Recommended places to go in England: Walking tips for the Isle of Portland, Britain’s southernmost island

Where is the Isle of Portland?

The Isle of Portland, located 143 miles southwest of London.

About the Isle of Portland.

The Isle of Portland is a rugged peninsula off the coast of the English Channel in Dorset, England. It is 6 km (4 miles) long and 2.6 km (1.75 miles) wide. It is connected to the land by the Chesil Shoal, a rocky rise 9 metres (30 feet) high and 180 metres (600 feet) wide, which stretches 16 km (10 miles) westwards to Abbotsbury. The coast is steep and the peninsula is difficult to access from the sea except in the south. The highest point is Verne Hill (149m [490ft]). At the southern end, Portland Point has storm-caused caves, a raised beach and Portland Rock. (Wikipedia)

Connected to the city of Weymouth by the gravel of Storm Beach, Portland Island is an important part of the Jurassic coastline, a World Heritage Site, and is particularly famous for its geological features. The stone used to build London’s famous St Paul’s Cathedral and the Queen’s Buckingham Palace came from here. The man-made deep-water harbour in the north of the Isle of Portland was used by the Royal Navy during both World Wars. Royal Navy and NATO troops trained here until the 1990s. The harbour is now a small civilian port and a residential recreation area, and was the host of the Olympic sailing competition at the London 2012 Olympic Games due to its excellent water quality.

Why you should visit the Isle of Portland on foot.

The beauty of the Isle of Portland lies in its unparalleled natural beauty, which is not really glamorous. Rather, the beauty of Portland lies in its nature, which has been preserved in its original beach form. Stroll along the coastline and enjoy the fresh air, listen to the many wild birds singing and smell the mingled scent of nature’s wild flowers. Or imagine that you are walking in the Jurassic era tens of thousands or millions of years ago. There is no other way to travel that can replace that feeling. If you don’t choose to hike, just to see, I would advise you to give up your idea of going to Portland, which is not for the faint hearted.

Physical requirements for hiking:

Moderate or strong

Depending on your route, you will need to choose your own. If you want to hike the whole island you will need to be strong, but you can take your time. The island itself is not too big.

The main viewpoints on the island are.

I. Chesil Shoal also known as Chesil Storm Beach

It is located at the point where Weymouth joins Portland Island. If you walk from Weymouth, you must pass this long beach before entering Portland Island. One side of the beach is made up of pebbles and it is a famous fishing mecca in the UK. The other side is the normal narrow stretch of coastline and the views are pretty good. Under normal conditions, there are many small boats docked in the bay on this side, and on slightly windy days, there are many sailing enthusiasts, who sail here. This is where the London 2012 Olympic Games will be held on the water. As you walk around, don’t forget to take a look at the sea, which is full of fish of all sizes. Remember, don’t forget to pick up the fast rocks on the stormy beaches too, they are very special. This is the only Jurassic coastline in the world, so maybe you can pick up a fossilised marine life.

Verne Hill, the highest point on the island (149m)

The old fortress sits on a hill with large cracks in the stone and looks ready to collapse. Follow the signs to the town and there is a Portland Museum and a Portland Tourist Information Office. The museum is not just about the history of Portland, it also sells fossils of marine plants or creatures found on the island and you can buy some as souvenirs. Of course, if you’re lucky and have enough time, you might just find a marine fossil on your hike. This is no joke, as the area is very well protected and visitors are often pleasantly surprised by the discoveries.

Three: Portland Lighthouse and Landmarks

There’s not much to tell you about this place, it’s just a landmark. It’s called Portland Bill and is directly accessible by bus from the centre of Weymouth. I had my picture taken at this landmark to signify that you have been to the southernmost point of England or the British mainland.

