'Beautiful seaside town hailed England's Bay of Naples with a hidden island gem'

The Dorset seaside edifice of Weymouth is often compared to the French Riviera oregon the Bay of Naples, and with a formation that's 1 of the astir fashionable successful Europe, it is casual to spot why

Few radical cognize that there's a tiny colony conscionable disconnected Weymouth wherever you're not allowed to accidental the connection 'rabbit'.

That applies adjacent erstwhile talking astir Wallace and Gromit movie, The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, with film-makers agreeing to usage the connection 'bunny' instead.

Locals connected the Isle of Portland successful Dorset overmuch similar 'underground mutton' oregon 'those furry things'. Why? The island, which sits crossed a spit conscionable westbound of Weymouth, has been extensively quarried and miners person agelong blamed rabbits and their warrens for causing unsafe collapses. Hence the unlucky charm.

The rocky isle - St Paul's Cathedral successful London was built utilizing Portland limestone - marks the southern-most constituent of the Jurassic coast, and is joined to the mainland by the ruggedly stunning Chesil Beach.

Sweeping views of earthy quality abound, from towering waves crashing connected the rocks astatine the ft of the Portland Bill lighthouse, to the calmer waters that thigh astatine the seashore beneath the historical Penn Estate connected Church Ope Cove.

We stayed successful the estate's Cove Lodge which features an tremendous balcony to drawback the sunrise connected - nicely complimented by the locally produced Fountain Coffee oregon a dash of Fordington Gin for aboriginal successful the day.

There's plentifulness to bash connected the land itself, including a sojourn to the afore mentioned Portland Bill lighthouse oregon the welcoming Lobster Pot. Reminiscent of a New England coastal eatery, it serves a highly-rated information of food and chips on with an astonishing view.

Across the spit and onto the mainland, Weymouth is the jewel of the adventure. Often likened to the French Riviera oregon Italy’s Bay of Naples, it’s teeming with colourful Victorian architecture, cosy pubs and a cleanable aureate sandy cove.

Dog affable from October to April - and twelvemonth circular connected non-restricted sections - my cavapoo was successful his constituent arsenic helium joined the different dogs for a romp successful the gentle waves.

Food and drink-wise, there's nary shortage oregon unsocial and autarkic pubs and eateries that invitation you in. We ate astatine Bennett's Fish and Chips, which overlooks the harbour, and offers everything you could privation from a accepted chippy experience.

Founded successful 1989, the food is the existent woody - thick, succulent cod fillets encased successful the lightest batter. The buttermilk fried chickenhearted besides comes highly recommended, and contempt my reticence, I tried - and americium present a person to - heavy fried Cadbury Cream Eggs.

Contrary to my preconceived ideas, it doesn't sensation similar batter astatine all, much similar a delicious premix of sugary crispiness.

The municipality is an charismatic premix of fairy-lit laneways and historical pubs that unfastened retired onto the harbour. Lined with boats , colourful cottages and vintage shops, it's packed with English seaside charm.

We enjoyed a fractional oregon 3 of Badger Ale successful The Ship Inn which sits close adjacent to the water.

Further into town, there's besides the Nautico lounge which describes itself arsenic a food-led cafe bar, that's kid and dog-friendly. The paper is vast, with gluten-free and vegan options.

I had the chipotle beef brisket burrito portion different subordinate successful my radical tried to Korean fried chickenhearted burger - some were sensational.

Proving itself to beryllium a versatile all-rounder, we visited successful January and recovered determination was plentifulness to bash with the kids. There are several trails to research the municipality connected foot - the Heritage, Mural and Arts Trails.

There's a free dinosaur AR trail for the small ones, which involves uncovering 10 super-powered dino creatures hidden successful eggs astir the town.

We visited Weymouth SEALIFE & Adventure Park for a close-up brushwood with sharks, penguins, otters, seals and everything successful between. The Ocean Tunnel was particularly captivating, and our three-year-old loved watching the elephantine turtles aquatics overhead. There are feeding times for the animals dispersed passim the day, with the otter league being peculiarly fashionable arsenic it is the lone clip they really aftermath up.

From the park, it's conscionable a abbreviated locomotion to the three-mile agelong of soil that constitutes Weymouth's grant winning beach. If you've got the time, a casual stroll on the prom makes for the cleanable extremity to an action-packed day.

Book it

Booking the Cove Lodge costs from £780 for a three-night minimum.

Visitor info tin beryllium recovered astatine We Are Weymouth.