• Know Before You Go - Covid-19 information
    • We're Good To Go Dorset
      • Accommodation
      • Days Out
    • Know before you go town centres
    • Repect, Protect and Enjoy Dorset
  • Things To Do
    • Shopping
      • Home Delivery and Online Shopping
      • Keep It Local
      • Markets
      • Antiques & Vintage
      • Arts & Crafts
      • Clothing & Accessories
      • Food & Drink
      • Shopping Areas & Retail Parks
    • Dorset Beaches
      • Beach Safety
      • Dog Friendly
      • The Jurassic Coast
      • Fossil Hunting
    • Active and Outdoor
      • Walking
      • Cycling & Mountain Biking
      • Watersports
      • Adventure
      • Leisure Centres
      • Golf
      • Group Friendly
    • Families & Children
    • Heritage & Culture
      • Castles & Forts
      • Ancient Sites
      • Museums & Galleries
      • National Trust
      • Landmarks
      • Stately Homes
      • Arts & Crafts
    • Animals & Farm Parks
    • Gardens & Parks
    • Tours & Boat Trips
      • Boat Tours
      • Guided Tours
      • Day Trips
      • Educational Visits
    • Food & Drink Experiences
    • Entertainment & Arts
      • Cinemas
      • Theatres
      • Nightlife
      • Performing Arts
    • Nature and Wildlife
      • Bird Watching
      • Nature Reserves and Country Parks
      • Dorsets Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
  • Accommodation
    • Hotels
    • Bed & Breakfast
    • Self Catering
    • Self Catering Agencies
    • Dorset Holiday Cottages
    • Caravan & Holiday Parks
    • Campsites
    • Glamping
    • Pubs & Inns
    • Farm Stays
    • Eco Friendly
    • Group Friendly
    • Pet Friendly
    • Accessible
    • Gradings & Awards
  • Shopping
  • Food & Drink
    • Takeaways
    • Restaurants
    • Pubs & Bars
    • Cafes & Coffee Shops
    • Afternoon Tea
    • Farmers' Markets
    • Local Produce
    • Celebrity Chefs
    • Food Events
    • Food & Drink Experiences
  • Ideas & Inspiration
    • Special Offers
    • Visit Dorset Blog
    • Top 10 Ideas
      • Top 10 Free Days Out
      • Top 10 Days Out With Kids
      • Top 10 Dorset Views
      • Top 10 Dorset Walks
      • Top 10 Rainy Day Ideas
      • Top 10 Sunny Day Ideas
    • Dog Friendly
      • Dog Friendly Accommodation
      • Dog Friendly Attractions
      • Dog Friendly Eating Out
      • Dog Friendly Beaches
      • Walking in Dorset
    • Eco-friendly
      • Eco Friendly Accommodation
      • Car Free Breaks
      • Top 10 car free days out
      • Travelling around Dorset
      • Charging your electric car
      • Local produce
      • Shop local
    • Short Break Ideas
      • Winter Breaks in Dorset
      • Spring Breaks in Dorset
      • Foodie Dorset
      • Romantic Dorset
      • Car Free Dorset
      • Health and Wellbeing Breaks
      • Luxury Dorset
      • Walking Breaks
    • Film & TV
      • Ammonite
      • Broadchurch
      • Dunkirk
      • Far From The Madding Crowd
      • On Chesil Beach
    • History & Heritage
      • Museums
      • Literary Dorset
      • Ancient Sites
      • Jurassic Coast
      • Fossil Hunting
    • Dorset Weddings
      • Places To Propose
      • Wedding Venues
      • Wedding Services
      • Honeymoons
      • Stag and Hen
  • Explore
    • Respect, Protect, Enjoy
    • Jurassic Coast
      • Fossil Hunting
    • Areas To Visit
      • Beaminster
      • Blandford Forum
      • Bournemouth
      • Bridport & West Bay
      • Christchurch
      • Dorchester
      • Lyme Regis
      • Poole
      • Portland
      • Purbeck
      • Shaftesbury & Gillingham
      • Sherborne
      • Sturminster Newton
      • Swanage
      • Wareham
      • Weymouth
      • Wimborne Minster
    • Villages
      • Abbotsbury
      • Cerne Abbas
      • Charmouth
      • Corfe Castle
      • Cranborne
      • East & West Lulworth
      • Milton Abbas
    • Coast and Beaches
      • Be CoastWise
      • Dorset Beaches
      • Jurassic Coast
      • Dog Friendly Beaches
      • Harbours
    • Countryside
    • Areas Of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
  • What's On
    • Virtual events
    • Food & Drink Events
    • Art Events
    • Music Events
    • Festivals
    • Sporting Events
    • Nature Events
    • Submit Event
  • Visitor Information
    • Maps
    • Brochures & Guides
      • Accessible Guides
    • Tourist Information Centres
      • Tourist Information Points
    • Travel Information
      • Getting Here
      • Getting Around
      • Parking
    • Group Travel
      • Group Friendly Accommodation
      • Group Friendly Days Out
      • Group Friendly Eating Out
      • Educational Visits
      • Stag and Hen Parties
    • Litter Free Dorset
    • Accessibility
    • Social Media
    • Contact Us

