Pictures of West Bay

About West Bay

Looking around this enchanting harbour setting it is clear to see that it still retains much of its 13th-century lifestyle as a busy port which at one time also served as a harbour for near-by Bridport. A new harbour was built here in 1740, and during the 19th-century as many as 500 ships a year visited. The town also has a tradition of ship building with Schooners, and both merchant and naval vessels being built in West Bay until 1879.

West Bay nestles at the western end of spectacular Chesil Beach whose billions of pebbles have been a constant source of fascination for centuries, and which now lies within the World Heritage Jurassic Coast of Lyme Bay. It is a small town that offers fun for all the family where children and adults enjoy hunting down fossils, sailing, sea-fishing and walking the soft downs above the beautiful tawny cliffs overlooking nearby Burton Bradstock beach. A few miles out of the town, by-passing Eype's Mouth beach, you reach the golden clumps of bright yellow gorse clinging to the sandstone summit of the Golden Cap. At 626 ft, this is the highest cliff in southern England and sits within 2,000 acres of National Trust Land of breath-taking beauty providing a wonderful vantage point with spectacular sea and coastal views.

The town offers a limited number of shops, restaurants and pubs. However, a short journey to nearby Bridport provides ample more shops, restaurants and pubs to explore. Accommodation for those wishing to enjoy a longer stay and spend time exploring, ranges from pleasant caravan & camping parks and friendly B & B's, to comfortable hotels where you can dine in style from tables layered with freshly caught local fish and seafood.

West Bay is a pleasant traditional little resort where the sun shines down on beautiful shingle beaches.