Weymouth

Weymouth sits where the Dorset coast curves into a wide, sheltered bay, its long sandy beach backed by a run of Georgian terraces in pale stone and pastel render. Behind the seafront the land rises and falls in the chalk and limestone hills that carry the Jurassic Coast in either direction, while the causeway to Portland stretches out to the south, a great tongue of rock jutting into the Channel. It is a town shaped by that geography as much as by its Georgian past, with harbour, beach and cliff all within easy reach of each other.

Most visitors stay close to the seafront or around the harbour, where guesthouses and small hotels fill the Georgian terraces looking out over the bay. Options range from simple B&Bs like Aaran House and Barness Rest to places such as Acqua Beach and the Alexandra Hotel, with others like Alendale and Bayliss Hall Guesthouse a little further back from the front. It is a compact town, so wherever you settle, the beach, harbour and old town are usually a short walk away.

The beach itself is the obvious draw, a long stretch of golden sand that has drawn holidaymakers for generations, and Nothe Fort stands guard above the harbour mouth with views out over the bay. Beyond the town, the coastline offers plenty of variety: the Portland Plateau Walk follows the cliffs of the Isle of Portland, Ringstead Bay is a quieter stretch of shore to the east, and Bowleaze Cove sits just along the coast from Weymouth itself. Further west, Abbotsbury adds its Subtropical Gardens and centuries-old Swannery, while an Alpaca Experience with Cream Tea offers something different inland.

Eating out in Weymouth runs from the quick and casual to the more considered. A&J Kebab House and Caffeine44 suit a fast bite between beach and harbour, while The Elm Tree Inn and The Pickled Pear offer a more traditional pub or restaurant setting. Aon Thai Kitchen brings some spice to the town's menu, and places like The Tin Cat and W&P PPGs round out a scene that covers most tastes without straying far from the seafront.

It is this combination of sand, sea and old stone that gives Weymouth its character, a working harbour town that has kept its Georgian good looks while the coast around it does the more dramatic work of cliffs and coves.