Family Traveler

132THE JURASSIC COASTCAMP BESTIVAL!Festivalbreak,ortriptotheseaside?Whychoose?CASSFARRARshowsushowtocombineacoastalfamilyholidaywithafestival–andcomehomeravingaboutitSEATONSIDMOUTHORCOMBEPOINTEXMOUTHTheJurassicCoastisa 95 -milestretchofbreathtakingsunsetsandcoastalwalksthatwrapsfromeastDevonaroundtoDorset.Punctuatedwithdelightfulcovesrifeforexplorationandsugary-softsandybeaches,it’saslap-in-the-facereminderthattherearesomanywonderfulspotstoexploreasafamilyrighthereinEngland,oneneedn’teventhinkofpackingapassport.ThecoastcoversasignificantpartofEngland’ssouth-west,butthereareafewhotspotsthatmustn’tbemissedand,ifyou’replanningtovisitCampBestivalthissummer–arguablythegreatestfamily-friendlyfestivalofitskind- whynotheadsouthafewdaysbeforehand? EnroutetopicturesqueLymeRegisandrightonthebeach,theCharmouthHeritageCoastCentreistheperfectwaytoenjoyaguidedfossilwalk.Anopeningchatfromthewardenisbriefenoughtocaptivateeventhemosthyperofchildrenbeforeheadingtothebeachtofossilhunt(welliesamust). Abriefdriveuptheroadandyou’llbeatthefabulousLymeRegisMarineAquarium.Asweepingpieceofnavalarchitecture,thehistoricCobb,orharbour,atthecentreofthetownisworthavisitinitsownrightbut,ifyou’rethereasafamily,you’dbecrazytomisstheaquariuminsidetheCobb.You’llfindanarrayoflocallobsterandstarfish,aswellasLymeBaymullet,whicharesotame,childrencanfeedthembyhand.Ifyou’recravingaclassicbucket-and-spadeexperience,WeymouthBeach,justeastofLymeRegis,offersfish-and-chiphutsonthebeachandanold-fashionedpier,butinevitablecrowdsinthesummer.Agreatfamilyrestaurant,theCrabHouseCafé,overlookingneighbouringPortland,servesfreshseafoodinarelaxedbeachsidespot.AfarcryfromthebustleofWeymouthistheidyllofLulworthCoveandDurdleDoor.Takethecoastalpathfromtheformerand,afterashortwalk,you’llfindthelatter,amagicalspotdefinedbyitsbeautiful``````limestonearchattheedgeofalittlebeach.It’sidealforswimming,butnotetherearenofacilities–justasummerkioskofferingicecreams.AttheneckofnearbySwanageresidesDurlstonCastle.Itssweetcaféboastscascadingseaviews,andonedelightfultouchisaresidenttelescope.Lookthroughitandpaperfairiesintersecttheview,adetailadoredbykids.Thereisalsoalovelywalkwaythatwrapsaroundtheseaandbackthroughasmallforest(awashwithbluebellsinspring).ThecharmingSaxontownofWarehamoffersboathireifyouwanttogetoutonthewater.TheRiverFromewindsallthewayuptoPooleHarbourand,atWareham,spitsyououttothegorgeouswatersaroundShellBay(aspotwithafabfamily-friendlyrestaurantoverlookingBrownseaIsland).TheriverhasarealWindintheWillowsfeeltoit,withotters,swansandkingfishersgalore;throughWarehamBoatHireyoucanhireeverythingfrommotorboatstopaddleboardstokayaks.Inland,theJurassicCoasthasjustasmuchonoffer.KingstonMaurwardGardensareCRABHOUSECAFESIDMOUTHLYMEREGISCHARMOUTHCAMPBESTIVAL