A voluntary organisation keeping a visual watch along UK shores

Lyme Bay - QAVS

Welcome to NCI Lyme Bay

IMPORTANT COVID UPDATE

We are now operating Hive Beach Lookout daily 1000-1800. Charmouth Lookout is operational daily 1100-1500. The Lookouts themselves are closed to the public. We will extend hours as swiftly as we are able to provide 'eyes and ears' and carry out CH65 radio checks.

NCI Lyme Bay is a recipient of the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. If you are afloat within the bay or walking on the coastline, we are here to do radio checks, give weather and tide information and keep an eye out for you. If you are near either of our lookouts (Hive Beach and Charmouth) do call in. If we have an ongoing incident, we shall tell you but we like to see you and to know if you are just practising eskimo rolls/cliff launches/net retrievals/skier-recovery, we are very happy to be told that and keep an eye out.

Visitor Policy
Visitors are normally most welcome at the lookout although, when an incident is ongoing or when training is taking place, this may not always be convenient, and the duty watchkeeper may ask visitors to call back later.
Access

The road down to Hive Beach is narrow but straight and has pinchpoints giving priority to exiting traffic. Pedestrians and, occasionally, livestock may be on the road.

There are two NT carparks at Hive Beach and the closest one to us is the western, grassed, one but that is usally closed in Winter to allow the ground to recover. There is a track down from this carpark to the Lookout. The rerouted cliffpath goes through this carpark.

A few yards further away is the eastern, gravel-based, carpark. From here, you can walk below the café and up to the Lookout.

Local Hazards
Beware rabbit holes in the footpaths up to/down from the Lookout. The cliffs are very fragile and should not be climbed or sat under. Signs are in place warning of cliff falls.
Operational capability
This station has Declared Facility Status
This station reports to NMOC Fareham
Current weather and sea conditions are available by telephone during watch hours
Defibrillator Available: 
No
Station Telephone: 
01308 897778
Visual Watch: 
Yes
Radar Watch: 
No
NAVTEX: 
No
AIS Watch: 
Yes
DSC Watch: 
Yes
Radio: Listening watch on channels: 
16
Radio: Channels in use (call direct not via ch 16): 
65
Radio: Channel 00: 
Listening watch and ready to transmit as authorised by Coastguard
Station Call Sign: 
Lyme Bay NCI
Visual Horizon: 
8.15 nautical miles

Station Info

Station Address
Beach Road
Burton Bradstock
Bridport
Dorset
DT6 4RF
Station telephone number
01308 897778
Station email address

Contact the station by Email

Station contact
Judy Clarke
Station contact role
Station Manager
07786 354403
Summer opening
Open from: 
10:00
Open until: 
18:00
Days: 
Every Day
From: 
Sunday, March 28, 2021
Until: 
Saturday, October 30, 2021
Winter opening
Open from: 
10:00
Open until: 
17:00
Days: 
Every Day
From: 
Sunday, October 31, 2021
Until: 
Saturday, March 26, 2022
Notes: 
These are our 'regular conditions' hours. See Important Covid opening hours at top of page. We are gradually extending opening hours as prevailing conditions allow. Open until 17.00 or dusk, whichever is first. Closed Christmas Day.
Location
Latitude: 
50°41.82’N
Longitude: 
002°43.38'W
OS Reference: 
SY 489 888
Station Elevation: 
36'/11 metres
what3words: 
bounding.debt.celebrate
Visual features of station
White rectangular building with narrow external balcony. Flagpole on eastern side. Hive café terrace is immediately to the east.
Other identifying features
Visitors have a choice of two NT carparks although the higher, grassed, western one that is closest to the Lookout is usually closed in winter.

back

About

Currently 57 NCI stations are operational and manned by over 2600 volunteers keeping watch around the British Isles from Fleetwood in the North West, through Wales, to the South and East of England to Hornsea in the East Riding of Yorkshire. 

NCI watchkeepers provide the eyes and ears along the coast, monitoring radio channels and providing a listening watch in poor visibility. They are trained to deal with emergencies offering a variety of skills and experience, and full training by the NCI ensures that high standards are met.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The words National Coastwatch Institution and Eyes Along the Coast and the NCI logos are Registered Trademarks of NCI.

Contact Details

GENERAL ENQUIRIES
0300 111 1202
[email protected]

 

MEDIA ENQUIRIES
0845 460 1202
[email protected]


17 Dean Street, Liskeard,
Cornwall, PL14 4AB