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Portland Attractions
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Portland has such a diverse range of
attractions that I can't hope to cover each one here, but I will add
to this page as I collect information.
If you are not in or on the water around Portland then you will
probably be exploring the island. There are miles of foot paths on
the island, the all routes provide breath taking views of jagged
cliffs and rugged shores along with the beauty of the many rare
flowers and insects. There are even Glow worms to be seen on July
evenings. Below are some of the attractions which I recommend that
you visit.
- Tout Quarry Sculpture Park - Situated at the
top of the island just west of the Portland Heights Hotel and Dowsett
Motors, the Sculpture Park is a maze of old quarry tracks with sculptures at
every turn. The works are created by local and visiting stone masons, some
are obvious and some not so, I am still finding new ones after seven years.
The best one of all is a life size Iguana basking on a rock on the west side
of the park, see if you can find it.
- Portland Bill - With three lighthouses and
the best cream teas in England the Bill is a must, but don't just do the
tourist thing and just see the lighthouse and Pulpit Rock. Take a walk to
the east past the huts to see the caves in the cliffs, they are huge caverns
once used for smuggling on dark nights. There is a hole in the floor above
one of the caves with an iron grille over it, try standing on the grille
when there is an easterly gale blowing, as long as you don't mind getting
wet.
- Church Ope Cove - Situated between Easton
and Southwell, Church Ope was the landing place for Viking marauders on many
occasions. Rufus Castle must have been a menacing sight in its hey day,
standing high above the cove. Half way down the steps the path splits off to
the right, this path goes to St Andrew's church. A 13th century church which
is now in ruin but well worth visiting. See if you can find the pirates
grave.
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Chesil Beach - The beach is 18
miles long and looks different everyday. The pebbles are graded by the sea,
with the larger ones at the Portland end and the finer ones at the West Bay
end. It is said that if a Portland fisherman was washed ashore in the dark
he would know exactly where he was by the size of the pebbles. Chesil
provides the best shore fishing in the country with huge shoals of Mackerel
in the summer. White bait are regularly seen leaping to their deaths on the
shore to escape the hungry Mackerel. If you can't catch fish here, maybe you
should give up fishing.
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I am always looking for new material, so if
you have any pictures, stories or anything which you would like to pass on to
others please contact me.
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