Special Offers

Sign up to our E-newsletter

Order or Download a Brochure

Visit Dorset Blog

Submit Event

Covid-19 information 

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation in Dorset

  • Things To Do

    Things To Do in Dorset

  • Food & Drink

    Places To Eat & Drink in Dorset

  • Explore

    Explore & Discover Dorset

Site Search Icon Site Search Icon

Welcome to the Itinerary Planner. Use this tool to build your own journey or choose from an exciting range of specially selected tours.

To build your own Itinerary, click Add to Excursion to add an item to your Itinerary basket.

List All My Saved Itineraries

  • Change Language
  • Holidays and Tourist information - Official Tourism Board - Visit Dorset.
  • Print Logo
  1. Portland's famous Pulpit Rock © Paul Williams
    Portland's famous Pulpit Rock © Paul Williams

You are here: Explore > Areas To Visit > Portland

Visit Portland

  • Accommodation

  • Things To Do

  • What's On

  • Food & Drink

Type:
Area:
Keyword:
Check In:
Add room / Unit

Type:
Area:
Keyword:

Type:
Area:
Keyword:
Dates

Type:
Area:
Keyword:

Search Accommodation

Type:
Area:
Keyword:
Check In:
Add room / Unit

Search Things to Do

Type:
Area:
Keyword:

Search What's On

Type:
Area:
Keyword:
Dates

Search Food & Drink

Type:
Area:
Keyword:

Highlights

The Heights Hotel

The Heights Hotel

3 Star, 62 bedroom hotel on the summit of Portland in the centre of World Heritage Site, enjoying…

Moonfleet Adventure Sailing

Moonfleet Adventure Sailing

Sailing daily from Portland - check website for availability and to book. Both novice and sailor…

Learn how to windfoil with The Official Test Centre

The Official Test Centre Ltd

The Official Test Centre (OTC) is the windsurfing, kitesurfing and stand up paddling (SUP) centre…

Adventure 4 All

Adventure 4 All

Adventure 4 All are specialists in Outdoor Adventure. Their activities go beyond your expectations…

PrevPrev
  • 1The Heights Hotel
  • 2Moonfleet Adventure Sailing
  • 3The Official Test Centre Ltd
  • 4Adventure 4 All
NextNext

Portland is a part of Dorset like no other; wild, natural and ruggedly beautiful.

This unique, tied island marks the southernmost point on the Jurassic Coast and is joined to the mainland by Chesil Beach. Its isolated location, quaint villages and rocky, coastal scenery give the island its own special atmosphere, perfect for exploring.

An Island of Discovery

Just four miles long by a mile-and-a-half wide at its broadest point, you’d be forgiven for thinking that there wasn’t much to see here on this tiny isle – but you’d be wrong!

Steeped in maritime history and heritage, there are museums, castles and not one but three lighthouses to explore, not to mention the folklore and tales of pirates and smugglers to discover.

Know before you go

If you are planning to visit during the Covid-19 pandemic, things will be a little different in Portland this year but the business and the community will still offer you their friendly welcome. If you would like to know what to expect when visiting, please read the new ‘know before you go’ information about Portland to help you plan ahead and enjoy your visit.

Outdoor Pursuits

Portland’s coastline is a mecca for the sporty, with adventure seekers flocking to enjoy the many activities on offer including renowned rock-climbing, abseiling, diving and excellent sailing and kite surfing thanks to the reliable winds.

Walkers and cyclists delight in the Portland loop of the South West Coast Path, which circles around the island mapping out an unmissable 9.5 mile trail of dramatic, rugged cliffs, nationally rare plants, hidden coves and stunning views.

Portland Bill and Pulpit Rock

The distinctive red and white striped Portland Bill Lighthouse and visitor centre is the island’s main draw and is open to tourists in the high season where you can climb the 153 steps to the top of the tower for some exceptional views.

If you’re not a fan of heights, there’s still plenty to see from land level. Looking out to sea from Portland Bill fills you with a feeling of exhilaration, especially on a stormy day where the waves crash powerfully against the craggy shore and across the Portland Race.

A Paradise for Wildlife

Portland’s unique geology and position makes it home to an extraordinarily rich variety of birds, animals and plant life.

The Bill is the first point of landing for millions of migrating birds and the Portland Bill Observatory is a birdwatcher’s paradise.

Take a wander inland and you’ll discover butterfly havens, wildflowers and even the odd grazing goat!  Did you know that there are 57 species of butterfly that occur in the British Isles and half of these can be seen on Portland?!

Corner Stone of History

Portland stone has been quarried on the island for many years and is used in prestigious buildings all around the world including London’s St Paul’s Cathedral and the United Nations HQ in New York.

Quarrying still continues on the island although many of the disused quarries have now been reclaimed by nature. Tout Quarry is one particularly well worth a visit; this reserve has been transformed into a stone sculpture park and over 60 works of art can be seen here including designs by Antony Gormley.

Olympic Sailing Waters

Portland is known world-wide for its sailing waters, the National Sailing Academy is based here which was the host venue for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic sailing events.

As well as catering for skilled sailors, the academy run fab lessons for beginners so why not give it a go yourself and skim across the waters that saw Ben Ainslie become the most decorated sailor in Olympic history!

A short trip up to the north of the island, will take you to the Olympic rings, one of the best viewpoints on the island.  Wait until the sun is setting and the rings become the foreground to the most spectacular view of Chesil Beach. If you’re looking for your next Instagram snap, it’s here!

Portland's Food and Drink

Fancy enjoying something to eat or drink with views over Portland Harbour? The Boat That Rocks is the perfect location for watching the sailing action out on the water on enjoying a few sundowners on the outdoor terrace. Serving a delicious locally-sourced menu with vegan and gluten free options, as well as fresh seafood specials, we're sure you'll have a fabulous time.

All over the Isle you'll find great little cafes, restaurants and pubs - some are now offering takeaways to enjoy out and about or delivered to your door.

With so much to explore, you’ll have a fantastic break in Portland! You might like to download our Portland town map and Visitor Guide for some more information and inspiration, or head over to our Things to Do on Portland page for even more ideas.

In This Section

  1. Windfoil sailing activity in Dorset
    Things to do
    There's plenty of ideas here to keep you entertained whilst on holiday on Portland.
  2. Static caravans at Cove Holiday Park in Dorset
    Accommodation
    You can be sure of a room with a view on the breathtaking Isle of Portland.
  3. Yummy freshly made pizza
    Eating out and takeaways
  4. The lighthouse at Portland Bill
    Wild about Weymouth and Portland?

