West Bay: Harbour Heritage, Jurassic Coast History and Dorset’s Coastal Past
Explore West Bay’s History. From Fishing Boats and Rope-Making to the Jurassic Coast
Whether you’re staying in one of our Dorset holiday cottages or simply visiting for the day, at first glance West Bay is all about the harbour, the beaches and those famous golden cliffs. For centuries, West Bay served as the harbour for nearby Bridport, a town that became internationally renowned for its rope and net-making industry. The harbour was vital to exporting those goods across Britain and beyond, helping connect this small corner of Dorset with the wider world. Nearby Bridport is also well worth exploring, with its historic streets, twice-weekly markets and fascinating rope-making heritage adding another layer to the area’s story.
If you’d like to learn more about the area’s past before heading out to explore, the West Bay Discovery Centre is well worth a visit. Overlooking the harbour, it tells the story of West Bay’s fishing heritage, the Jurassic Coast, local wildlife, and the community that has shaped the harbour over the centuries. It’s one of those places many visitors walk past without realising what’s inside, yet it offers a fascinating insight into how West Bay evolved from a small fishing harbour into one of Dorset’s best-loved coastal destinations.
Explore West Bay’s Heritage & History
Abbotsbury Abbey Site
St Catherine's Chapel
14th-century hilltop chapel with panoramic views over Chesil Beach.
West Bay Discovery Centre
Award-winning visitor centre with local stories, exhibitions, guided walks and family-friendly displays.
Abbotsbury Castle Earthworks
Ancient hillfort overlooking the Fleet and Chesil Beach.
West Bay’s Jurassic Coast and Dorset’s Historic Landmarks
Perhaps the most remarkable history here goes back much further than the harbour itself. The dramatic cliffs surrounding West Bay form part of Dorset’s UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast, revealing millions of years of geological history in their towering rock layers. Standing beneath them, it’s hard not to feel awe. Many visitors now recognise the golden cliffs from the television series Broadchurch, which brought West Bay to an international audience, but for us, they remain among the most impressive natural landmarks in Dorset.
One of the great advantages of staying in West Bay is that you’re also within easy reach of some of Dorset’s most fascinating historic destinations. Abbotsbury lies just along the coast, where you can explore more than 1,000 years of history at its Benedictine Abbey, St Catherine’s Chapel and famous Swannery. Lyme Regis offers a different chapter in Dorset’s story, with its links to pioneering fossil hunter Mary Anning. Meanwhile, Weymouth and Portland are around 40 minutes away, offering everything from the Tudor defences of Portland Castle and the Victorian tunnels of Nothe Fort to the fascinating story of Dorset’s role in the D-Day landings.
Frequently Asked Questions
West Bay is famous for its dramatic Jurassic Coast cliffs, historic harbour, fishing heritage, and as the filming location for the ITV drama Broadchurch. It is one of Dorset’s most recognisable coastal destinations.
Yes. West Bay has served as the harbour for nearby Bridport for centuries. Fishing boats still operate from the harbour, helping to preserve its traditional maritime character.
Historically, West Bay served as Bridport’s port and harbour. Bridport became internationally known for producing ropes and nets, many of which were exported via West Bay to destinations across Britain and beyond.
Yes. The West Bay Discovery Centre offers an excellent introduction to the area’s history, fishing heritage, Jurassic Coast geology and wildlife. Situated beside the harbour, it’s a great place to start if you’d like to learn more about West Bay before exploring the coastline and surrounding area.
Yes. West Bay Harbour and the surrounding cliffs were prominent throughout Broadchurch. The series helped introduce West Bay to visitors from around the world.
Yes. West Bay sits directly on Dorset’s UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast and is among the most spectacular places to experience this remarkable stretch of coastline.
Yes. The Jurassic Coast is world-famous for its fossils and geological history. Fossils can occasionally be found on the beaches after storms, but visitors should always follow local safety advice and avoid unstable cliffs.
Nearby historic attractions include the West Bay Discovery Centre, Bridport Museum, Abbotsbury Abbey, St Catherine’s Chapel, Abbotsbury Swannery, and Lyme Regis, closely associated with the famous fossil hunter Mary Anning.
Bridport is renowned for its rope- and net-making industry, which supplied the Royal Navy and maritime industries for centuries. The town is also known for its markets, arts scene and historic character.
Absolutely. West Bay combines spectacular coastal scenery, a working harbour, Jurassic Coast heritage, beautiful walks, and easy access to some of Dorset’s most fascinating historic destinations.
The cliffs around West Bay form part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, revealing millions of years of geological history. They are among the most photographed landscapes in Dorset.
Abbotsbury is about 8 miles away and can usually be reached in about 15 minutes by car, making it an easy day trip from West Bay.
If you are staying in one of our Weymouth holiday cottages, Weymouth is about 18 miles from West Bay and can usually be reached in 35 to 40 minutes by car. Portland is slightly further and offers fascinating historic attractions, including Portland Castle, Portland Bill, the D-Day Centre and the former naval dockyard at Castletown.