West Bay Harbour/Bridport Harbour
West Bay is a small settlement built around West Bay harbour. West Bay Harbour is a small man made harbour built to protect the boats needed to transport products from the small inland market town of Bridport to other parts of the country and overseas. Bridport was an important town for rope production and therefore needed to be able to transport its produce. Bridport Harbour is an alternate name for West Bay harbour - both referring to the same harbour. As well as providing a safe harbour for fishing boats and a base for West Bay boat trips, there are also West Bay moorings for pleasure boats and berths for visitors.
West Bay beaches and clifftop walks
West Bay is built around its harbour, on either side of West Bay harbour are the two beaches, East beach and West beach and above them are the two cliffs. To the east is the dramatic golden coloured cliff, a steep walk takes you to the top where there is a golf course and the coastpath that heads towards Burton Bradstock. The cliff on the other side at West beach takes you in the direction of Eype. With fantastic views back across West bay as you make your way up.
West Bay Beaches
The two beaches of West bay are of shingle formation and popular with holidaymakers and locals alike. East beach is perhaps the most scenic with the fantastic sheer golden cliffs that sit behind the beach and tends to be more popular. West beach is a little quieter. An interesting sight often occuring on West Bay beach is the appearance of hundreds of whitebait appearing washed up on the beach - this occurs as larger fish chase them inshore causing hundreds to wash up along the shoreline. West Bay fishing is a popular hobby.
Pub, places to eat in West Bay and West Bay boat trips
Where to eat in West Bay? There are a couple of cafes and pubs located in West Bay. All around West Bay harbour there are food huts selling all sorts of takeaway food, Fish and Chips, Burgers, Doughnuts and pretty much anything else you could want. In season there are a number of boat trips from West Bay harbour available. Or on the other side of the road, there is West bay rowing boats for hire on the river Brit that empties into the harbour.
West Bay on the TV
West Bay has found itself on the screen on a number of occasions over the years. West Bays most famous appearance is as the location for much of the popular Broadchurch series but West Bay also featured as the setting for Harbour Lights a few years ago while the shingle beach was the location used for the Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin introduction scene.
West Bay parking
West Bay is extremely popular in season, parking in West Bay can be a challenge but are a number of pay and display carparks including around West Bay harbour, just off the beach and at the old Railway station, where toilets are also situated.
Bridport
Bridport can be found a short drive inland, Bridport is one of Dorset's market towns and West Bay was built originally as a harbour to enable the town to transport its products by sea. Bridport high-street has plenty of shops, pubs and cafes and the Bridport museum which is free entry details the history of both West Bay and Bridport.
Bridport Rope making
Bridport is particularly renowned for its rope making, it was once responsible for producing much of the rope used in the shipping industry as well as that used to make the hangman's noose hence its alternative name - the Bridport Dagger. Bridport and West Bay is a little under an hours drive away from Weymouth and is also only a short drive away from Lyme Regis with its famous stone Cobb and beautiful sandy beach as well as the fossil hunting haven of Charmouth.
Places to stay in West Bay
Places to stay in West Bay are plentiful as would be expected of a popular Dorset holiday resort. From self catering options, there is the large West Bay caravan site, holiday cottages in West Bay and the surrounding areas as well as bed and breakfasts. If you are looking for campsites around West Bay, there are plenty of those too.
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