Top 12 Natural Monuments around All Saints

From the trig point at Pilsdon Pen summit, you get spectacular, wide-open views across Dorset. Looking south, the eye sweeps over the lush farmlands and rolling hills of the Marshwood Vale, extending all the way down to Bridport and the dramatic cliffs of the Jurassic Coast.

A main south west hotspot for hunting fossils

You could be forgiven for believing you were in a woodland area taken completely away from the seafront.

Little bit of useless trivia for you. on the section outlayed on my page, this is the only gate you'll need to go through. That is something that doesn't happen often. The area is predominately open meadow land and woodland preserved by the National Trust. The area was an important Armada look-out point and later when a French invasion was feared, the warning beacon sited here, when lit, would have started a chain from the coast north to Trinity Hill near Axminster and west to Rousdon in the direction of Seaton. With vigilance, the entire country to the north coast could be alerted within half an hour thanks to the well worked out network of sightlines joining hilltop to hilltop.

Now don't get disappointed, you're basically in the thick of it, and you'll not get to see much. But there we go

The Black Ven has been historically renowned for paleontology. Mary Anning found an ichthyosaurus in The Spittles, and James Harrison found the first fossil remains of a Scelidosaurus while quarrying Black Ven in 1858. In 2001, the Black Ven and the whole of Lyme Bay became part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. Black Ven has the largest mudslides in Europe,[3] and this constantly brings new material (such as fossils) to the base of the cliff and beach. The reason for this is the types of stone found through the cliff. There is porous limestone, which lets the water on rough days flow through it, below which you will find clay, which lets water in, but not out. When the clay becomes saturated, it becomes very slippery and the limestone above can slide off in large chunks. Black Ven for this reason is a famous fossil hunting location, although the mudslides can be surprisingly damaging to the fossils, especially to soft parts such as scales. The Black Ven has a layer called Blue Lias where famous fossilised fish are known to be found. The geological dating of the rocks of the whole of the area (Lyme Bay) is Jurassic. The Black Ven and the Spittles contain rocks from the lower (early) Jurassic. Ammonites, Belemnites, and the occasional Devil's toenail are common finds in this area

Situated on the Dorset/Devon border and just two miles from Lyme Regis, Charmouth is a quiet, unspoilt village, with lots of amenities. The village has a rich history going back hundreds of years, and was once on the main road from London to Exeter. As a consequence of this historical strategic location the village has seen many important visitors over the years with King Charles II staying in the village during his escape to France, and Jane Austen who, as a regular visitor, once wrote that Charmouth was “a nice place for sitting in unwearied contemplation”. Fortunately these days the busy roads bypass the village, and Charmouth retains the charm and tranquility it has enjoyed for hundreds of years. Charmouth is best known for its beach. Recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage site, the local coastline provides an unique insight into millions of years of evolution, and of course is best known as the Jurassic Coast due to the large number of fossils that can be found on the beaches. However, the beach is not just for fossil hunters, having large areas of sand and gently shelving waters that make it an ideal family day out when the sun shines. The local cafés, shops and the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre provide food, drink, beach goods and information about the geology and fossils. Within the village Charmouth has a wide range of shops to ensure that visitors do not need to venture further afield during their stay. Everything from daily essentials, household and holiday goods, gifts, and beauty salons all available right in the village centre. A range of pubs, restaurants and cafés give a fantastic choice of refreshments from breakfast to dinner. As part of both the Jurassic Coast and in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty it is possible to lose yourself in sights, countryside and wildlife.

Beach huts are available to hire for the summer or winter seasons. They can also be hired on a daily or weekly basis between May-September. Full time residents of Charmouth Parish may enter an annual lottery for a number of huts that are made available for the summer season at 50% of the full price. These are normally located on the grass area. The lottery also includes blue huts on the beach which are restricted initially to residents with children aged under 18. The lottery takes place at the beginning of April each year. ** PLEASE NOTE THAT SEASONAL HUTS ARE FULLY BOOKED FOR THIS YEAR AND THE SUBSTANTIAL WAITING LIST IS CURRENTLY CLOSED**