scenic viewpoint
Golden Cap
The highest point on England's south coast at 191 m, its sandstone summit glowing gold above Charmouth and Lyme Bay.
11 km · about 20 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomEngland
Beaminster
England, United Kingdom · Europe
About Beaminster
Beaminster works well as a base: 15 minutes from Bridport, 20km from Jurassic Coast.
Beaminster is in England, United Kingdom, with about 3,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Bridport, about 8 km away.
Beaminster ( BEM-in-stər) is a town and civil parish in Dorset, England, approximately 15 miles (24 km) northwest of the county town Dorchester. It is sited in a bowl-shaped valley near the source of the small River Brit. The population of Beaminster parish was recorded as 3,177 in the 2021 census.
Beaminster is theRead more
product of the Anglo-Saxon age, dating back to around the 7th century, when it was known as Bebingmynster, meaning the church of Bebbe although the date of origin of the town is unknown. The place name and historic evidence indicates that it was probably the site of a primary Saxon minster church and was at the centre of a large episcopal estate. These are likely to have acted as a focus for a settlement, but evidence of its formation is lacking.
In its history Beaminster has been a centre of manufacture of linen and woollens, the raw materials for which were produced in the surrounding countryside. The town experienced three serious fires in the 17th and 18th centuries; the first of these, during the English Civil War, almost destroyed the fabric of the town.
Beaminster's parish church – the Church of St Mary – is notable for its architecture, particularly its tower, and is grade I listed.
Where to Stay in Beaminster
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Beaminster?
Within an hour or so of Beaminster: Golden Cap (11 km), The Cobb, Lyme Regis (17 km), Cerne Abbas Giant (19 km), Jurassic Coast (20 km).
Are there any good drives near Beaminster?
The nearest famous roads are Cheddar Gorge Road (B3135), Porlock Hill and Rhinefield Ornamental Drive.
Where is Beaminster?
Beaminster is in England, United Kingdom, about 8 km from Bridport.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 2,957
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- England
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 50.8090, -2.7391
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Beaminster
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
The Cobb, Lyme Regis
The curving stone harbour wall at Lyme Regis, made famous by Jane Austen's Persuasion and The French Lieutenant's Woman.
17 km · about 20 min drive
landmark
Cerne Abbas Giant
A 55 m chalk hill figure of a club-wielding naked man above a Dorset village, now dated to the late Saxon period.
19 km · about 20 min drive
natural wonder
Jurassic Coast
UNESCO World Heritage coastline stretching 95 miles from Devon to Dorset, exposing 185 million years of geological history in its dramatic cliffs.
20 km · about 25 min drive
ancient ruins
Maiden Castle
One of the largest Iron Age hillforts in Europe, its multiple ramparts enclosing an area the size of 50 football pitches.
23 km · about 25 min drive
museum
Haynes International Motor Museum
The UK's largest collection of classic and vintage cars and motorcycles, with over 400 vehicles on display.
29 km · about 35 min drive
beach
Chesil Beach
An 18-mile shingle barrier beach enclosing the Fleet lagoon, its pebbles graded by size along its entire length.
29 km · about 35 min drive
landmark
Glastonbury Tor
Mystical terraced hill crowned by St Michael's Tower, steeped in Arthurian and early Christian legends with panoramic Somerset views.
37 km · about 45 min drive
Driving roads near Beaminster
7 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 100km.
- Right hereGolden CapThe highest point on England's south coast at 191 m, its sandstone summit glowing gold above Charmouth and Lyme Bay.
- 38 kmPortland BillThe southern tip of the Isle of Portland, marked by a red-and-white lighthouse above a fierce tidal race.
- 53 kmCheddar Gorge ViewpointEngland's largest gorge with 450-foot limestone cliffs, offering jaw-dropping views from several pull-off points along the winding road.
- 53 kmCheddar Gorge Road (B3135)The B3135 threads the floor of England's largest gorge beneath 137m limestone cliffs, tight and dramatic but often busy with visitors and goats.
- 58 kmBallard DownThe chalk ridge above Swanage running out to Old Harry Rocks, with views over Poole Harbour and Studland Bay.
- 68 kmTarr StepsA 17-span prehistoric-style clapper bridge across the River Barle on Exmoor, repeatedly rebuilt after floods.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
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