Summary
Breakfast at The Hix Townhouse
The following morning at the Hix Townhouse, I was awakened by a gentle knocking at the door – breakfast was delivered!
Breakfast was presented in a picnic box featuring freshly baked muffins, cheese pastries, fresh juice, yoghurts (including a salted caramel option which I greatly appreciated), and muesli.
Fossil Hunting Expedition
After breakfast, we proceeded to Charmouth Beach, not to bask in the sun, but to embark on a quest for fossils!
At this location (and along the coastline), numerous impressive fossils have been discovered, ranging from dinosaur bones to ammonites. This is one of the many reasons the Jurassic Coast holds such significance in England, and I was eager to uncover a sizable T-Rex… or perhaps a Velociraptor… or even a triceratops (I wasn’t particularly selective, as long as my discovery warranted a feature in National Geographic).
In reality, one must note that you are not the first individual to scour this beach, making such findings rather rare. That said, detecting fossils is not an impossible task. The waves continuously erode these shores, dismantling the cliffs and unveiling fossils dating back approximately 190 million years!
Our fossil hunting was coordinated through Jurassic Coast Guides. Initially, I was uncertain of the necessity for an official guide (Lloyd was fully enthusiastic about the prospect of finding fossils, even more so than I was), but it became evident that having an expert significantly enhances the experience.
A considerable advantage of having a guide is the initial lack of knowledge regarding what to identify during your first hunt. With experience, your understanding will evolve; however, in the beginning, differentiating between significant fossils and irregularly shaped rocks can be challenging.
Your fossil hunting begins with a brief informational session outlining notable fossils to search for – ammonites, belemnites, crinoids, and fossilized dinosaur excrement are particularly good finds and relatively simple to recognize. Occasionally, other bones, such as that of an Ichthyosaurus found shortly before our visit, can also be unearthed, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a vigilant eye.
Once we arrived at the beach, time passed rapidly as we eagerly searched for our own fossils.
(*Please note: Exercise caution regarding which sections of the beach to explore, particularly near cliff edges. The risk of falling debris makes it hazardous.)
Dining at Watch House Café
After an eventful day of fossil hunting, we were pleased with our discoveries (including ammonites, belemnites, and crinoids, dating back over 100 million years) and were eager to return for further explorations in the future. We made our way to the Watch House Café in West Bay to celebrate with lunch!
Here, we enjoyed a generous seafood platter that exceeded my expectations, followed by fish bites and classic fish and chips. Admittedly, I may have overeaten during lunch, yet the quality of the food left me with no regrets!
West Bay, on my radar for quite some time, is especially notable for its dramatic cliffs, famously featured in the British television drama, Broadchurch. While I haven’t yet watched Broadchurch, I have been aware of its acclaim among viewers and have intended to view it eventually.
Undeniably, my exploration of this captivating English locale presented the perfect opportunity to offset my indulgence at lunch (culminating in a delightful trifle, in addition to everything else, due to the allure of dessert!).
Upon departing West Bay, the aftermath of my invigorating lunch soon led to a nap by the fireplace at the Hix Townhouse. In all honesty, it perfectly complemented the beginning of the rainy afternoon we experienced shortly after our return.
A delightful dinner was held that evening at the Seaside Boarding House.
Originally, our plan was to have dinner; however, we were lured by the bar on our way to the restaurant, eventually deciding to commence our evening with cocktails. I opted for a Bramble cocktail while Lloyd chose a Singapore Sling.
Our appetizer selections included a crab and avocado salad for me, which was delightful, and for Lloyd, roasted garlic, goat’s curd, and beetroot crostini. The latter turned out to be so enjoyable that none remained on his plate, including portions of garlic that I suspect were not intended for consumption.
For our main courses, I selected steak while Lloyd opted for the hake.
After savoring tea and additional glasses of wine, we decided to conclude our day with satisfying reflections, appreciating the wonderful meal we enjoyed. It genuinely makes the effort of finding a fine dining establishment remarkably worthwhile.
