In Mary Anning's Footsteps
Lyme Regis Fossil Festival & Jurassic Coast Hike
June 12-19, 2026 (8 days/7 nights)
Along England’s southern edge, sheer cliffs and shifting tides reveal stories written nearly 200 million years ago. The Jurassic Coast, England’s only natural UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a living archive of Earth’s distant past, where ammonites glitter in seaside shingle and limestone arches rise from turquoise waters.
This eight-day expedition begins in the storied seaside town of Lyme Regis, home of the world-renowned Fossil Festival. Guided by fossil expert Amy Atwater, you’ll walk in the footsteps of pioneering paleontologists, explore world-class museums, and hike dramatic coastal trails that trace the rise and fall of prehistoric seas. By week’s end, you’ll have uncovered fossils with your own hands, explored the hidden gems of inviting local museums, shared meals and stories with fellow travellers, and stood atop iconic Golden Cap – a stunning coastal perch comprised of rock from both the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods – with the English Channel stretching endlessly below.
Day 1 – Lyme Regis
Welcome to Lyme Regis, the crown jewel of Dorset’s Jurassic Coast. First, you’ll settle into the Rock Point Inn, your inviting home for the next three nights. This historic seaside town perches on cliffs layered with Early Jurassic fossils nearly 200 million years old, and where every step along the beach tells a story of prehistoric seas and long-extinct animals.
Mary Anning statue, Lyme Regis | Credit: Lovely Lyme Regis
Here, Mary Anning once combed the shoreline, unearthing creatures that reshaped science. Just west of the harbour, the Ammonite Pavement stretches out like a stony mosaic; hundreds of perfectly preserved ammonites pressed into ancient limestone, a breathtaking snapshot of life nearly 200 million years old. Monmouth Beach and the Undercliffs still yield ammonites, belemnites, and marine reptiles, making this a place of pilgrimage for fossil hunters the world over.
The iconic Cobb, the curved stone harbour wall, has sheltered sailors for centuries and inspired literary greats like Jane Austen (she was so taken with the town that it appeared in her final novel, Persuasion) and John Fowles. This evening, you’ll gather with Amy Atwater and your fellow travellers for a Welcome Dinner; a first toast to the discoveries, stories, and friendships that will unfold over the week.
Days 2-3 - Lyme Regis Fossil Festival
Dig in to two full days at the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival. Throughout the festival, the seaside streets carry a gentle buzz of curiosity as displays, talks, and walks invite you to step into prehistory.
You’ll meet leading fossil experts, as well as the artisans and authors who give voice and colour to Earth’s long lost past.
And if at any point you find you’ve had your fill of the festival for a moment, the town itself offers plenty to explore: the local aquarium showcasing Jurassic Coast marine life, the golden beaches, the colourful, iconic beach huts, and layers of British history from Georgian façades to historic harbours, each step revealing the past.
Day 4 - Lyme Regis to Bridport
After two days of Fossil Festival life, it’s time to leave Lyme Regis behind as we set out to chase prehistoric discoveries for ourselves. With Amy Atwater leading the way, we begin our trek along the Jurassic Coast, tracing the cliffs and beaches that have forever yielded discoveries that reshape our understanding of life on Earth.
View from atop Golden Cap | Credit: Lovely Lyme Regis
Our route stretches up to 8.7 miles, climbing to the famed Golden Cap, the highest point along this storied coastline at 627 feet. From here, sweeping views of the sea and cliffs stretch endlessly, a vivid reminder that we are walking a landscape shaped over millions of years. Along the way, we pause at the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre, where extraordinary fossil collections bring these ancient oceans to life.
By evening, we arrive in Bridport and from there make our way to the Premier Inn Seafront in Weymouth, where dinner awaits. It’s a chance to share stories from the day, reflect on the coastline underfoot, and imagine what Mary Anning might have felt exploring these same shores.
Day 5 - Bridport to Abbotsbury
With a good English breakfast in our bellies, we shoulder our packs once more and step out into the morning sea air, rested and ready to continue our journey. Today’s path stretches up to eight miles through rugged cliffs and untamed beaches. When Chesil Beach comes into view, it is nothing like the postcard Britain of stripy deckchairs and pastel-painted huts. Chesil is wild, raw, and entirely at the mercy of Mother Nature. Author John Fowles captured it perfectly:
Chesil Beach| Credit: James Loveridge, Visit Dorset
“It is above all an elemental place, made of sea, shingle and sky, its dominant sound always that of waves on moving stone: from the great surf and pounding … of sou’westers, to the delicate laps and back-gurgling of the rare dead calm….”
