West Bay to Seatown

South West Coast Path

  • A lovely section of the Jurassic Coast between the villages of West Bay and Seatown.
  • It's just over three miles and includes a substantial climb to Thorncombe Beacon and Doghouse Hill - but there is an easier route if you'd rather avoid the steep climb.
  • Starting at West Bay, you can pick up the coastal path and head west towards Eype Mouth, taking in its beautiful beach. You then climb to Thorncombe Beacon, where there are stunning views along the coast.
  • Carry on west across Doghouse Hill hill before descending into Seatown, where you can treat yourself to a refreshing pint at the Anchor Inn.

Beaminster circular walk

Beaminster Ramblers

To and from the Square, five-and-a-quarter miles.

  • Leave Beaminster Square by Fleet Street to Newtown. Pass the school, take right fork into Bowgrove Road, continue uphill, on road then track, about a mile to junction with Buckham Down Road and turn left.
  • Proceed along road for a mile, fork left onto Common Water Lane, before the Beaminster – Crewkerne road. Continue about three quarters-of-a-mile to path emerging down slope from woodland on left.
  • Turn left, follow path to the end of copse, bear right and descend onto concrete area with a wood store, through gate into meadow.
  • Follow fence on left around coppice, through gate on left by horse trough, keep right, follow main track between trees and sharp left between hedges. Turn right opposite wood. Follow track to stile on right.

**At this point there is a choice of routes to finish.

  • Option 1: Over stile, bear left across field to hedge opposite. Ignore stile in hedge, bear left across field to another stile. Cross this stile, bear left again to further stile leading onto asphalt road. Stop as there is no grass verge and possible fast traffic.
  • Option 2: Over stile, bear sharp left beside fence, keeping wood on left. Follow fence round to metal gate. Go through gate and then across farmyard, following track past Cockroad Farm on lefthand side. Proceed to road beside former Clipper Tea building site and then turn right onto Clay Lane. This option avoids some paddocks that may have horses.
  • Finally, turn left to Hogshill Street and Beaminster Square.

Stonebarrow at the Golden Cap

National Trust

  • The Stonebarrow shop and information centre is housed within an old radar station. From the shop, turn left and head for the clump of pine trees at the end of the car park.
  • Turn right before the trees and follow the fingerposts for Westhay Farm, passing by Monument Copse. The grassland on Stonebarrow is home to lots of butterflies like the small bordered fritillary and the common blue.
  • From here you can take a short detour into Monument Copse which marks the spot where local squire Robert Hilliard died in 1876. Continue through the hay meadows to Westhay Farm, given to us in 1961. This was the first land obtained by the National Trust in the area now known as the Golden Cap Estate.
  • Turn right and head uphill to the next set of fingerposts, then turn left along the smugglers path. The next fingerpost should be signed Charmouth. Turn right and go up a few steps, then turn left and go up some more steps.
  • At the top of the steps, turn left for Charmouth and walk to Cains Folly. There was once a Second World War radar station here.Continue up the hill and turn right before the kissing gate, through the squeeze and follow the marker back to the Stonebarrow car park.