After visiting West Bay (see previous post) we drove along the Jurassic coast that reveals views of Chesil Beach. We stopped off near Abbotsbury to briefly step out onto the pebble beach before continuing along the coastal route to the Isle of Portland where we viewed Chesil Beach from just outside The Heights Hotel.

Chesil Beach is 18 miles (28 kilometres) long and on average is 160 metres wide and rises to 12 metres in height.

It is a pebble and shingle tombolo connecting Portland to Abbotsbury and then continuing north-westwards to West Bay near Bridport.

It is the largest tombolo in the UK.

The pebbles are graded in size from fist-sized near Portland to pea-sized at Bridport.

The pebbles are mainly a mix of flint and chert, with some quartzite pebbles from Buddleigh Salterton.

The origin of the beach continues to be argued over with some proposing it is actually two beaches.

The stretch from West Bay to Abbotsbury appears to have different characteristics to the stretch from Abbotsbury to Portland.

Chesil Beach shelters Weymouth from the prevailing wind and waves and prevents the area being eroded by wave action.

Evidence suggests that Chesil Beach is no longer being replenished by natural means.

The beach forms part of the Dorset and East Devon World Heritage Site, known as the Jurassic Coast.

After breakfast we walked to the information centre to pick up leaflets about places that we might visit. We then hopped into the car and set off towards the coast thinking that we might stop in Bridport but the main street there, because of its location, put us off stopping. It was here we noticed that pub, The Bull, that we had nearly chosen to stay at and we were glad that we had chosen to stay in Sherborne instead. We carried on to Lyme Regis where enjoyed a walk along the seafront and around the town.

Mr C couldn’t find the right thing for for lunch so we drove along the coast to West Bay where he was able to have a fish lunch from a kiosk. I chose crab fish cakes and we ate our purchases on a bench with seagulls looking on hopefully. They were not as persistent as the ones we experienced in Eastbourne last year. Then in search of a suitable place for a drink, we found a delightful cafe called Cherries which had excellent food options including cakes. As I had only just had lunch I chose not to indulge, although Mr C was tempted to a Belgian waffle.

Suitably refreshed, we continued along the Jurassic coast road stopping at Abbotsford so that Mr C could step onto Chesil Beach. Chesil beach is an amazing natural geographical feature created during the ice age. it forms perfect curve along the coast line. It is a good job we hadn’t intended to go for a walk because I had forgotten to pick up my sensible walking shoes which I had put ready before we left the hotel.

Once more we set off along the coast, road detouring to the Isle of Portland so that I could show Mr C the view of Chesil Beach from The Heights. We drove down to Portland Bill to see the lighthouse before returning to The Heights Hotel for an afternoon cuppa. The views across Chesil Beach are particularly good from there and Mr C was suitably impressed.

After the long drive we enjoyed some time relaxing in the hotel before it was time to go out for dinner. We dined in the Tamburino Gold before having a nightcap in the Half Moon pub where we encountered some “interesting” characters. Before we returned to the hotel, I took the opportunity to photograph the Abbey whilst it was floodlit in the darkness.