WE have been in Lyme Regis, on the Dorset/Devon border and the Jurassic Coast, taking grandson Tom to an annual fossil festival.

Tom was particularly excited and it was a great event, with the already-bustling town awash with visitors. Quite a few were rather hairy, bearded chaps with rucksacks – who says geologists aren’t stereotyped.

Naturally, ammonites were common and they are famous as fossils in that part of the world. Many of the ammonites at the festival were from Morocco.

Ammonites were very common from about 410 million years ago, disappearing after the extinction of many living creatures, including dinosaurs, 66 million years ago. They were closely related to squid and cuttlefish.

The festival was extremely busy and pretty hot too, in the marquees, but most pleasant.

My grandson was captivated by the fossils and clever demonstrations by the local museums where the kids could dig treasure and fossils out of sand, keeping them keen.

Lyme Regis is a lovely place, being mentioned in the Doomsday Book, and in the 13th century it was a major port. A royal charter granted by King Edward I in 1284 added the name Regis to the name.

The town became very popular with tourists as early as the 18th century, loving the beach and the gentle waves lapping it. I was able to appreciate this from a pub looking over the bay, having a most pleasant local beverage.

I always enjoy the wonders of Britain, with each county being distinct and variable from the adjacent county. Whilst we are so fortunate to live in Cornwall, Devon and Dorset have their own charms and are so close. And, in all three counties, each brews a pretty fine drop of good beer. Well worth a short visit, if you have time.