by Alice Atkinson-Bonasio

Created on: October 22, 2008

Go to sleep in a bookshop, wake up to a stormy sea and then go hunting for some dinosaurs. For a quiet seaside town, Lyme Regis offers a lot more than you might expect.

The best way to get to the town known as the Pearl of Dorset is by train; there are good connections to Axminster, where a regular bus service goes directly from the train station to the center of town (get off in front of the Post Office) in about 20 minutes. Once there, it is best to explore the compact town on foot, as there are many secret gardens, winding alleyways and surprising sea views to discover.

We stayed at the Book Lovers B&B, which sits just above The Sanctuary bookshop, where you can easily spend hours happily browsing the well-kept old volumes for sale. The B&B carries the theme and there are loaded bookshelves both in the bedrooms and the sitting room, so you won't be short of a bedtime read or something to while away a few rainy hours.

Prices start at 25 per person including breakfast but can be lower if you go in Winter or stay multiple nights. The B&B is very central and right in front of the beach. Close enough, indeed for you to hear the rhythmic music of the waves washing through the countless pebbles that line it. Flat shoes are mandatory if you are walking by the sea as finding your footing can sometimes be treacherous. If you don't fancy trudging through a few tons of rounded multicolored pebbles then there is a well-kept wide promenade just next to it so accessibility is not an issue.

On a sunny day enjoy a Mr Whippy ice cream and walk down to the arcade, where you can gamble away your pennies, or if you're more adventurous and fancy a bit of deep-sea fishing or sightseeing with a difference, there are boat operators that run trips all year round.

The star attraction of Lyme Regis, however, has to be the Cobb, which inspired countless artists and writers such as Jane Austen. The opening scene of The French Liutenant's Woman with Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons was shot there, and it is a breathtaking experience to stand atop its wall and face the sea.

Late April is a good time to visit because you can beat the summer rush and yet avoid the winter hibernation that inevitably hits a seaside town. Avoid coming on a Monday as many businesses close then and some pubs won't serve food. The weather is very fickle and changes from one season to the next in a heartbeat, but although this might mean you will get wet, it will also give you a chance to appreciate the beauty

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