West Bay
West Bay DT6
The fishing harbour of West Bay is of interest primarily for its fine shingle and sand beach sheltered by dominant red sandstone cliffs. This was the dramatic setting for the TV series Broadchurch where David Tennant's brooding persona tried to solve a murder after a boy was pushed from the cliffs. The cliffs themselves attract walkers along the dramatic coastal path, while the wide beach is popular with children building sandcastles and exploring rock pools. The harbour is bustling, and very much a working port rather than a picturesque beauty spot, a jarring mixture of ugly seaside flats and a few remaining terraces of fishermen’s cottages squeezed between two concrete piers. Still, for a genuinely traditional day out at the seaside, there’s no shortage of ice cream kiosks, souvenir stalls, children crabbing, and colourful boats – many advertising mackerel-fishing trips – bobbing in the harbour.
