Dorset Day 4 - Isle of Portland

Saturday 22nd June 2024

An intriguing day today as we walked around an island (about 13 miles around the island itself). The Isle of Portland was a really interesting place with all sorts to walk past and view - prisons, old military establishments, nature reserves, lonely cliff tops and many lighthouses plus much more. We had to get a taxi on the morning back to the causeway to pick up the path again and after walking around the perimeter of Portland, it was back to Weymouth for a second night out.

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Distance: 15 miles

Duration: 5:45 hours

Ascent: 1414 ft

Difficulty: Moderate/Hard

Accompanied By: Davy

Weather: Warm & Sunny Intervals

3D outline of route

Parking

Back to the causeway by taxi as we set off around Portland.

Bit of a boring slog alongside the busy road (A354) to the Isle of Portland.

Arriving at Portland, it wasn't long before we were heading uphill - We were a bit confused at the basketball court below, we couldn't spot the path going round it so we went through the housing estate instead. We came out onto the path just below here.

Tout Quarry, which has become a sculpture park full of strange and interesting pieces of art made from leftover Portland stone.

The Roy Dog - a mythical beast as high as a man, with large fiery eyes, one green and one red - was said to live at Cave Hole on the south-east side of the island, and would drag any traveller passing by into its watery lair.

Here we go again !

Walking alongside the large boulders and under stone archways, there are terrific views back down along the whole of Chesil Beach. This is very exposed cliff top walking.

Coastguard lookout station.

Portland Bill Lighthouse.

Time for a break and a light lunch as we look out for seals and other wildlife.

Now I thought the eastern side of the island was far better than the western side. It helped with the sun being out mind. The eastern side was a bit grim I thought, whereas this side was far more gentle on the eye.

We stood and watched all the young climbers scaling the rock cliffs, there was a large area of rock face that had all sorts of climbers going up and down for about 50m alongside the main path - some making more progress than others. It all looked pretty scary to me, I certainly couldn't do it.

HM Young Offenders Institute.

Staying on the prison theme - we walked past this beauty - HM Prison - The Verne

After walking past Portland Castle, it was time to stroll around the very modern marina.

There even was a multi-story boat park!

Then it was back along the causeway in baking hot temperatures to the point where we started the days walk to then pick up a taxi back to the town centre.

We were lucky enough to see the town bridge opening later on - it does this every two hours during the day to let the queue of taller boats in or out of the harbour.