This is a varied and scenic walk including sea and country with good views, some woodland and the possibility of refreshments both during and at the end of the walk. One quite steep hill through the woodland, a couple of more gentle rises. The woodland and Eype Down have the bonus of a spectacular show of bluebells in the spring.
Directions
From the Cottage go down into Lyme Regis then take the Charmouth road to roundabout and take 3rd exit (signed Dorchester). Go through Morecombelake and Chideock and shortly after the 1st turning on the left to Bridport take the right turn marked Eype and immediately turn left and into the car park.
The Walk
Walk back to the car park entrance and turn left along road. Follow road round to the left and just past the sign “Lower Eype to the beach”, climb steps on the right and into a field (footpath sign).
Follow the right-hand hedge, with the cross on the top of church visible ahead, over a stile in the corner of the field. Take the road straight ahead (signed Eype) uphill past St.Peters Church (now an arts centre). Just past the church go over a stile on the left and follow the path. At the end of the path turn right and follow road 50 yards downhill before turning left at the Parish Council noticeboard (footpath sign).
Follow the path to the left of the white house ahead and when you emerge on to a road, turn right and after about 40 yards take the holiday park permissive footpath to beach on the left (signed). Follow this path down steps on right and over bridge on to beach.
Leaving the beach, climb the steps on your left and follow path until you meet a road. Go straight ahead passing Eype House Tea Gardens on left. When the road turns right at the bottom of the hill, turn left into track to the left of house (follow National Trust sign to Down House Farm). At end of the track go over stile and take the footpath slightly right up field through a gate and straight ahead through another gate. Cross the next field aiming slightly to the right of the large stone house at the edge of woods ahead, through another gate and follow path to gate and stile in left-hand corner of field ahead. Go through and turn left.
Pass, or stop at, Down House Farm Cafe on right. If not stopping, carry on up the track ahead and take the 1st turning on right (signed Eype Down) and immediately turn left towards a gate ahead. Just before the gate turn right up steps and into woods to a gate with good view.
Follow path uphill from gate, past a footpath marker and just past the top of the hill take path to left. Follow this path and fork left and shortly fork right and keep right on the now wider path.
Keep following this wide path around the side of the hill, down and round a left-hand bend and then round to the right, follow down keeping to right towards the A35. Just before the road, turn right on to a country lane, with Eype Down to the right.
Follow this road, ignoring any side turns for 20/25 minutes until you arrive at a T junction. Turn left here and go 100 yards back to the car park on the right, where you can usually get food and drink from the kiosk at the centre (toilets also available here).