[3][4] Some 5 km (3.1 mi) in length, the River Lym rises from a group of springs in Raymond's Hill near the village of Uplyme in East Devon.

After about 1 km (0.621 mi) it resumes a southwesterly course, crossing into Dorset, and flows into the town of Lyme Regis, where it flows past residential houses, holiday cottages and under bridges, alongside Windsor Terrace, then Jericho, before reaching an intersection between Mill Green and Coombe Street – known as the Lynch – where it briefly splits in two, with the east side powering Town Mill – the only present watermill in the area.

The west side of the river continues its southerly course and turns slightly west for about 50 m (164 ft), flows for another 150 m (492 ft) under a culvert and eventually Buddle Bridge – an English Grade I listed building[5] – before flowing into the English Channel via Lyme Bay in Lyme Regis.

[1][2][6] The town of Lyme Regis has grown around the south part of the river, with residential houses, holiday cottages, bridges and a watermill connected to it.

[10] In 2012, graffiti artist Banksy stencilled an origami crane on a wall adjacent to the River Lym at the intersection of Mill Green and Coombe Street.

[14] Improvements were coordinated by Lyme Forward and the Dorset Coast Forum in 2018 and 2019,[15][16] and a local furniture maker and artist built animal houses and seating areas themed around the old watermills alongside the path.