Dorset Day 4 - Lyme Regis

Day 4 and we visited the historical seaside town of Lyme Regis which is just beautiful from the moment you descend the massive hill down towards the town/harbour area. It had only taken us 4 days but we finally found a beach with sand on it rather than stones and I have to say it was heavenly to have sand between your toes.

In Lyme Regis we started the day off with a walk around the harbour and then we visited the small aquarium whee the kids all got to hand feed some trained mullet (except Holly who was too scared to put her hand in the tank). Once we had finished in the aquarium we pretty much spent the whole day messing around on the sandy beach and eating ice-cream.

The harbour wall is quite high and provides an excellent platform for jumping off in to the crystal clear waters below. Even Holly braved the habour wall jump, but then thats no surpise given that she jumps off of the lock walls when we go out canoeing.

The weather just started to turn for the worse mid afternoon so we headed back to West Bay where the kids did some more crabbing, arcades and funfair and we got to enjoy our first Dorset cheesy chips and Dorset apple cake with ice cream (to die for).

The historic Lyme Regis habour.

Me, Brandon and Holly up on the harbour wall looking down on Tina and Josh.

Loads of fish and mullet in the harbour region.

Looking back at Lyme Regis from the habour wall.

Brandon up on the wall and with the sun in his eyes!

Is that the "sketchiest" stair case you have ever seen????

Brandon getting a tickling sensation hand feeding a tank of mullet fish.

Whilst this was a good experience for the kids, I can't believe it is good for so many mullet to be crammed in to one tank.

Joshua feeding the mullet.

Holly wasn't brave enough so she dropped the fish food in from above.

All 3 kiddies feeding a tank of hungry mullet fish.

Would you put your hand in that????

Also in the aquarium were a few dog fish.

Some lobsters and crabs.

Beautiful colours.

This flat fish was stuck to the glass and looked really horrible. You could pretty much see right through it.

Playing peek-a-boo in the shell holes.

More beautiful colours on this fish, dodgy eyes though!

A baby lobster (otherwise known as dinner).

Outside the aquarium the kids got their picture taken with a giant crab.

Then Brandon's turn.

Holly wasn't sure about this and needed Tina to stand along side her.

Finally we find a sandy beach and the boys jump in the sea to cool off.

Holly was happy making sand castles instead of stone castles.

The two boys were playing with Joshua's new beach rugby ball that he bought in Portland Lighthouse.

Lovely to see them playing together for once!

Meanwhile Holly was still happy playing in the sand.

Can you believe there are waters this crystal clear in the UK?

This was taken off of the habour wall and you can see all the way to the bottom.

Joshua was first to brave jumping off of the harbour wall in to the sea.

Look before you leap.

None of the kids would brave a head first dive, so it was time for me to step up to the plate and shown them how it is done.

Brandon taking a running jump.

Joshua doing a dive bomb.

And even Holly was brave enough to leap in to the sea.

Synchronized diving by the boys.

All 3 kids had such fun jumping off of the habour wall.

One giant step for mankind....

Some old canons decorate the harbour wall.

Don't ask what Joshua is doing here.

In the evening we caught tonnes of crabs again and let them all out on a deck at once.

It took us until day 4, but we discovered a gem in Dorset - their apple pie/cake.

And cheesy chips.

Brandon won this pink flamingo teddy for Holly from the hook a duck game at the fun fair.

It was worrying how confident and natural Joshua looked shooting an air rifle.

Last ride on the waltzer before heading home tomorrow.

Dorset Day 3 - Portland Lighthouse, Chesil Beach and Wonderland Circus

Day 3 of out holiday and we decided to head out of West Bay and explore some other parts of Dorset. So we headed out towards Weymouth direction with a plan to visit Portland Lighthouse with a stop over at the Olympic sailing rings on the way. On the drive to Portland we also spotted some lovely looking beaches and decided to stop off on the way home at Chisel beach which was only about 15 minutes away from where we was staying.

The Olympic rings were amazing and such a stunning view as they are at the highest point in Portland literally just as you cross over to the island. Portland lighthouse was also incredible and in such a beautiful part of the world. We spent quite a bit of time just walking around the area, climbing rocks, taking in the coast line and then stopped for a picnic.

Chisel beach was again very stony like West Bay but it was very quiet so we decided to stop off for a swim. In the end we didn't stay too long as the coastline here was riddled with little jelly fish.

We had timed our visit to Dorset perfectly because not only did we have the funfair, but the Wonderland Circus was also in town. This is pretty rare for 2020 as a lot of council's have not approved circus's to open/perform so we were very fortunate to catch this. The circus wasn't the greatest we have seen in terms of dangerous feats, but the clown and the ring master were absolutely fantastic and had us all in stitches.

After an hour or so in the car we finally arrive at the Olympic Rings in Portland.

Beautiful views from on top of the hill.

There is also a memorial for veterans of WW1 and WW2.

Me trying to be fancy with the photography by getting some flowers in the Olympic ring picture.

More views from on top of the hill.

There is also this weird Stone Henge type feature near the Olympic rings. The rocks also have fossils which you can view.

Josh and Brandon really didn't want to smile for the photo's today.

One of the fossils we found in one of the large rocks.

This weird looking castle type building is also just behind the rings and the memorial.

Front view of the memorial.

Another 15 mins up the road and we arrive at Portland Lighthouse.

Again stunning views of the coastline around the Lighthouse.

Another rare family picture of us on holiday.

Joshua desperately seeking somewhere to jump in the water.

Snack time for Holly.

Another view of the Lighthouse.

Exploring the area around the Lighthouse.

Doesn't he look happy????

Joshua adding his stone to the Portland Bill stone pile.

Then Brandon adding his stone.

And finally Holly finding space for her little stone.

We made our contribution to Portland Bill.

Tina and Brandon navigating some rocky terrain.

Just look at that rockery and water.

Despite the warning about climbing this at your own risk, it was like red rag to a bull for me. Tina was not happy.

My argument was that if they didn't want you to climb it, they would not have foot holes and it would be roped off.

So I climbed all the way to the top.

Tina chilling with the lighthouse behind her in the background.

Stopping off at Chisel beach on the way home.

The kids were very quick to enter the water, until they realised there was loads of jelly fish.

Still no big waves for any body boarding.

Brandon still gave the body boarding a try.

Holly playing in the stony beach.

Joshua was trying to clear the beach by catching some of the jelly fish and burying them.

I spent more time blowing up Holly's unicorn than what she actually spent using it in the water.

Such a happy little girl.

Caught on camera again, Brandon tryin to make an escape.

No sand, no problem. Bury them in stones instead.

My shadow looks like it is holding Brandon's head.

Then Holly's turn to be covered in stones.

Love this picture.

In the evening we had a great time at Wonderland Circus where Holly bought a spinning light up Unicorn thingy.

Only half capacity with lots of empty seat to allow social distancing.

First out was a juggler.

Who soon moved on to juggling fire.