The 3 Villages of Puncknowle, Swyre and West Bexington are rural settlements about 6 miles south- east of Bridport. Puncknowle including the ward of West Bexington and Swyre are actually two parishes but they are unified and act as one. The whole parish is set in a National Landscape (formThese include several farms, pubs, a restaurant, café, caravan and campsites and holiday lets.The parish is mainly rural and covers about 2,040 acres of farmland and 120 acres of coast and foreshore including Chesil Beach, part of Dorset’s world-famous Jurassic coast World Heritage site. This is an internationally important shingle habitat, home to a number of rare plant species. It also includes the West Bexington nature reserve, one of Dorset Wildlife Trust’s few coastal reserves.
Farming remains a key part of the local economy along with holiday and hospitality related businesses, two farm shops and a cheese processing plant. The area is popular with holidaymakers and fishermen, so tourism is also key. There are two caravan parks, campsite, a hotel, pub, fine dining restaurant, two cafes, animal farm, two farm shops and holiday lets.
