Get Back to Nature in our World Heritage Landscape
Eype’s Mouth Country Hotel sits in a stunningly beautiful location. Every day we enjoy dazzling sea views and drink in the ever-changing landscape. But what makes our location even more remarkable is how much of this glorious coastline we can access from our doorstep.
Many of our regular visitors explore Dorset’s secluded beaches and breathtaking coastal walks. We thought we’d share some of their favourites with you.
Check out our recommendations before your visit, or just enjoy learning more about what the Jurassic Coast offers!
Discover Eype Beach and West Bay
A secluded haven right on your doorstep, Eype Beach is primarily shingle, backed by a steep cliff. Only known to a select few, it’s a quiet and restful place, perfect for our guests to enjoy.
The beach drops away quite steeply under the strong tidal currents, so caution is advisable if you go into the water for a swim. If you don’t fancy swimming, there’s plenty of scope for fossil hunting, wildlife watching or just relaxing and watching the world go by.
This peaceful beach is just a short walk from the hotel, but if you need some refreshment while you’re there, you’ll find a pub and a tea room offering plenty of great choices. We can always make you up a picnic if you want to spend the day on the beach in style!
Sitting beneath the towering peak of Golden Cap, the beach offers breathtaking views along the awe-inspiring World Heritage Jurassic Coast. There are few better locations to enjoy the evening glow as the sun sets to the west over Lyme Bay.
Make Your Way to the Beautiful West Bay
Somewhat busier than Eype Beach, the popular West Bay is a must-visit destination for anyone staying at Eype’s Mouth. At a distance of less than a mile, the walk from Eype is a relatively easy 25 minutes and takes in some unforgettable views.
West Bay, sometimes known as the Golden Gateway to the Jurassic Coast, nestles south of Bridport, with Burton Bradstock to the east. Situated at the western end of Chesil Beach, it’s a wonderfully authentic seaside location and a great starting point for coast and countryside walks, fossil hunting, angling trips, scuba diving, paragliding, golfing and river boating.
Famous for its pier, harbour and marina, West Bay boasts sandy beaches, a swimming pool and a leisure complex, with the historic market town of Bridport one and a half miles inland.
A great place to spend the day, you can discover the famous sandstone East Cliff, formed from Lower Jurassic Bridport sands. You’ll quite literally have 180 million years of history at your fingertips!
Exploring the Golden Cap
If you’re keen on rambling and fancy a spot of adventure, this famous landmark, visible from the hotel, is an ideal walking challenge.
Dorset’s Golden Cap is celebrated as a stunning natural vantage point and the pinnacle of England’s only natural World Heritage Site. At 627ft (191m), it’s the highest point on the south coast. It takes a little while to get to the top, but with magnificent views from Lyme Bay to Dartmoor, it’s more than worth the effort!
The top of the cliff was made from sandstone formed in the Cretaceous Period, about 100 million years ago. It turns a golden colour when exposed to daylight and weathered, giving the headland its famous name.
The climb takes you through the landscape, passing fields, ancient oak trees, and stretches of heathland rich in bracken, heather, bilberries and blackberries. Depending on the time of year you visit, you’ll encounter a thriving natural world. Discover blue butterflies and songbirds in the summer, and spot fungi, birds of prey and seals in the waters below in the cooler months.
Have fun at Sandbanks and Mudeford
If you fancy a day out from Eype’s Mouth with all the charm of a traditional British seaside, we recommend a trip east along the coast. With golden sands stretching out into the distance, Sandbanks is a wonderfully atmospheric place to visit, whatever the time of year.
In summer, the beaches are busy but not crowded, and the seas, designated by the European Commission as some of the cleanest in England, sparkle in the sunlight.
The iconic beach huts, some for hire, play host to families making the most of the plentiful opportunities for watersports and open spaces.
In winter, the beaches take on a windswept beauty, with seaweed and driftwood regularly cast onto the shifting sands. The view remains magnificent, dominated by Hengistbury Head in the distance.
Mudeford, just around the corner, has a charm all its own. A working fishing village, it’s now a top tourist destination boasting pubs, restaurants and, as you might expect, plenty of fresh seafood.
You can hire a bucket and line and spend a happy hour crabbing or, in the summer months, enjoy a picnic on the beach. Plenty of forested areas nearby offer shade and some peace and quiet from the crowds.
If you carry on walking along the coastal path from Friars Cliff, you will reach Steamer Point Nature Reserve, Highcliffe Castle and the village of Highcliffe-On-Sea.
Enjoy the Views at Hengistbury Head
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Across the coast from Sandbanks, you’ll find the nature reserve of Hengistbury Head. Popular all year round, the walk to the top of Warren Hill is well worth taking, giving visitors panoramic views of the landscape and the turquoise waters below.
A land train service runs from the cafe at the bottom right up to the top, so if you want to avoid the walk, you can. Popular with bikers and dog walkers, it’s a Site of Special Scientific Interest, making it a great way to explore some of Dorset’s finest natural habitats.
You’ll also get a fantastic view of Poole Harbour, stretching out in the distance.
Home to numerous archaeological excavations and conservation projects, the Visitor Centre offers explores rs a wealth of helpful information and interactive displays.
Explore The Dorset Coast Path
If the Golden Cap inspires you to venture further afield, you’ll be pleased to learn that Dorset is one of the finest counties in England for walking. It has an exceptional mix of awe-inspiring coastline, ancient wooded valleys, rolling chalk downlands and secluded river valleys, making it a true rambler’s paradise!
The Dorset Coast Path forms part of the 630-mile South West Coastal Path. Wherever you choose to visit along the Dorset coast, you can stroll along the frontier between land and sea, courtesy of the Coast Path.
You’ll find dramatic landscapes and seascapes revealed with every twist and turn of the route. The coast path follows cliff top, lagoon, beach and urban environments.
Dorset’s internationally renowned contribution to this coastal pathway boasts over 300 miles of well-signed and waymarked footpaths, bridleways and byways to explore. The paths are walkable all year round, but popular sections can get very busy during summer.
Take a Trip Along the Jurassic Coast
A particular stretch of the path runs right through the Jurassic Coast and takes in some incredible local highlights. Starting in East Devon at Exmouth, the Coast Path that runs close to Eype’s Mouth will lead you through 185 million years of history.
Home to a dazzling range of natural features, from the striking red cliffs at Sidmouth to the soft white chalk at Old Harry Rocks, it’s a walk like no other. Check out the shingle bar of Chesil Beach, the semi-freshwater lagoon at Fleet, the fortress-like monolith of the Isle of Portland and the iconic arch of Durdle Door.
It’s an ideal way to see the Dorset countryside without straying too far from our welcoming country hotel!
Start Your Journey at Eype’s Mouth
We’re proud to be located close to the finest landscapes in the South West. They inspire us daily, and we look forward to sharing them with you!
If you want to come and explore the countryside, get in touch with us here at Eype’s Mouth Country Hotel and take advantage of the best hospitality Dorset offers.
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