Charmouth Beach

Charmouth beach lies either side of the River Char, and has a shore of coarse sand and shingle. To either side, the beach is backed by high, unstable cliffs of clay - rock falls are common so keep a safe distance. About a mile to the east is Golden Cap; at 627 feet high, it's the highest point on England's south coast and gets its name from the sandy crest at the top. The clay cliffs along here are rich in fossils, but as it's part of the Jurassic Coast, these should only be collected from loose material - never from the living rock. Parking is at a P&D car park just behind the beach. Dogs are not allowed for a distance of about 300 yards west of the river, from 1st May until 30th September.