Monmouth Beach is home to the Ammonite Pavement, a limestone ledge at its western end packed with thousands of fossil ammonites — many dinner-plate-sized, some up to 70cm across — that's exposed only at low tide. The ledge records a sea 199 million years ago, and the Natural History Museum describes nothing else like it for so many big ammonites in one place. The rest of the beach is fossil ground too: ammonites, belemnites and fragments of ichthyosaur turn up among the pebbles below the cliffs, and at low tide the rock ledges open into hundreds of pools. The name carries its own history. The Duke of Monmouth landed beside the Cobb on 11 June 1685 to launch his rebellion against James II, and after its defeat at Sedgemoor, twelve local men were executed on this beach on Judge Jeffreys' orders during the Bloody Assizes. Monmouth Beach is also where the coast path leaves Lyme Regis for the Axmouth to Lyme Regis Undercliffs National Nature Reserve.
You'll mostly find fossil hunters and rockpoolers working the ledges at low tide, along with dog walkers and coast path walkers heading west towards the Undercliffs — everyone keeping clear of the cliff base, where landslips come down.
Monmouth Beach is pebble rather than sand, and it gets rougher the further west you go: rocky outcrops and loose boulders take over towards the Ammonite Pavement at the far end. This is a beach for sturdy shoes and an hour or two of exploring, not for a day of sunbathing.
The nearest food and drink options sit on the Harbour end of the beach including:
Cobb Arms: This historic pub is located near the famous Cobb harbour and serves up delicious pub grub and local ales. It also has a lovely outdoor seating area with views of the harbour.
Beach House Cafe: This family-run cafe is located right on the beach and serves up breakfast, lunch and snacks. It also has a lovely outdoor seating area where you can enjoy views of the sea.
Easy - car park right beside the beach; pebbles and boulders further west.
Dogs welcome all year
Monmouth Beach is home to the Ammonite Pavement, a limestone ledge at its western end packed with thousands of fossil ammonites, some up to 70cm across. It's exposed only at low tide and can be reached only by walking along the beach.
Around low tide. The sea covers Monmouth Beach at high water, so set out on a falling tide, especially if you're walking to the Ammonite Pavement at the far end, and check tide times before you go.
The main dangers at Monmouth Beach are the cliffs and the tide. Ware Cliff behind the beach is an active landslip, so keep away from its base, and the beach floods at high tide, so plan your walk around low water.
Yes. Dogs are allowed off lead on Monmouth Beach all year round, unlike Lyme Regis's main Front Beach, where they're excluded from 1 May to 30 September. They need to be on a lead in the council car parks.
Monmouth Beach and Cabanya car parks (DT7 3LE), run by Lyme Regis Town Council, sit right beside Monmouth Beach with 282 spaces between them. Holmbush car park (DT7 3HX) on the hill above is the long-stay alternative.
Monmouth Beach is named after the Duke of Monmouth, who landed beside the Cobb on 11 June 1685 to launch his rebellion against James II. After the rebellion failed, twelve local men were executed on the beach.
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