Although I’m feeling blue about the end of the summer holidays, I am grateful for the opportunity to blog a little more than I have done over the last few weeks.

With the children back at school this morning, the house feels eerily quiet and our trip to Dorset is already a distant memory.

So, rather than admit that autumn is just around the corner, I’m going to transport you all back to the end of July when our days were filled with sun {sort of}, sand and sea! Charmouth wasn’t the only beach we visited during our stay in Dorset. My parents’ house is a short walk from West Bay, so we made multiple trips to enjoy everything it has to offer.

As you can see from the pictures in this post, the weather was different each time we made our way down to the water.

We spent a blustery afternoon chasing waves…

…. a distinctly chilly morning catching crabs on the old pier…

… and a blissfully sunny day frolicking on the sand and in the sea…

West Bay also boasts a great playground and some fabulous places to eat. As well as sampling fish and chips from one of the countless kiosks next to the pier, we also visited Watch House Cafe.

My tempura hake fillet with triple cooked chips was delicious and I’d love to go back and try some of their wood fired pizzas one day. Although it’s a little pricey, the cafe is ideal if the weather isn’t on your side. I’m not one for all-weather eating outdoors!

Away from the beach, Bridport itself is a vibrant place brimming with things to do. The twice weekly market is always a delight and the children really enjoyed exploring the local museum.

My mum lead us on a walk through Jellyfields, a local nature reserve that we hadn’t visited before.

Although we made full use of my parents’ kitchen, we did enjoy the odd meal out. Dinner at The Beach and Barnicott featured some of the best scallops I’ve ever tasted and pizza at The Stable was fantastic. If you like a delicious veggie topping, you should try the ‘Bucky Doo’. Named after the square next to Bridport Town Hall, it features herb roasted potato, Dorset Blue Vinney cheese, roasted Spanish onions, English spinach, fresh tomato sauce and mozzarella.

Breakfast at Soulshine Cafe was another highlight, especially as it’s the perfect place to visit with children. The poached eggs were out of this world and any establishment that offers ‘Builder’s Tea’ alongside the usual fancy blends is guaranteed to win my heart.

Every time we visit Bridport, we seem to find something else to love about the place. Mr L.A. shot a little film to document our most recent trip and I think it perfectly captures our affection for this particular corner of Dorset.

Have you ever visited Bridport or West Bay? How are you feeling about the imminent onset of autumn?!

Love Audrey xxx