Weymouth

Through the Trees to Charmouth

Charmouth is a Gateway Town, but is located very close to the shoreline

The rocks at Charmouth are 195 million years old and from the Jurassic geological period. Charmouth covers the area from Black Venn in the West to Stonebarrow in the East. Black Venn was the scene of the largest mudslide in Europe during the winter of 1958 / 59 and Stonebarrow is the scene of occasional cliff falls



Settlement of Charmouth began in the early Iron Age by a Celtic tribe known as the Durotriges. Evidence of thier impressive hill-forts survive today in the surrounding area. the most notable being Maiden Castle, sacked by the Romans in around AD47

Charmouths first claim to fame came in the years 833 and 840 when the Wessex kings Ethelred and Ethelwolf unsuccessfully tried to repel Viking invaders. Eventually the Vikings settled peacefully among the local population. The community living on the bank of the River Cerne. The village 'Cernmunde' was recorded in the Doomsday book of 1088

In 1501 catherine of Aragon stayed in the village on her way to marry Arthur, brother of Henry VIII. Charles II is reputed to have sheltered here after his escape from the Battle of Worcester in 1651

Currently it has a population of about 1200

Westbay - East Cliffs



The West Dorset coast frome Lyme Regis to Burton Bradstock is a beautifull landscape of cliffs and landslides - sudden landslides cause the the pathways to be diverted slightly inland in the name of safety. The above picture is of the East Cliffs of Westbay

The cliffs are formed by erosion acting over time and by landslides that occur during wet years. Global warming and a rising sea-level will ensure that these processes will continue

Gateway-Towns - Lyme Regis

The Jurassic Coast by its very nature is 95 miles long, but only a few metres wide. It is served by a handfull of towns, known as gateway towns. They are located very close to the Coast, providing serves for visitors such as hotels, guest-houses, restaurants, shopping facilities, museams and information



The clay cliffs around Lyme Regis are about 200 million years old, marking the start of the Jurassic period, capped by sandstone of about 100 million years in age. After heavy winter rains, huge mudslides flow onto the beach, where they are washed away by rough seas, uncovering the fossils

Lyme Regis is served by a Tourist Information Centre and Museum. You can also take boat trips from here, enabling the viewing of the Jurassic Coast from the sea, possibly the best way to see it

Gateway Towns - Portland

Although the Jurassic coast is approximately 95 miles long, it is but a few yards wide, reaching up to the edges of the beachs, coastline and cliffs, therefore just a few yards wide in some locations. Bearing that in mind, there are a number of other features lying just beyond the boundary of the Jurassic coast. For example there are a number of what are named gateway towns lying just behind the boundary ... there are also castles and other buildings of historical importance. One such building is Portland castle, as shown below ...



Portland castle was built by Henry VIII in 1540. Forming part of his coastal defense system against invasion by the French. Positioned so close to the enemy across the narrow channel, he took no chances and built the castle walls fourteen feet thick