You may have read recently that Weymouth Beach was crowned the UK's best beach by The Times and Sunday Times, flying the flag for Dorset by scooping the prestigious honour.
However, west Dorset is home to some glorious beaches too - and we wanted to show some appreciation for those closer to home.
Here’s our pick of some of the best beaches across the Bridport and Lyme Regis area.
Eype
Picture: Jennie Mulcahey
Eype beach is a bit more secluded than some of the more bustling beaches in the area.
If you take a walk up the nearby coastal path, you can take in the breathtaking views from above and it's a prime spot for a stunning sunset.
A short walk up the lane you can relax and refresh at the New Inn pub or Eype Mouth Country Hotel.
Do take note: swimming can be dangerous at Eype and it is not a lifeguarded beach.
Charmouth
Charmouth beach is a great spot for a day out with the family and just a stones throw from the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre which is free to visit.
Throughout the year, the centre runs guided fossil hunting walks, rockpooling, beach cleans and nurdle hunts along the coastline.
Remember to always check tide times before visiting.
West Bay
An obvious choice but it's not hard to see why! West Bay has two beautiful beaches to offer - East Beach and West Beach.
East Beach Picture: Jennie Mulcahey
East Beach is arguably the more recognisable thanks to its location beneath the iconic East Cliff. It featured in Broadchurch and draws in plenty of visitors thanks to its appearance on the ITV show.
West Beach, however, is considered the safer of the two with the protective cove formed between the Jurassic Pier and groynes making it safe and shallow for paddling.
West Beach Picture: Jennie Mulcahey
It's also more accessible, thanks to a wonderful scheme which saw beach matting installed on the pebbles earlier this year to ensure wheelchair users can enjoy the beach.
Hive Beach
Located in Burton Bradstock, Hive Beach is also a great place to spend the day relaxing, paddleboarding and take in some fantastic sunset views in the evenings.
Made up of shingles, it forms part of the larger Chesil Beach, a striking section of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and the largest shingle ridge in the world.
Do stay away from the cliffs and pay attention to the warning signs which state the area is prone to rockfalls.
Seatown
Seatown boasts a beautiful beach and is primarily made up of shingle.
It’s a popular spot for fishermen and fossil hunters and has plenty of scenic walks nearby.
And it's home to the Anchor Inn for a refreshing post-beach drink or bite to eat.
Cogden
More unique is Cogden beach which is home to a flower-filled farmland which visitors can enjoy when returning via the South West Coast Path.
Cogden beach is a great spot for a bit of peace and quiet away from the other busy beaches that Dorset has to offer during the summer months.
Lyme Regis
Last but not least on our list are the four beaches that Lyme Regis has to offer.
You have Front Beach, partly sandy and partly shingle, found near the harbour; Monmouth Beach to the west of the harbour; Church Cliff Beach, a small sand and pebble beach located near the Marine Theatre; East Cliff Beach, to the east of the town heading towards Charmouth.
Lyme Regis is a famous spot for fossil hunting and the historic Cobb is a great location to take a walk along for great coastal views (and is set to feature in the upcoming Wonka film set for release later this year).
We are spoilt for choice in west Dorset but remember when enjoying the beautiful beaches it has to offer: Avoid cliffs, check tide time and follow all safety notices at the beach.
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