lymeregismuseum.co.uk/events/category/walks/fossil-walks/
On the coast and less than a mile from Rushay, Charmouth is a very handsome little town - or big village - with useful shops and two pubs. The fish & chip shop is very good.
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Charmouth
On the coast and less than a mile from Rushay, Charmouth is a very handsome little town - or big village - with useful shops and two pubs. The fish & chip shop is very good.
Food scene
Felicity - formerly chief midwife at Dorchester Hospital - has filled this shop with delicious things, including all the groceries (rice, lentils etc) you'll need, fresh lamb, pork and beef from local farms, milk, eggs and all the rest. She also sells my mother's cookbook, The Country Kitchen. Check it out!
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Felicity's Farm Shop
A35Felicity - formerly chief midwife at Dorchester Hospital - has filled this shop with delicious things, including all the groceries (rice, lentils etc) you'll need, fresh lamb, pork and beef from local farms, milk, eggs and all the rest. She also sells my mother's cookbook, The Country Kitchen. Check it out!
Book ahead and ask for a window table or a table on the balcony. https://theoysterandfishhouse.co.uk/
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The Oyster & Fish House
Cobb RoadBook ahead and ask for a window table or a table on the balcony. https://theoysterandfishhouse.co.uk/
The Royal Oak Inn
Friendly local with good fresh food.
This is an all-day by-the-beach brasserie - the same owners have Rise at West Bay, with a similar relaxed vibe. This one is down by the beach in Lyme Regis.
Breakfasts until around 11.30am, like smashed avocado, brioche French toast, chargrilled sweetcorn fritters and sourdough breakfast rolls. Lunch until 4 pm with drinking bites starters including nachos, teriyaki salmon skewers, Japanese pork ribs; sharing platters, crab sarnies and burgers.
From noon til late, steaks, roasted fish, salt and pepper calamari, katsu curry, veggie dishes, battered fish and chips...
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Swim
Marine ParadeThis is an all-day by-the-beach brasserie - the same owners have Rise at West Bay, with a similar relaxed vibe. This one is down by the beach in Lyme Regis.
Breakfasts until around 11.30am, like smashed avocado, brioche French toast, chargrilled sweetcorn fritters and sourdough breakfast rolls. Lunch until 4 pm with drinking bites starters including nachos, teriyaki salmon skewers, Japanese pork ribs; sharing platters, crab sarnies and burgers.
From noon til late, steaks, roasted fish, salt and pepper calamari, katsu curry, veggie dishes, battered fish and chips...
Sightseeing
Lovely church with a view to the manor from the churchyard, and only just round the corner from Rushay. Leave the house, turn right, left at the village hall, and follow the road round to the right through the village until you reach the signpost for the church on your right.
Wootton Fitzpaine Church
Lovely church with a view to the manor from the churchyard, and only just round the corner from Rushay. Leave the house, turn right, left at the village hall, and follow the road round to the right through the village until you reach the signpost for the church on your right.
Up the top of Long Lane, which is out of the village and the first lane to the left past the church. You'll go through Coney's Castle to get there, an iron Age fort with exceptional views over the Marshwood Vale. Lambert's Castle is about 1/4 mile further on, and has its own magnificent views and woods to wander.
National Trust Lambert's Castle
Up the top of Long Lane, which is out of the village and the first lane to the left past the church. You'll go through Coney's Castle to get there, an iron Age fort with exceptional views over the Marshwood Vale. Lambert's Castle is about 1/4 mile further on, and has its own magnificent views and woods to wander.
This is the greatest fossil beach in Europe, perhaps the world. It is barely a mile from the house. The centre has some astonishing fossil finds and also organises fossil hunting days, for details and times: https://jurassiccoast.org/visit/attractions/charmouth-heritage-coast-centre/
Check the tide times here before you go off on your own, so you don't get cut off...
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Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre
Lower Sea LaneThis is the greatest fossil beach in Europe, perhaps the world. It is barely a mile from the house. The centre has some astonishing fossil finds and also organises fossil hunting days, for details and times: https://jurassiccoast.org/visit/attractions/charmouth-heritage-coast-centre/
Check the tide times here before you go off on your own, so you don't get cut off...
Golden Cap is reached from Chideock, on the A35, about three miles away, but also makes a glorious walk from the house. At almost 700 feet it's the highest point on the South coast of England, and a magnificent vantage point to look along the cliffs towards Chesil Beach. Beneath Golden Cap is the “lost village” of Stanton St Gabriel, with a ruined chapel and a manor house.
You can also park at the top of Stonebarrow, which is signed as you leave Charmouth heading east. A short walk is suggested here: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/golden-cap/trails/stonebarrow-walk-on-the-golden-cap-estate
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Golden Cap
Golden Cap is reached from Chideock, on the A35, about three miles away, but also makes a glorious walk from the house. At almost 700 feet it's the highest point on the South coast of England, and a magnificent vantage point to look along the cliffs towards Chesil Beach. Beneath Golden Cap is the “lost village” of Stanton St Gabriel, with a ruined chapel and a manor house.
You can also park at the top of Stonebarrow, which is signed as you leave Charmouth heading east. A short walk is suggested here: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/golden-cap/trails/stonebarrow-walk-on-the-golden-cap-estate
This is one of the world's great geological sights - a 15 mile-long shingle bank formed by the action of the sea, separated from the land by a brackish lagoon. You can get onto it at Burton Bradstock (Hive Beach) and, at the other end, Portland Bill.
Don't try walking it - it is very long and there is no shade or shelter or fresh water from one end to the other.
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Chesil Beach
This is one of the world's great geological sights - a 15 mile-long shingle bank formed by the action of the sea, separated from the land by a brackish lagoon. You can get onto it at Burton Bradstock (Hive Beach) and, at the other end, Portland Bill.
Don't try walking it - it is very long and there is no shade or shelter or fresh water from one end to the other.
You can walk up the hill to spend a day at this award-winning new high ropes trekking course, designed for all the family. The high ropes course comprises of 11 rope and wooden elements including 3 zip wires, all designed to test your nerve and increase your adrenaline levels!
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The Tunnel Tree Tops
Westover HillYou can walk up the hill to spend a day at this award-winning new high ropes trekking course, designed for all the family. The high ropes course comprises of 11 rope and wooden elements including 3 zip wires, all designed to test your nerve and increase your adrenaline levels!
Neighbourhoods
West Dorset District
The so-called Vintage Quarter of Bridport is good for browsing for antiques and collectables, and has a brilliant record shop. It is served by the excellent Red Brick Cafe, like something out of 1970s San Francisco. Sunday is the vintage market day.
St Michael's Trading Estate
66 St Michael's LnThe so-called Vintage Quarter of Bridport is good for browsing for antiques and collectables, and has a brilliant record shop. It is served by the excellent Red Brick Cafe, like something out of 1970s San Francisco. Sunday is the vintage market day.