Thetownend.com

I would like to call on the TEF for suggestions please.

I want to book a couple of nights somewhere on the south coast between Dartmouth and Southampton.

It needs to have at least the following....

* Attractive beach walks
* Good pubs (within walking distance)
* Historic places to visit
* Good B&B

Ta. X

At this time of year I reckon your best bet would be to start looking just west of pool harbour around the Isle of purbeck in dorset and head west from there (I know pool isn't in dorset but this is where the jurasic coast starts). The coast around swanage is lovely with features like man-o-war and durdle door. Near by you have corfe castle which is partially destroyed but enough remains to visualise the scale of what existed (and its best accessed by proper choo choo from farm where i camped late august but have forgotten name of!) You will not find too many long beach walks on any stretch of the coast that you have mentioned but you will find the coast walks absolutely stunning: The coast path goes across cliff tops with the occasional path/climb down to lovely beaches and coves.

I could carry on going west from the above but I have just remembered I have work tomorow and am jeloouse of you getting down there - you cunt!

I live within shouting distance to the south coast, Bournemouth to be exact. I can highly commend the Isle of Purbeck. The village of Studland is worthy of mention, bit chilly at this time of year but Natural Trust run beach, completely unspoilt (where Coldplay shot their "Yellow" track"). Swanage just around the corner which is just delightful, and a short chain ferry journey over to Poole or Bournemouth. There is a great pub with a micro brewery in Studland called the Bankes Arms, and if you want to explore the nearby Jurrasic Coast (one of the few UN world heritage sites in the country) there's Durlston Park with it's huge stone globe and lovely cliff-side walks, and if you are the energetic type you can go beyond to Dancing Ledge and St Aldhelm's Head.

Here's a couple of links. The Square and Comnpass in Worth Matrevers often gets named ion the top 10 pubs in the country:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_Purbeck

http://www.squareandcompasspub.co.uk/

http://www.bankesarms.com/

The video by Coldplay:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAME8GDRTfI

You got in there first mate

Easy - Lyme Regis

Good coastal paths in both directions. If you want to walk any distance on a beach mind you'll probably have to head up to Chesil Beach, but that's no hardship.

Don't do Weymouth unless you want an almighty piss up

I'll add avoiding portland to that: Looks great from the coast but can't get neer sea while you're there and have to pay english heritage a fortune to get near anything interesting - just remembered(ish) swanage, brilliant for pubs (I Think!).

I do a lot of walking around here, and Mudeford Quay is special, best way is to park up near Hengistbury Head and walk up to the iron age hill fort with magnificent views (360 degree) over the Solent across to The Needles (Isle of Wight), Christchurch Harbour, Poole Bay - just breathtaking! You can often (though i'm not sure at this time of year) get a boat for a couple of quid over from there to Mudeford Quay after passing all the exclusive beach huts on the spit. I'll try and find a link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDrDlDN3qKI&feature=related

Poole is most certainly in Dorset

As said around Poole/Swanage is great, didn't see Brownsea island mentioned there which is good for walks after a short ferry ride. Not so much history  directly around Brighton but always a good stay none the less. And as Corfe castle was mentioned you also have Carisbrooke on the IOW, and Pevensey near Eastbourne both good examples and both more complete than Corfe, Eastbourne is also handy for Beachy head for a decent experience of vertigo.

I often go to Swanage, do it.

Good B&B's (Town Hall Lodge is nice) - great beach, you can walk to Studland over Old Harry Rocks, do the ferry to Brownsea Island etc and also walk the other way to Durlsdon (sp) Castle.

The Red Lion is a pretty decent boozer with loads of ciders to try, there's always live music in at least one pub and there's also some decent eaterys. Do it

Like Lumps says, Lyme Regis is very nice. In fact, anywhere between Charmouth and Seaton and you can't go wrong. Branscombe and Beer are my favourites.

between dartmouth and southampton is a huge area to choose from.
you can't really go wrong in devon and dorset.
just pick a place that takes your fancy and go from there.

You could always try Chichester - its another 25 miles east of Scummer land but good shore walks, plenty of history and close to The Southdowns, Goodwood, Arundel and Worthing.

Swanage and Salcombe are my faves......

Love that Swanage....feel like a kid when i go there.....

I'll second that. I used to go on holiday down there almost every year when I was young, staying in the little chalet huts on the beach.

There is a little place between Poole and Swanage called Arne, owned by the RSPB, really nice walks round there through woods and with views of Poole Harbour.

Theres a pub/cafe on that beach???  i think....

Staying at the Lulworth cove Inn next weekend, lovely 4 poster bed, open fire, pickled partridge on tap and a sunday carvery...lovely   

Yeah, a little cafe.  There is a pub on the Mudeford Quay side, if you take the little boat that shady mentioned.

I'm going to Weymouth tomorrow.

Good pubs around the Quayside. This thread has inspired me to take a lengthly walk tommorow, here in Bournemouth right around the coast to Swanage, get some chips there and devour them up at the RNLI look-out station, then on around to Durlston Castle, and if i'm still full of vigour onwards to Dancing Ledge - and then all the way back again. Ah, the joys of being temporarily unemployed  ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ME3lw-rI1rY&feature=related

Best of luck with that

Fancy joining me, promises to be a corking day out  :hmmm:

i'll second the isle of purbeck, one of my favourite places to go in the uk.

You must be joking. I got blisters on leefers Swindon pub crawl. I'll stick to a corking day in

Is that the one with a giant chess board marked out in front?

Hope you got your 30% off Foggy

http://www.lulworth-cove.co.uk/hotel/accommodation

I most certainly did

I'd be all over that....are the Tilly Whim Caves there or thereabouts?  I did a walk up there a few years back on an early November afternoon, when it was blowing a souwesterly gale up the Channel with added horizontal heavy rain....the ex missus and kids thought I was mad and refused to tag along....fucking brilliant, I love it, like that raw elements and no other fucker about.

If you're lucky you can see dolphins from up there.

If you are really lucky you can see Smeetons

Yep, the Tilly Whim caves are closed off now though sadly, but that stretch is staggeringly scenic, epic and then some! Nothing compares to a bit of solitude in a spot like that  :)

Seconded. Lovely B&B right by Branscombe Beach and a lovely pub a short walk into the village.

Kimmeridge Bay is another lovely area, close to Swanage. Stayed in a fantastic farmhouse B&B a few years back, again right by the bay. Lovely area if you like photography as the sunsets down there are magical.

Talking of Beer, i've got to get around to doing the caves some day:

http://www.beerquarrycaves.fsnet.co.uk/BEERQ~S/Beer_Quarry_Cx.html

norfolk royale in Bmuff is ace, although the same recipe every night for 6 months gets dull

Didn't you go anywhere else while you were down here bennett?

Sure did, but the menzies and the village inn (new place near the hospital) were both wank

We have a winner  :)

Thanks for all the input guys  :blowkiss:

30% off?

Yep. The last weekend for the discount is my intended trip date (just a coincidence of course  :wink:)

Beer caves doesn't look half as exciting as it sounds.

The beach.

How did it go Fogster? Booked, and looking forward to it  :)

It was just grand, the weather was perfect, sat in the beer garden smoking a lovely Montecristo cigar whilst supping pints of Badger organic dandelion ale, warm and very comfortable room for evening activities, superb food and a great breakfast on Sunday morning...Perfect   

Anyone fancy a trip to tripoli?