Crossing Chesil feels like stepping into Fowles’ writing, a reminder that the Earth’s power is as present today as it was when marine reptiles ruled these waters. Beyond lies The Fleet, a serene lagoon alive with birdlife, its stillness contrasting with Chesil’s restless energy. Fossil hunting remains at the heart of our journey. With Amy leading our way, our eyes are sharp for ammonites, crinoids, and the faint imprints of ancient life pressed into stone, further evidence that we are walking through an archive of worlds long vanished.
In the afternoon, an optional stop at Dorchester’s Dinosaur Museum invites you to stand before spectacular specimens and deepen your connection to the creatures that once inhabited these waters. By evening, we return to Weymouth for dinner and rest, still feeling the sea salt wind on our faces.
Day 6 - Weymouth to Lulworth
The coastline greets us once more as we lace up for what is the most ambitious stretch yet, up to 11 miles of breathtaking Jurassic coastline. We set out from Ringstead Bay, its quiet curve of sand a deceptive prelude to the grandeur ahead. On a fine day there are great views across Weymouth Bay to Portland.
As we walk, the horizon unfolds in sweeping blues and greens, each headland a gateway to another age. Then, Durdle Door rises. A towering limestone arch sculpted by eons of wind and water.
Durdle Door| Credit: James Stevens
Next, our path winds on to the geological wonders of Stair Hole and the Lulworth Crumple, where the Earth’s strata twist and fold. Amy helps us read the stone’s language: evidence of upheaval, of continents shifting, of oceans reshaping themselves again and again.
By day’s end, we make our way to Swanage and the historic Grand Hotel, perched above the sea. As twilight settles over Swanage, you’ll take the evening at your own pace, perhaps a harbour-side pint taking in the town’s evocation of nostalgic English holidays by the sea, or walk along the Victorian pier and absorb the evening calm, the steady surf, and gentle glow of Swanage at dusk.
Days 7 - Kimmeridge to Worth Matravers
After breakfast and perhaps a cuppa, we set out for the final leg of our journey along the Jurassic Coast. Today’s 7.7-mile hike carries us along cliffs and fossil-rich beaches, past stone villages tucked against the limestone outcrops, each step offering new glimpses of the coastline’s layered history.
Along the way, we step inside The Etches Collection Museum of Jurassic Marine Life, a unique, modern museum showcasing the incredible marine life of Jurassic Dorset. Known as the ‘jewel’ in the crown of the UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast, the museum houses the finest single collection of Late Jurassic fossils, most of them discovered within two miles of the museum by Steve Etches.
Here, you’ll be mesmerized by sea monsters, prehistoric predators, and the marine flora and fauna of 152–157 million years ago, when this coastline was a shallow, tropical sea. Some highlights include Britney, the Ichthyosaur ‘sea dragon’ donated by Philip Jacobs, and the Pliosaur skull featured on the BBC programme Attenborough and The Giant Sea Monster.
As dusk approaches, we gather for a Farewell Dinner, celebrating the discoveries, friendships, and stories that will travel home with you long after the cliffs and beaches fade from view.
Day 8 - Swanage to Poole / Departure
After breakfast, we transfer to Poole railway station for onward travel, but not before pausing one last time to take in the cliffs, beaches, and headlands that have been our companions for the week.
As you look back, it is a moment to reflect on your own journey. The week has been more than a series of hikes, museums, and fossil hunts. It has been a passage into prehistory itself, guided by expert hands, inspired by the curiosity of pioneers like Mary Anning, and experienced alongside fellow travellers who share your awe. You leave having traced the edges of time, tested your own endurance, and glimpsed the intricate, fragile beauty of Earth’s deep history.
Swanage, Jurassic Coast
Why You’ll Love This Expedition
- Two days exploring the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival
- Hikes along stunning cliffs, beaches, and fossil-rich terrain
- Fossil hunting and field expertise from Amy Atwater, one of palaeontology’s most engaging adventurers
- Behind-the-scenes museum access
- Small-group format for personal attention, immersive experiences, and a little camaraderie along the way
7-Day / 8-Night Expedition Rate
USD $6,990
per person based on double-occupancy
Share options available for solo travellers upon request. Single-supplement +USD$1,990.
What's Included
- All accommodations
- Daily breakfast, 3 lunches, 3 dinners
- All excursions, local transportation, and guides
- All entry fees, taxes, and permits
- Gratuities
- Departure transfers from Swanage to Poole
What's Not Included
- Airfare
- Beverages
- Transportation to Lyme Regis
- Onward travel from Poole
- Personal items such as laundry and souvenirs
- Personal Travel and Medical Evacuation Insurance
- UK Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) fees
Want to know more about this journey into England’s prehistory? Simply fill in the form below, and we’ll be in touch as soon as possible to answer any questions.