A beach in west Dorset has been declared one of the best in the county, according to Muddy Stilettos.

For those wanting to follow in Mary Anning's footsteps, Muddy Stilletos says Lyme Regis is the place to be.

Their guide says: "you might find fool’s gold (iron pyrites), ammonites and bullet-shaped belemnites in the rook pools and the shingle at Lyme Regis, especially on Monmouth Beach".

It ranks the beach as the best for fossil hunting. 

For hungry visitors, it recommends Mark Hix’s Oyster & Fish House or a pub lunch at The Pilot Boat. Or tuck into Asian street food at Red Panda and vegetarian Tierra Kitchen in the roads behind the seafront.

It adds: "Search for fossils, on your own or on a guided fossil walk with an expert from the Lyme Regis Museum. Walk along The Cobb, an old stone harbour made famous by Meryl Streep in The French Lieutenant’s Woman."

In the summer months, you can enjoy paddleboarding with Jurassic SUP & Fitness, zip round the bay on a RIB with Lyme Rib Rides or catch some mackerel on a boat trip with Harry May.