Local attractions

Portland Bill

Check out the notorious Portland Races from the safety of dry land! Portland Bill’s famous lighthouse is open for guided tours during summer months and there is also a visitors’ centre on site. An open top bus service runs to Portland Bill from May to September; the nearest stop is outside the sailing academy.

Portland Castle

One of Henry VIII’s finest coastal fortresses, Portland Castle was built to defend the anchorage from possible French and Spanish invasion. It later became a Seaplane Station during World War I and was at the forefront of the D-Day preparations which helped to end World War II. The castle is less than five minutes walk from the marina and is open every day from April-October.

Chesil Beach

Part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, Chesil Beach stretches 18 miles from Portland to Abbotsbury. The beach is made of shingle and pebbles which increase in size from west to east – local folklore claims that smugglers knew exactly where they had landed from the size of the pebbles. For more information visit the Chesil Beach Centre, situated half way along the causeway between Portland and Weymouth. Open 10am-4pm all year round.

The Fleet Lagoon

Between Chesil Beach and the mainland is the Fleet Lagoon, one of North Western Europe’s most important marine nature reserves. Glass bottomed boat trips run in the Fleet from Easter until the end of October – to book call 01305 759692.

Portland Coast Path

For breathtaking views across the south west coast, why not explore Portland by foot? Starting from the marina, a loop round the whole island is approximately 9 miles, or stop at the lighthouse (approx 4 miles) and take the bus back! Much of the route follows the path of an old tramway and along the way you’ll see evidence of Portland’s quarrying past – don’t miss the sculpture park at Tout Quarry.

Portland Harbour and the coast path recently featured on the BBC TV’s ‘Railway Walks’ series, when presenter Julia Bradbury explored the path of the old railway line between Weymouth town centre and Portland. To download a map of the route click here. The programme is also available to watch online using BBC iPlayer

Extreme sports

With ideal conditions for kitesurfing, windsurfing, rock climbing, mountain biking and high performance sailing, Portland is an adrenaline-junkie’s paradise! Based next door to the marina, Sail Laser offers dinghy sailing courses for children and adults. Nearby Paracademy offers kitesurfing tuition (tel. 01305 824797); contact Windtek (tel. 01305 787900) for windsurf lessons. Portland is also one of the UK’s top venues for sport climbing and has hundreds of bolted routes. Courses can be arranged through Weymouth Outdoor Education Centre (tel 01305 754927)

Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door

The beautiful horseshoe-shaped cove at Lulworth and the stunning rock formations at Durdle Door make a fantastic day sailing destination. Enjoy snorkelling in the crystal clear waters, explore the caves or simply relax on the beach and take in the stunning scenery.

More information

For more details of attractions in Weymouth see the ‘Local attractions’ page in the Weymouth Marina section