The Village of Eype

About the Village

Eype is an attractive village on the coast to the west of Bridport and is an excellent place for walking. Eype's Mouth dog friendly beach is on the South West Coast Path and there are many other footpaths in the area.

Eype is in a stunning location to explore the World Heritage Jurassic Coast for the keen rambler, ornithologist, anthropologist or geologist.

Eating Out in Eype

The New Inn serve bar food, (1 minute walk from the cottage). Dogs welcome.

Eype’s Mouth Hotel serve bar and restaurant food, (5 minutes walk from the cottage). Dogs welcome.

Small shops open in season all, within walking distance.

The nearest supermarket is in Bridport 1 mile away.

A Peep at Eype - A book of old Eype Postcards

An extract

Eype is a small coastal village between Bridport and Chideock in West Dorset, built largely around a lane that descends steeply towards the sea, and ending by an inlet in the cliffs formed by the mouth of the Eype stream. In the past, the main activities in Eype were farming, fishing, boatbuilding and smuggling, but during the twentieth century tourism has become increasingly important.

Eype’s early history is intertwined with legend and romance. According to some, the village was founded in the seventh century BC by wandering Greek traders who built a temple and burial place on Quarr Hill, to the north. They came from Epirus, hence the name Eype. Another source for the name is said to be Egypt, a reflection of the popular description of wanderers, or gypsies, as Egyphans.

During the 1930’s Eype enjoyed a different kind of reputation, thanks to writers, artists and actors who came to stay at the Bonville Hotel (now named Eype’s Mouth Hotel), drawn to the area by local celebrities such as the playwright R. C. Sheriff. Tea and dinner dances, tennis tournaments and smart company brought modernity and urban sophistication to a village whose fame was based more on tranquillity and traditional family holidays. This was soon brought to an end by the outbreak of the Second World War. However, with the return of peace, Eype returned to its pre-war way of life as a quiet little resort offering the traditional pleasures of the old-fashioned seaside family holiday.

Extracts from "A Peep at Eype" edited by Paul Atterbury.

It is produced by The Eype Historical Group and is available for £4.95 from our address.