The pub is said to serve the best seafood
Nancy Connolly Senior news and features reporter
05:00, 18 May 2025
It’s just close enough for a day trip(Image: Getty Images )
A coastal village in the West Country boasts a pretty beach where you can drive your car right on to the seashore. Along the Bristol Channel there are some stunning stretches of coastline, including Weston, Clevedon and Sandy Bay.
But for people happy to venture a bit further, the stunning setting of Seatown in Dorset might still be close enough for a day trip. Located an hour and 50 minutes away by car, it is described by Visit Dorset tourism board as a “little-known beach providing some incredible views of the coastline”.
You can park up on the shingle and either head straight for the beach or take one of the magnificent cliff walks with incredible views over Golden Cap and beyond, as recommended by Somerset Live back in 2023.
There is a great pub right on the sea called The Anchor Inn with beautiful seafood where you can sip a glass of wine and eat fresh fish while enjoying the fantastic views daytime or evening. One recent reviewer wrote on Google that they had enjoyed “one of the best fish and chips I’ve ever had” there.
In high summer there is a pizza oven right on the beach and a cafe shack serving great coffee. Another Google reviewer, visiting five months ago in low season, wrote: “A beautiful beach on the Jurassic coastline, a Dorset hidden gem!! If you can find it? As you drive through Chideock, turn into Duck Lane, then follow the road to the end.
“There is lots of parking, £8 for a day. A pub and kiosk, that serves drinks and food.” Though they weren’t too impressed with the toilets during their visit, they still described it as a “great base to walk from along the coastline” and said the water was “crystal clear”.
If you want to make a holiday of the trip there is a lovely campsite right on the beach with picnic areas and grocery shop. Seatown is not as busy as its neighbour Lyme Regis and others have recommended it as being ideal for fossil hunting in a quieter spot.
This article was first published in 2023 and has been updated for 2025