Charmouth – Jurassic Coast
Charmouth is the best place to explore the Jurassic Coast, England’s first and only natural World Heritage Site (jurassiccoast.com). Rocks along the 95 miles of shore record 185 million years of the Earth’s history. On the beach you can pick up belemnites and ammonites but keep your eyes peeled, as bigger monsters have been found in among the pebbles. Entry to the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre is free and it’s packed with interactive displays and fun things to do. Book in for a fossil hunting walk or rock pool ramble, led by one of the centre’s friendly and enthusiastic experts. Be warned, the cliffs around Charmouth are very unstable and there are mudflows and landslides all the time so make sure you follow the fossil hunters’ code.