Winter at the British seaside is one of the South West’s best-kept secrets. Imagine indulging in fresh seafood or local vodka and cheese while, outside, dramatic wintry waves crash onto the beach and moody grey clouds swirl overhead.

This is the Jurassic Coast at its most thrilling, a film‑worthy, soul‑touching backdrop that’s best experienced at the historic Dorset town of Lyme Regis.

Here, celebrated chef and restaurateur Mark Hix serves nothing but the freshest local and seasonal produce at The Oyster & Fish House, a restaurant as renowned for its carefully sourced seafood as it is for its picturesque views of the Cobb and Jurassic Coast.

Those visiting the town need somewhere special to stay and award‑winning accommodation provider Lyme Regis Stays delivers in style. Its 12 boutique cottages are in the heart of town and include The Lyme Nook, a perfect winter retreat that’s part of the famous French‑inspired blue shutter house, built in the 19th century.

Complete the Dorset experience with drinks and cheese from Black Cow. Its vodka is the world’s first to be made using milk and is crafted from the dairy produce of West Dorset grass‑grazed cows, making it exceptionally smooth. The milk’s curds and whey are separated – the curds make cheese (including Black Cow Deluxe Cheddar) while the whey is part of a secret distilling process that results in a vodka so smooth you could drink it till the cows come home.