The Isle of Portland
The Portland Community Partnership have produced a detailed map of all the interesting attractions on Portland that is very useful to the visitor. You can view a copy of the Portland map here which is also perfect for printing out.
Portland Bill
Portland Bill must be the most well known feature of Portland. As such we have dedicated a whole page to it here.
^ Back to topPortland Bird Observatory
The Portland Bird Observatory sits in the old lower lighthouse and makes an ideal spot for observing the many species of birds that visit Portland. The Observatory keeps a comprehensive list of all species spotted on Portland - a total of 355 species are listed, not bad for an area less than 5 miles by 1.5 miles in size! To see other bird spotting areas around the county please go to this page.
Dolphin Watch
Dolphins and indeed Whales are frequent visitors to Portland to the extent that an official watch has now been set up. This group of volunteers, based down at Portland Bill, log all sightings so that a better understanding of the numbers and different species can be built up over time. This month, February, has seen many bottle nosed dolphins playing around the waters of Portland Bill. Although not guaranteed, a trip down to Portland Bill for a potential sighting is well worth the short drive from the hotel, or if feeling a little more energetic then we can recommend a route to walk to the Bill from the hotel.
^ Back to topPortland Steam Fair
Run over the weekend of the 18th & 19th of July, this show attracts visitors from far and wide. Although the main pull of the show is steam, there are also classic cars, classic motor bikes, vintage & classic caravans, vintage tractors, military vehicles, stationary engines and an auto jumble. Also worth a mention is the beer tent!
^ Back to topRufus Castle
Dorset is blessed with many castles, and although small Portland has two. However, as Dorset has many more we have created a dedicated page on the castles of Dorset.
^ Back to topCave Hole
Cave Hole is a fascinating area that is made up of a labyrinth of caves, ledges and tunnels that are worth exploring for their scenic value alone but also visited in large numbers by climbers. The area is really only accesable if you are a climber however, for everyone else you will have to be content with viewing the cave from the safety of the cliff top. If you are a climber, this area includes a couple of the biggest bolted roofs anywhere in the south-west.
Mesolithic Site
The Culverwell Mesolithic site, near Portland Bill, is of worlwide importance as it is thought to be the oldest known site of permanent residence in Britain and also is the first use of Portland stone. The site dates from around 8 to 8,500 years old, the middle stone age. Although tribes at the time would have been nomadic in nature it is thought that Portlands geography allowed them to be able to settle in one place. They obviously had an eye for a view!
^ Back to topChurch Ope Cove
Parking for Church Ope is available opposite Pensyvania Castle and then you will have a short walk followed by a number of steps (aound 100) to get to Church Ope Cove. Church Ope is a nice beach and is also good for fishing.
Portland Museum
Portland Museum, housed in a thatched 17th century cottage, is packed full of interesting exhibits about Portland and its rich history. To find out more about the museum and indeed the other museums available throughout Dorset, please visit our Museums page.
^ Back to topPerryfield Butterfly Reserve
Perryfield Butterfly Reserve is a small limestone habitat reserved and nurtured to attract butterflies. The area is set up to include a 400 metre walk made up of 5 sections which includes some small slopes and steps. The area attracts a large variety of butterflies including the Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Small White, Small Blue, Chalkhill Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Wall, Marbled White, Meadow Brown and Ringlet. To find parking for the reserve, continue along Wakeham to its conclusion and opposite the museum you will find a public car park.
Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve
From the Heights Hotel follow the A354 towards Easton, take Grove Road on the left. 300 yards on the right, in front of Grove Terrace, is a road beside the recreation ground leading to the car park for the Reserve. The entrance to the Butterfly Reserve is marked by a noticeboard. A walk of approximately 1 mile will take you around the reserve but be aware there is an active quarry road through the middle of the reserve. Butterflies spotted within the reserve include the Small Skipper, Lulworth Skipper, Large Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Small Copper, Small Blue, Silver-studded Blue, Common Blue, Chalkhill Blue, Speckled Wood, Wall, Marbled White, Grayling, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Small Heath and Ringlet.
Portland Walks
Portland is full of interesting places to walk and with its amazing views, the miles seem to fly by. Whether you wish to walk completely around the island or just take in a small part there is something for everyone. Opposite the Hotel is Tout Quarry where you can walk whilst taking in some fabulous sculptures. Or walk along the west coast down to the Bill with its views over Lyme bay. Each wednesday at 10:00 am there is a guided walk that starts from the Hotel car park come rain or shine. Once you have exhausted all the walks on Portland take a look at our walking page and discover an additional 3000 miles of walking in Dorset.