Four, PULPIT ROCK

Not far from Bill on the Isle of Portland, there is a very interesting place and one of the famous attractions of this island PULPIT ROCK PUPIT ROLLING ROCK. This rolling rock itself fits land apart and it is another large rock that joins them together. The rock can be climbed, but it says to do so at your own risk. Climbing the rock is dangerous and I climbed it without knowing the sky was the limit. It was only after I got up there that I realised. The rolling rock was rocking in the sea and, it felt like it was shaking quite a lot. I recommend that if you are brave and courageous enough, you should give it a try. Don’t try it if you are afraid of heights and don’t try it on a windy or rainy day. It’s dangerous!

Five, Portland Castle

The castle is said to have been built in the 16th century to protect it from French raiders. The island is rich in stone and the castle is said to be the strongest in England. When the tide is high, you can choose the soft stairs leading down to the sea by the castle and view the castle from the sea. There is an entrance fee to visit the interior of the castle, although the entrance fee is cheap and it is recommended that you do not enter, as there is not much to see here compared to other castles. Why not spend this time around the castle and take a walk down the castle, towards the Royal Navy’s Weymouth Military Harbour. The harbour is closed, so you can see the warships from a distance outside.

VI. St George’s Chapel and Hallalujah Bay

The chapel is nothing special compared to other English churches, but it is the bay that is worth a stop. This area is on the west coast of the Isle of Portland and you will pass many old quarries on your walk here. Of course, the natural beauty is just as beautiful.

Seven: Visit the villages on Portland Island

There are eight villages on Portland, Fortuneswell, Castletown, Chiswell and Easton, Weston, Southwell, Qakeham and Grove. Grove.) The early houses on the island were mostly built of Portland rock, with walls 30-60cm thick, and all had a similar layout. Most of the houses are unpainted, retaining the yellow-grey colour of the stone, and have a different character to the buildings on the mainland. It is advisable to choose one of the buildings to visit and just go inside, the rest are similar in style.

Walking route suggestions.

The Jurassic Coastal Route is the longest national walking route in the UK and if walked in its entirety requires not only physical strength but also plenty of time. Every summer, people of all kinds from all over the world choose to camp in the wild to complete the Jurassic Coastal Route. Many of them may just be hikers, but there are also many biologists, botanists or geologists who come to explore the Jurassic coastline. This section of the Portland Island in particular is visited every summer by students from colleges and universities of all majors, doing extra-curricular work and looking for amazing discoveries just for themselves.

It’s a journey worth savouring. If you are coming from home, if you only have a day to spare. Then I would suggest a mix of hiking and buses to walk the whole way.

One day Portland Island walk route analysis.

Arriving in Weymouth from London or in any direction in the UK. Although Weymouth is an Olympic city, it is not too big. Take some time to get around the city and buy a map of the Isle of Portland. You can also buy a day bus ticket to the Isle of Portland to get there and back (around £7 for a bus ticket).

Start your walk from the coastline at Weymouth Beach and head west, firstly to the old harbour, then around the pier and over a long bridge, then follow the map for the walk towards the old castle OLD CASTLE. This walk takes about half an hour.

Once you have reached the Old Castle you have two options, firstly, take a bus to any point on Portland Island and then start your walk around the island. Secondly, walk directly towards Portland Island.

Of course, whether you go or come back, the hike into the section of Storm Beach on the long Portland Island will take some time, depending on your own stamina allocation.

If you choose to hike first, then your first stop must be at Portland Castle. Once you have reached the castle and taken a short break, the next step of the route is again a choice between two options, taking the east or west route. If you walk the whole way around the island, starting from Weymouth and returning to Weymouth, you may not have enough time in the day. The hills of the Isle of Portland coast are varied, so be well prepared. A special tip: In summer hiking, it is important to have plenty of water.

We recommend buying an all-day bus ticket, which allows unlimited rides throughout the day. Its fare is again similar to a regular return ticket. This gives you plenty of options to choose from on your journey, so you can choose a reasonable bus ride according to your physical strength and save time and energy.

Tips: During the summer holidays in July and August, it is important to book your accommodation in Weymouth in advance.

After writing my guide, I’m tempted to go to Portland again!