Lyme Regis will always have a special place in our hearts, it’s a seaside spot we return to again and again. And after overnight travel got the green light from the Government we were on the road south at the crack of dawn.

Those long lockdown days made holidays feel like a distant dream, but boy did it feel REALLY good to go somewhere new once the rules were eased.

I’d pushed for Cornwall but my super sensible partner reasoned that everyone else would have that idea too.

“It’ll be too crowded,” he said. And as scenes of queues down the M5 at Bristol made news headlines, he was proved (annoyingly) right.

The compromise, we agreed, would be lovely Lyme Regis, where we’ve spent plenty of long weekends but never a whole week.

We found a characterful apartment with wonderful sea views, just on the high street or Broad Street as it’s known.

Author Jane Austen is rumoured to have stayed here and with ancient exposed beams the lovely spot has a wonderfully historic atmosphere.

We booked it through friendly local firm Lyme Bay Holidays and as we were the first to stay there for months, we even got a super early arrival slot of midday which was amazing.

Our first stop in Lyme is virtually always the 13th century Cobb. The wonderful spot where The French Lieutenant’s Woman and Ammonite were filmed, surrounds you with waves, lungfuls of intoxicating sea air and a cracking view.

Standing at the tip, staring out at cliffs, the harbour and town beyond mapped out a week of fun ahead of us and sent a shiver of excitement through my soul.

You’re spoilt for choice with plentiful beaches along this lovely stretch of coastline, with sandy Exmouth, pebbly Budleigh Salterton, Beer, Branscombe and dramatic Sidmouth all less than an hour away, but for me Lyme Regis is the jewel in the coastal crown because (and whisper it) it attracts a nicer bunch of people.

Exmouth can be brash and somewhat tacky with its amusements, Beer and Branscombe are a pain to get to with narrow winding lanes, Sidmouth too crowded and while Budleigh is beautiful and quieter, sometimes you just want to feel sand between your toes, not agonisingly stumbling over stones in the dash to the sea.

And so we made a plan to discover all the very best bits of the town, to share with you!

1. The Town Mill Bakery - A visit to Lyme isn’t complete without a stop off at this unpretentious, outstandingly good foodie hot spot. Now with undercover outdoor seating, you’re assigned a spot on one of their long benches, with pretty potted flowers acting as two metre dividers, and a chalkboard will tell you what’s on offer that day. Everything is scrumptious and we’ve tried most things! It’s especially great, if you’re seated inside, to keep an eye on the open plan kitchen to see if food envy going to another table might inspire a dish for another day…

And definitely order a pastry or loaf of sourdough from their new takeaway shop if you’re sticking around. They’re absolutely cracking.

2. The Harbour Inn - Down to earth, touching distance of the beach and with perfectly chilled Korev on tap. The food’s great, if a touch on the pricier side. Locals love this spot and it’s got a busy, buzzy vibe well in to the evening.

3. The Lyme Bay Cafe and Bar - With a string of fairy lights above the outdoor seating area, a stylish interior and pretty great food and drinks, this is a place where you’re in safe hands. Gaze out to sea, or enjoy a cosy catch up indoors. They serve popular Braziers speciality coffee, roasted in Somerset, which will fill your mug with perky richness and flavour.

4. Kiosk - The new kid on the block. A former ice cream stand, built into the walkway along the beach and alongside colourful beach huts, they serve a mean bacon bagel. They’ve got benches and stripy deck chairs to soak up views of the sea while you enjoy their snacks and coffee. Stylish and with delicious substance.

5. The Pilot Boat - The elevated terrace area is lovely to enjoy an aperitif. There are glimpses of the sea, but the spacious seating, fresh sea air and fab drinks are what it’s all about. The restaurant is good-looking, staff are on the ball and there’s plenty of room. You’re also only a few footsteps from the beach to walk off any excesses afterwards.

6. Ryder & Hope - Retail therapy takes on something special when you’re away, it’s because each purchase reminds you of ‘that’ great escape. This is a stylish shop with carefully chosen pieces that would probably look perfect in almost any home. Very easy on the eye and highly recommended.

7. Poco Pizza - With a little terrace overlooking the beach and benches beneath twinkling fairy lights, this spot is a beauty. Make sure you book, it’s tight on space and big on demand from those in the know. The pizzas are heavenly. They’ll do you a takeaway if you can’t bag a table. Just watch the gulls if you have it on the beach - they know a good thing when they see it.

8. The Pop-Up Kitchen - This modest sized spot at the top of Broad Street has always been a huge hit for us every single time. It’s overflowing with passion for fab food - be it indulgent cakes and sweet treats, a fish restaurant, tasting menus or paella. Every dish is carefully crafted and simply delightful. We always check out the chalk board to see what’s on that week.