St Georges Church
St George’s is a cruciform church built in 1754-66 to the design of Thomas Gilbert, a local mason, to replace the dilapidated St Andrew's Church near Rufus castle. Its grand conception, possibly based on St Paul’s Cathedral, may reflect Wren’s connections with Portland and its quarries. Although completed in 1766, by 1794 the roof timbers were so decayed that the roof had to be replaced. The church was uncomfortable and draughty but served the Island until a new church was consecrated in Easton in 1917. St George's fell into disuse despite the fact that the population of Portland had increased ten-fold between 1801 and 1901.
Its poor state of repair and inconvenient location resulted in it becoming abandoned and bomb damage in 1940 helped its decline. In the 1960s it came under the protection of the 'Friends of St George's Church' who have now restored it to its original glory. The interior is singularly complete of its date with twin pulpits and lecterns, box pews and galleries surviving intact. In the churchyard are some 400 tombstones, many of naval interest, with fascinating inscriptions.
Tout Quarry Sculpture Park
Naturally regenerated since quarrying ceased nearly a century ago, Tout is the most magical and dramatic of the few hand-worked quarries that remain on Portland. It is now a sculpture park and is used to display an amazing collection of carvings and artifacts. This imaginative feature started in 1983 but very few of the early efforts survived more than a year.
Cut into the clifftop high over Lyme Bay, with views along Chesil Beach stretching along Lyme Bay, it is now a labyrinth of overgrown gullies and pathways that twist and turn, revealing sculpture either carved into the rockface or constructed from shale within the quarry landscape itself. The sculptures provide vantage points that allow the visitor to see where sculpture, geology and quarrying history meet.
^ Back to topThe Old Engine Shed
Portland Gas plc believes in supporting local communities with projects that increase public understanding of geology and benefit education and the environment. In Dorset the Company set up The Portland Gas Trust, based on the Isle of Portland, to work with projects across the county. The Trust was delighted to receive charitable status in August 2008. The Trust supports initiatives focusing on the environment, geology and education.
The £1.5m project to transform the Old Engine Shed on Portland into an interpretation centre will be the highlight of the Trust’s work over the next few years. Situated on the cliffs above Portland Gas’s Dorset facility, the centre will have an audio visual room, display areas and café. It will function as a visitor attraction and an educational resource
Constructed in the mid 19th century, this Grade II listed building is of great historical significance to Portland. It once housed the steam engines that transported Portland stone from the surrounding quarries to the Victorian breakwater constructed around Portland Harbour.
^ Back to topHigh Angle Battery
The High Angle Battery is a derelict fort built in 1892 as part of Britain's Coastal Defences and is located in a disused Portland Stone quarry at the northern end of the island. Being down in a quarry the guns were hidden from view of any passing enemy ships, the element of surprise would keep them moving on, minimising a possible threat. The "high angle" that the nine-inch rifle muzzle loaders fired at ensured shells dropped down onto the decks of any attacking vessel, the sides of whom were usually rather better armoured.
The pace of maritime warfare increased with the use of smaller craft like torpedo boats, and the big guns would be far less likely to score a hit. As a result, they had been in use for just six years when they were taken out of service in 1898. The Portland installation is the best preserved Battery of its type in the United Kingdom and is a scheduled ancient monument.
^ Back to topChesil Beach
Chesil Beach starts on Portland and then stretches around 18 miles of Lyme Bay. We cannot do it justice in one paragraph so have a complete page for Chesil Beach.
^ Back to topVerne Nature Reserve
This area has recently been designated a nature reserve. With the help of the Island Ranger the site will be nurtured to attract a diverse range of wildlife to the area.
^ Back to topPortland Castle
Portland Catle, built as part of Henry VIII's coastal defence plan, is set on Portland Harbour. To do it, and indeed all the castles of Dorset justice, please peruse our Castles page.
^ Back to topPortland Harbour
Portland Harbour, home of the sailing for the 2012 Olympics has a whole page dedicated to it here.
^ Back to topTo bring your group to the Heights Hotel so that you can explore the Isle of Portland, please call Jenny or Kathy to discuss your personal requirements on 01305 821361.
To book your independent break please click below for our best available rates:
