Major cliff falls and landslides back in 1995 and 2001 between Lyme Regis and Stonebarrow left walkers being diverted off this now unstable and dangerous route onto a lengthy, unpleasant road diversion via the A3052. Now this stretch has been restored with two new coast path sections.
Lyme Regis Golf Club have generously gifted access creating a new footpath to resolve the gap between Lyme Regis and Charmouth, ensuring that walkers get a fantastic coast path experience.
Dorset Council worked together with Lyme Regis Golf Club, the local community and southwest coast path volunteers to design this new route. It takes walkers safely off road and away from the unpredictable cliff edge and gives stunning birds eye views of the beautiful inland hills and valleys, iconic Lyme Regis and The Cobb, Golden Cap and coastline all the way to Portland, complimenting both the needs of golfers and walkers.
Tara Hansford, Dorset Council’s Strategic Outdoor Access Development Coordinator, said:
“The path is clearly marked by signposting and a newly surfaced path from both Lyme Regis and Charmouth taking you around and across the golf course and through woodland. Where necessary the path is protected by a safety fence to protect you from the occasional flying golf ball!
“Look out for the fingerpost that wasn’t so lucky!
“In the woodland you travel through three parishes and will encounter two coast path parish boundary markers – one by local craftsman Alex Brooks celebrating the stunning local topography and the other by local artist Greta Berlin celebrating local archaeologist Mary Anning.
“The route provides a variety of interest with numerous viewing points. Local people and visitors walking the coast path have expressed how much they enjoy this quirky new route and how great it is to get closer to the sea, off the road and onto a more natural path at last.”
In addition, Dorset Council worked in partnership with the National Trust and a local landowner who have provided access for a new cliff top path signposted for walkers from Charmouth beach up to Stonebarrow. This route also takes the walker through a parish boundary gate that records the alleged landings of Viking ships on Charmouth beach, designed and crafted by Alex Brooks, Emma Moloney and Tara Hansford – don’t forget to close it as you walk through to stop the cattle escaping.
Cllr Noc Lacey-Clarke, Dorset Council’s Cabinet Lead Member for Environment, Travel and Harbours, said:
“Thank you to the local landowners, businesses, community, partners, volunteers, contractors, funders and Dorset Council officers for their commitment to addressing these problems on Dorset’s Coast Path.
“This project restores much needed links on the Dorset section of the Southwest Coast Path, helping to provide a great walking experience. The Coast Path is invaluable for tourism and the local economy, but these local links also help connect communities to each other and the facilities they provide, supporting our Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy and providing highly valued networks enjoyed by people for recreation, health and wellbeing.
“These projects demonstrate strong partnership working – where working together results in a superb outcome for all involved. Through the generosity of Lyme Regis Golf Club and local landowners, walkers using the path now have a great experience along this stretch of the Dorset coast.”
This work was funded by the Rural Development Programme England (RDPE) / European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), Southwest Coast Path Association and Dorset Council. The Parish Boundary Markers project was funded by the Coastal Communities Fund through the Dorset Coast Forum.
We knew the old path well, so welcome this very long overdue acceptable new route. But I can’t find a map showing the route? It is not yet on the definitive map on the Dorset Council website. Still showing parts of the old path as Closed.
We were in Lyme for a week just a month ago and did lots of walking. There was nothing advertising this new route?
The new route is currently being mapped using GIS and will be added to Dorset Explorer in the coming days. Once it has been mapped on Dorset Explorer we will update this article with a link to the map.
Katie
The above comment was published in the last newsletter but there is still no answer. We went to Charmouth, parked down at the front, asked at the centre there for a leaflet showing the new path. They said they had run out…
We could see no signs, so went for a walk elsewhere. Put the leaflet online to download? and maybe replenish the stock at Charmouth.
When are they going to provide the definitive map of this section of the coastal path particularly around Charmouth ?
Hi John – The new route is currently being mapped using GIS and will be added to Dorset Explorer in the coming days. Once it has been mapped on Dorset Explorer we will update this article with a link to the map.
Katie
Tried to find our way from Charmouth to Lyme but signs are misleading- we had to get the bus!
I used to walk the old path for quite a few years prior to it being lost to the sea. Greatly looking forward to once again walk safely across Lyme golf course etc, to and fro Charmouth & Lyme Regis.
Know it’s being a long time coming but now it’s ready for us walkers.
Thanks all involved.
Jon
Bridport
Good. Now please restore the three sections of the Coast Path at Portland: West Weares, West Cliff and East Cliff (Grove). Neglected for too long.
As a member of LR Golf Club I should advise you that we still get people regularly walking down the side of the 16th hole, i.e. on the cliff edge where the original path used to run. Generally they do not mean to trespass but, coming from LR, they have been told that the route is across the golf course. This is factually correct but they come up Timber Hill and turn off as soon as they see it rather than continuing to the footpath sign. This is extremely dangerous both from the cliff fall risk and also the risk of being hit by a ball. More signage I think to prevent an accident.
As locals we tried this route from Charmouth and only found one ‘ new’ sign .. there were no clear signs on the golf course and we found ourselves on the wrong part . The golfers were very freindly and we wound up at the clubhouse and enjoyed a drink there and apparently there are white stones to show the path across the golf course ( how are you meant to know that ) . The signage needs to be MUCH clearer and more of it and perhaps some maps showing where it actually goes would be good . If there are maps online they are difficult to find and definitely not on the pages showing the south coast path ( at time of writing this ) … not impressed 😕
Thank you for your feedback Mark – I will pass this on to the Greenspace Service. The route is in the process of being mapped using GPS and then added to Dorset Explorer, I will update this message thread with a link to the map once it is available.
Katie
Three of us intend to walk from Charmouth tomorrow to Golden Cap and return the same way. We have a Landranger 193 map, edition says revised 1997!!
Having seen all the comments regarding the new coast path, and being more used to the Explorer map, we hope to be able to locate the path! We aim to park in the car park along the sea front. So here’s hoping. We did actually complete the SW Coast Path some many years ago but are revisiting sections and now taking older daughter. Stella. (Northampton resident but staying near Bristol)
The route still does not appear to be added to Dorset Explorer.
So, six months after this announcement, the new stretch of path is still effectively inaccessible, since it is on no published map – SWCPA, OS, Dorset Explorer. Why?
It’s now April 2023 and I can’t find any information about the new route. It’s not even mentioned on the South West Coast Path website. I’m hoping to walk it tomorrow but not sure if I’ll find it.