Early summer sunshine means beach and fossil hunting in our house. Head 8 miles out from Lyme Regis and you’ll find the small hamlet of Seatown, in the county of Dorset, down here in the South West of England. Seatown gives the visitor the perfect opportunity for a relaxing day trip fossil hunting or a longer stay at the Golden Cap Holiday Park. This review will give you an idea as to whether Seatown is right for you. 

If you are looking for a quieter resort with just a few amenities; a pub, picturesque beach, cliff walks and on top of that the chance to find a fossil or two this could be for you. The small costal hamlet is perfect for a relaxing day trip or a longer stay at the Golden Cap Holiday Park. If you were looking for a quieter, picture postcard village there is not much to dislike.

What is Seatown Like?

The approach road to the hamlet is narrow and mostly single track lane. There are quite a few passing spaces on route. The hamlet itself is picturesque with a number of traditional stone houses and thatched houses lining the lane. On the left as you approach the sea front you’ll pass the Golden Cap Holiday Park and a few hundred yards later the main car park.

I should say of course we are not in Devon (my usual blog subject) but in Dorset. Seatown is just over the Devon border, a place we go often so I couldn’t resist sharing this great little resort. The other point to mention is that there is a Seaton in Dorset, which is quite different, and not to be confused with.

Parking at Seatown

We saw a few cars where people had parked up on the grass verge, however the only main option is the private car park which charges a flat rate of £5 for the day, payable by card or cash. In the peak season it might be advisable to arrive early to secure parking.

What Food is Available at Seatown?

There a few options at Seatown for food. There were a couple trailers and tents on the beach itself selling food.

The Anchor Pub had an outbuilding offering pizzas, alcoholic drinks and very good ice cream. It was all good. We tried the local cider and larger, locally brewed ale was on tap. Very good £5-£6 a pint. Pizza from the pubs’ outside hut was around £10-£11. The other two catering outlets also looked like very good options, it was quite hard to choose. There was a seafood van selling crab, prawns and mackerel pate, looked very fresh.

There was also a tent offering massages and a mobile beach sauna!

Check out the food opening times and pizza hut opening on the Anchor Inn website, it is not open every day.

The Anchor Inn pub was very popular when we arrived, prior table booking is recommended for peak times in high season and the weekend. Those lucky enough to get an outside table were able to look out over the beach and sea. There menu offers a good range of food around £16 for fish and meat mains with small snack options if preferred.

Fossils at Seatown

We are not ‘serious’ fossil hunters. We did meet a local who daily checks the beach for fallen rocks and fossils. She said she often finds fossilised octopus poo! For us, it was a bit of fun to keep our geology obsessed teenager happy. Dorset is famous for finding Jurassic period fossils, the coastline being one of the best places. There are some points to note, however. The feature of the cliff is that it is constantly changing, eroding, exposing the fossils. This means cliff falls do happen, especially after storms and heavy rain. Fatalities are rare but have occurred from falling land and rocks. Never climb the cliff or walk under the cliff when it is raining, be careful if a lot of rain has recently fallen. The rock is very porous and erodes quickly. It is also illegal to ‘attack’ the cliff with any tools, we looked for lumps of clay that had fallen onto the beach.

Where to Stay in Seatown?

Golden Cap Holiday Park was a good size for those who do not like big, lively resorts. The park was very neat overall, the lodges looked clean and well maintained. The park has an enviable position looking out with sea views, many of their lodges would have a direct uninterrupted sea view. The park itself is 150 yards from the beach itself and therefore also right on the South West coastal path for those who are keen walkers. Golden Cap Holiday Park comes highly rated on Tripadvisor with many guests returning year after year.

Q&As on Seatown

Are there public toilets in Seatown?	Yes there are public toilets including a disabled access toilet, in a building in front of the Ancor Pub.
Can you swim at Seatown is the beach private?	The beach is privately owned by the National Trust and is an area of outstanding natural beauty. There is no cost to access the beach and you can swim. There is no lifeguard on duty. The area has few amenities, there no place to shower
When can you buy food?	Check out the Anchor Inn website for opening times of their Pizza hut opening and to book a table to dine in their restaurant. Three are two other pubs within walking distance. See below.

Pubs Withing Walking Distance to Seatown

The Clock House Pub and The George Inn, bith are in Chideock – a 20 minute walk from Seatown.