Most younger children will be more than happy with seaside fun and the freedom to run wild in the valley, climbing trees, paddling about in streams and building dens in the woods. But older children may also enjoy:
Abbotsbury Swannery - watch cygnets hatching from late Spring
Mountain Boarding - one of the best tracks in the country is at Burton Bradstock
Guided Nature Walks and Fossil Hunts - most summer weekends
Kite Flying - on Lambert's Castle and Eggarden Hill
Boat Hire - from Beer Beach
Seaton Tramway - a gentle jaunt that's good for adult birdwatchers too.
Lifeboat Week (July) and Regatta Week (August) offer full programs of events for children at Lyme Regis, from sand sculpture competitions to firework displays.
For rainy days we recommend:
Crealy - One of the best theme parks in the South West - well worth the 40 minute drive
Cricket St Thomas - Wildlife park with fetching lemurs
Regent Cinema, Lyme Regis - listed Art Deco cinema, recently restored, showing family films at weekends and on holiday afternoons
Flamingo Pool, Axminster - The only public hydrotherapy pool in the country is at nearby Axminster - along with excellent new swimming pool
Museums:
Excellent Philpott Museum in Lyme
County Museum and Tutankhamen Exhibition at Dorchester
City Museum and Cathedral at Exeter
Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton
Vintage Car Museum at Sparkford
Tank Museum at Bovey Tracey
And if all else fails, there's a shelf full of videos in the cottage!
