The Cobb, Lyme Regis

Lyme’s most iconic image is that of the hooded Meryl Streep staring moodily out to sea from The Cobb, in the film The French Lieutenant’s Woman – indeed on a windy winter’s day, it’s hard to resist the temptation to recreate that atmospheric scene. Most days, however, The Cobb, a curving harbour wall dating from the 13th century, is packed with children running away from crashing waves or fishing from the walls and families out for a stroll. At the bottom of The Cobb, a line of blackboards advertise boat and fishing trips, which leave from the harbour below – on a fine day, you can simply turn up and choose the next trip going out. At the far end of The Cobb, there’s a small Aquarium (www.lymeregismarineaquarium.co.uk) displaying local marine life, including crabs, seahorses and an 80-year-old lobster.