    Join Dorset based walking enthusiast Richie as he explores the Weymouth and Portland Legacy Trail.

    6 Sep 2019
Loading..Loading..

Follow Visit Dorset

  • Facebook

    Thumbnail for Facebook

  • Twitter

    Thumbnail for Twitter

  • Youtube

    Thumbnail for Youtube

  • Instagram

    Thumbnail for Instagram

Sign up for our Newsletter

thank you

Download our Guide

thank you

Know Before You Go - Covid-19 information
  • We're Good To Go Dorset,
  • Know before you go town centres,
  • Repect, Protect and Enjoy Dorset,
Things To Do
  • Family Friendly,
  • Dog Friendly,
  • The Jurassic Coast,
  • Fossil Hunting,
  • Shopping,
  • Active and Outdoor ,
  • Families & Children,
  • Heritage & Culture,
  • Animals & Farm Parks,
  • Gardens & Parks,
  • Tours & Boat Trips,
  • Food & Drink Experiences,
  • Entertainment & Arts,
  • Nature and Wildlife,
Accommodation
  • Hotels,
  • Bed & Breakfast,
  • Self Catering,
  • Self Catering Agencies,
  • Dorset Holiday Cottages,
  • Caravan & Holiday Parks,
  • Campsites,
  • Glamping,
  • Pubs & Inns,
  • Farm Stays,
  • Eco Friendly,
  • Group Friendly,
  • Pet Friendly,
  • Accessible,
  • Gradings & Awards,
Shopping Food & Drink
  • Restaurants,
  • Pubs & Bars,
  • Cafes & Coffee Shops,
  • Afternoon Tea,
  • Farmers' Markets,
  • Local Produce,
  • Celebrity Chefs,
  • Food Events,
  • Food & Drink Experiences,
Ideas & Inspiration
  • Special Offers,
  • Visit Dorset Blog,
  • Top 10 Ideas,
  • Dog Friendly,
  • Eco-friendly,
  • Short Break Ideas,
  • Film & TV,
  • History & Heritage,
  • Dorset Weddings,
  • Dorset Videos,
Explore
  • Jurassic Coast,
  • Areas To Visit,
  • Villages,
  • Coast and Beaches,
  • Countryside,
  • Areas Of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB),
What's On
  • Festivals,
  • Food & Drink Events,
  • Art Events,
  • Music Events,
  • Nature Events,
  • Sporting Events,
  • Submit Event,
Visitor Information
  • Maps,
  • Brochures & Guides,
  • Tourist Information Centres,
  • Travel Information,
  • Group Travel,
  • Litter Free Dorset,
  • Accessibility,
  • Social Media,
  • Contact Us,
Home
Industry
  • About Us,
  • Our Work,
  • Working With Us,
  • Media Room,
  • Business Resources,
  • Research,
  • News,
  • Print Page
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Statement
  • Contact Us
  • Site Map
  • Terms and Conditions

Copyright 2021 Visit Dorset. All Rights Reserved.

Made By Simpleview Logo

Ratings & Reviews

Powered By

tripadvisor

Special Offers

Sign up to our E-newsletter

Order or Download a Brochure

Visit Dorset Blog

Special Offers

Sign up to our E-newsletter

Order or Download a Brochure

Visit Dorset Blog

Special Offers

Sign up to our E-newsletter

Order or Download a Brochure

Visit Dorset Blog

Special Offers

Sign up to our E-newsletter

Order or Download a Brochure

Visit Dorset Blog

Special Offers

Sign up to our E-newsletter

Order or Download a Brochure

Visit Dorset Blog

Special Offers

Sign up to our E-newsletter

Order or Download a Brochure

Visit Dorset Blog

Special Offers

Sign up to our E-newsletter

Order or Download a Brochure

Visit Dorset Blog