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Hedgehog Corner - Lyme Regis

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Luxury b&b near the sea

It would be almost impossible for anywhere called Hedgehog Corner to be anything other than friendly, comfy and cosy, and this lovely b&b on the Dorset/Devon border doesn’t disappoint. Three light and airy bedrooms, all with lovely big beds and views across the pretty garden are the perfect place to flop after a day beside the sea, and all come with loads of little luxury touches to make you feel special - fluffy bathrobes, flat-screen tellies, hand-made chocolates and super toiletries. Two of the bedrooms have stylish en-suite bathrooms - one with a roll-top bath, while the third has a private bathroom right next door.

For true romantics though, there is only one option - The Retreat. A cosy little bolthole in the garden, this suite has a squidgy, iron-bedstedded bed, wood-burning stove and its own little garden area. A gorgeous bathroom with fluffy bathrobes, digital flat screen telly and those chocolates are just the icing on the cake. There’s even a tiny kitchenette if you fancy preparing a romantic snack-ette (oysters perhaps?) while you’re there.

Breakfasts at Hedgehog Corner are splendid. Loads of fresh, locally-produced ingredients are used, including Lyme Regis smoked kippers, in an impressive spread. And there’s no need to set your alarm - Hedgehog Corner’s owner, Joy, appreciates the need for a lovely weekend lie-in.

Where is it?

Midway between the friendly seaside resort at Lyme Regis and the carpet mecca that is the market town of Axminster, Hedgehog Corner is perfectly placed for exploring the beginnings of the West Country. The small market town of Axminster is cosy and unspoilt and perfect for a potter. Its name may be inextricably linked with floor coverings, but today the town has become more famous for its food - thanks to local hero Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. The amazing River Cottage Local Produce Store and Canteen (www.rivercottage.net Tel: 01297 631 862) has just opened in the centre of town and is already pushing up local house prices it’s that good!

But the main draw for visitors to Hedgehog Corner has to be lovely Lyme Regis and the dramatic Jurassic Coastline. For such a small little seaside resort, historic Lyme Regis means a huge number of different things to so many different people - whether it’s a wind-swept Meryl Streep (or apparently, her stunt double) in a huge cloak in The French Lieutenant’s Woman, the dramatic falling of Louisa Musgrove in Jane Austen’s Persuason, Turner’s beautiful painting, the famous fossil museum, childhood caravanning extravaganzas, the list goes on. Today, it’s a refreshingly old-fashioned seaside resort that is guaranteed to give you a warm, fuzzy feeling whatever the weather. Higgledy-piggledy Georgian buildings line the narrow streets down to the seafront, where a colourful fleet of fishing boats still do their thing alongside Lyme’s great sandy beach. The historic harbour wall, the Cobb, stretches out into the sea - perfect for a stroll with great views back to the town - while the promenade is lined with little shops, cafes and some great opportunities for fish and chips. Take a boat trip along the coast on the gorgeous little Cornish crabber Frances Jane (www.lymebayboattrips.co.uk Tel: 07890 739625) or visit the award-winning Lyme Regis museum (www.lymeregismuseum.co.uk Tel: 01297 443370) to really get to know the place.

As part of the Jurassic Coast, a 95-mile long stretch of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lyme Regis is the place to go if you’re into fossil hunting. If you’re not, pop into Dinosaurland Fossil Museum (www.dinosaurland.co.uk Tel: 01297 443541) for some inspiration - it’s not quite Disneyland, but you’ll never need to see another ammonite again. For real-life dinosaur hunting, pebbly Charmouth Beach to the east of Lyme Regis is great for fossil-spotting.

Travel east from Lyme Regis for some more great seaside action, with plenty of long sandy beaches to enjoy close by. Lovely Budleigh Salterton, birthplace of Sir Walter Raleigh and a favourite spot for refined Brits seeking sea air, is 20 miles from Lyme Regis, and a beautiful place for a potter amongst antiques shops and tearooms, followed by a brisk stroll along the seashore. But it’s the pretty fishing village of Beer, 9 miles from Lyme, that is the best place for a romantic visit to the sea. Once a hotspot for smugglers, the sheltered bay at Beer is home to one of the loveliest (but steepest) little beaches in Devon. It’s also where you can find the famous Beer Quarry Caves (www.beerquarrycaves.fsnet.co.uk Tel: 01297 680282), a vast underground network of man-made caves created by quarry workers from as far back as Roman times. The stone from Beer has been used in countless famous British buildings, including Exeter cathedral. Proper walking fans will also be in their element, with the South West Coast Path offering some great routes in the area. For maps and detailed routes, log on to www.southwestcoastpath.com . The two-mile cliff-top walk from Beer westwards towards Branscombe, in particular, is fantastic, and will more than satisfy any cravings for fresh air. End a round trip at the cosy Anchor Inn (www.anchorinn-beer.com Tel: 01297 203 86) for some great local fish and chips and a pint of real ale.

For something a bit different, travel to the seaside town of Seaton, 8 miles from Hedgehog Corner, and catch the Seaton Tramway (www.tram.co.uk Tel: 01297 20375) for a beautiful trip up the River Axe Valley. Amazing vintage trams - some of the open-topped - ply their way through green, rolling countryside to the very pretty town of Colyton. Brilliant.

Where can I eat?

Well, considering that people travel hundreds of miles to this area to experience the magic of Hugh’s River Cottage, it would be hard not to recommend one of Mr Fearnley Whittinstall’s ventures as a must-visit place to eat. The River Cottage Canteen in Axminster (www.rivercottage.net Tel: 01297 631 862) is fantastic, serving amazing breakfasts, lunch and dinner made with the best in local and seasonal ingredients. Simple, rustic and mouth-watering. If that’s not enough, you can visit the River Cottage HQ at Park Farm, just 4 miles from Hedgehog Corner, for a pre-booked evening event (‘Friday Nights at River Cottage’ are the most regular - with a delicious four-course meal and a Q&A session with the River Cottage team) or a themed day course. For details of all the events at River Cottage, log on to www.rivercottage.net

There are plenty of other great places to eat nearby once you’ve had your fill of River Cottage. The Broad Street Restaurant (Tel: 01297 44579) in the heart of Lyme Regis, is lovely - a light, airy and stylish dining room with a strict local food philosophy, each fresh ingredient is attribute to its supplier, most of which come from within a 20-mile radius of the restaurant. You’ll never taste fresher scallops than the ones delivered straight from the sea to the kitchen that afternoon. Of course, Lyme is also the place to be for fish and chip fiends. The Cobb Gate Fish Bar (Tel: 01297 443 153) is probably the best - in fact, it’s so popular that there’s an exact replica of the chippie in Shanghai!

For a really special evening out, drive the 14 miles west to the picture perfect Devon village of Gittisham and gorgeous Combe House ( www.thishotel.co.uk Tel: 01404 540 400) - this beautiful country house hotel and its award-winning restaurant is stunning. Start your meal with an aperitif in the lovely gardens, then enjoy amazing British-led menus made with loads of great Devonshire ingredients. The restaurant has just been named as a Michelin Rising Star - a star winner of the future - so go now before everyone else does.

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It would be almost impossible for anywhere called Hedgehog Corner to be anything other than friendly, comfy and cosy, and this lovely b&b on the Dorset/Devon border doesn’t disappoint.