Bingham Grange Bridport

There are a number of cycling routes in and around Bridport, including Route 2, part of the National Cycle Network, which runs from St Austell in Cornwall to Dover in Kent following the coast. Find your way around the area on your two wheels with one of our cycling route maps, developed with the help of Sustrans. These offer not only a detailed map, but also step-by-step directions and useful route information. Pick up one for free from Reception.

The South West Coast Path runs along the coast and can be joined at West Bay. You can walk from there to Chesil Beach and Lyme Regis and beyond, taking in the views. Don’t miss the rocky Golden Cap offers which offers magnificent views in all directions. On a clear day you can see across Lyme Bay to Dartmoor - obviously it does involve an uphill walk to the view point.

The Monarch's Way walk is close to the site with routes east towards Brighton, or north towards Bristol and beyond.

The Brit Valley Way connects West Bay on the Jurassic Coast to Chedington, following the route of the River Brit for 11 miles (18km), which runs through the bottom of the campsite, meeting Bridport and Beaminster along the way. It also connects with the South West Coast Path National Trail, Hardy Way, Jubilee Trail, Monarch's Way, River Parrett Trail and Wessex Ridgeway.

Join a Fossil Hunting Guided Walk for one of the best and safest ways to hunt for fossils. The experts will be able to point out what to look for and make your day out much more enjoyable. Lyme Regis Museum run their own fossil walks along Lyme Regis beach. This is where the famous fossil collector Mary Anning found the first correctly identified Ichthyosaur skeleton and the first two nearly complete Plesiosaur skeletons. The museum is located where she used to live and sell her fossils from. Alternatively, visit the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre to join a guided fossil hunting walk and journey through time.

Explore Hardy Country, with Casterbridge being based on Dorchester, and Bridport is Port Bredy, the setting for Fellow Townsmen. You can also visit the famous author's birthplace, Thomas Hardy’s Cottage, managed by the National Trust.

Nearby Weymouth has a lot to offer, with plenty for visitors of all ages. Go crabbing in the harbour, or why not try sculpting in sand at Sand World, or just enjoy the expansive sandy beach.

The site has an cafe/bar offering a range of food and drink with indoor and outdoor seating areas.

The closest pub to the site is the Half Moon in Melplash, offering traditional pub meals.

For something a bit different, try the unique Platform in West Bay. This quirky and vintage railway station brings has dining in rescued railway carriages. Unsurprisingly, given its location, there is a strong focus on seafood, and menus use local, sustainable ingredients, including those from their own vegetable garden.

The Anchor Inn at Seatown, located right beside the beach with a terrace and garden which overlook the sea, this popular pub offers a range of fresh seafood, traditional main courses and roasts.

Fossil hunting trails are like a treasure hunt for children - join an organised hunt for the best experience. Make sure to also visit West Bay Discovery Centre's free, interactive exhibits about the Jurassic Coast.

For animal lovers, Monkey World is a renowned primate rescue and rehabilitation centre with a wide range of chimpanzees, gibbons and monkeys, all rescued from around the world since its opening in 1987. At Abbotsbury Swannery & Gardens you can walk among swans, explore the Brambly Hedge Trail, and enjoy the play park. Or for younger children, Farmer Palmer's Farm Park features farm animals and play areas, perfect for under 8s.