The Isle of Portland is a mecca for rockclimbing
Explore the sculpture trail at the Tout Quarry on Portland © Richie's Incredible Britain
Portland harbour has incredible watersports facilities

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Things to do on the Isle of Portland

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Highlights

Moonfleet Adventure Sailing

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

Wondering what there is do in Portland? Plenty! Portland really is an explorer’s island, full of different things to do to spark your interests, whatever they may be...

Alive with activity

Portland is the ideal place to have a go at some of those activities you’ve always wanted to try but never had a chance! Have a go at sailing on Olympic waters, kite surfing, SCUBA diving, windsurfing or stand up paddle boarding…feel the wind in your hair and the sun on your face – it’s a recipe for happiness!

Portland is well renowned for being one of the best places for rock-climbing on the South Coast. The island offers over 900 routes of varying difficulty along its majestic limestone cliffs meaning you can look forward to both superb variety and spectacular views when you climb here.

A coastal walk or cycle round the island is highly recommended and you can spend a leisurely day following Coast Path along the old railway route up the Merchant’s Incline, admiring the impressive architecture of The Verne and meandering past the striking ruins of Rufus Castle. There are plenty of cafes dotted en route too where you can stop and refuel.

Portland Castle

Overlooking Portland Harbour stands one of Henry VII’s finest coastal forts, built in the early 1540s to protect against French and Spanish invasion.

This English Heritage owned Portland Castle provides a great family day out; enjoy stunning views from the gun platforms and get close to the powerful cannons, hear history brought to life through the free audio tour and become a Tudor Soldier or Royalist Gunner when you try on the outfits and armour in The Armoury.

To finish your visit, take a stroll in the Contemporary Heritage Garden before relaxing in the Captain's Tearoom with a coffee and a slice of cake. Yummy!

Explore Portland’s quarries

Portland’s abandoned quarries are fascinating places to explore, full of quarryman’s tunnels and gullies, fossil-filled rocks and a colourful explosion of flowers and butterflies in the spring and summer months.

You’ll feel a real sense of adventure at Tout Quarry as you scramble around hunting for all the different sculptures. The Park hosts many events throughout the year including Living Quarry and Children’s Stone Carving and Sculpture workshops so if you feel inspired by what you see, you can have a go yourself!

Portland’s hidden curiosities

One of the best things about Portland is there’s so much more to this island than first meets the eye; in fact, the longer you spend here, the more eclectic treasures you uncover!

Stroll down past St Andrew’s Church and you’ll stumble upon a pirates’ graveyard, head further down the steps and you’ll reach the beautiful, secluded Church Ope Cove, once a smuggler’s hotspot!

Portland Museum is well worth a visit, this quaint museum covers everything from shipwrecks and prisons to dinosaurs and Marie Stopes. If you’re a Thomas Hardy fan, one of the 400 year old cottages featured in ‘The Well-Beloved.’

There’s also a family farm that’s free to visit and a fabulous gem of a museum dedicated to Portland’s involvement in D-Day and the contribution from the American troops.

If you’d like to read more about lesser known Portland, take a look at passionate local instagrammer ‘Richie’s Incredible Britain’s blog: The Enchanting Isle of Portland.

As you can see, there’s no other place quite like Portland! It’s unique with such wildness and adventure ready to be explored! Book your break today!

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Number of results: 14

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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
225 reviews
Moonfleet Adventure Sailing

Type

Type:

Boat Trip

Portland
Awards
- Visit Britain We're Good to Go 2020
Sailing daily from Portland - check website for availability and to book. Both novice and sailor can try classic tall-ship sailing around Southern England’s stunning Jurassic coastline and the fascinating chalk downlands of The Isle of Purbeck and…
Price £20.00 to £85.00 Per Ticket
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
19 reviews
The Official Test Centre Ltd

Type

Type:

Watersports

Osprey Quay, PORTLAND

The Official Test Centre (OTC) is the windsurfing, kitesurfing and stand up paddling (SUP) centre located right on the water’s edge, within the grounds of the National Sailing Academy on Portland.
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
151 reviews
Adventure 4 All

Type

Type:

Adventure Sport Centre

Adventure 4 All are specialists in Outdoor Adventure. Their activities go beyond your expectations to give you an experience second to none. Their core activities include Coasteering, Stand Up Paddleboarding and Rock Climbing.
Portland Bill Lighthouse

Type

Type:

Lighthouse

PORTLAND
Awards
- Visit Britain We're Good to Go 2020
*Temporarily closed*. Portland Bill Lighthouse has been standing majestically for the past one hundred and eleven years at a height of 41 metres (135 ft). The distinctive red and white tower first shone its famous four flashes of light every twenty…
Sandsfoot Castle and the Rodwell Trail

Type

Type:

Castle/Fort

Weymouth

Halfway along the Rodwell Trail you'll find Sandsfoot Castle, built by Henry VIII in 1539 to protect his kingdom from foreign invasion. Abondoned by the military in 1665 it's become an iconic ruin overlooking Portland Harbour for the past 350 years…

Free
Weymouth Walk - Church Ope- Portland Bill- Tout Quarry

Type

Type:

Walking

Portland

Catch the Portland Bill 501 bus (Summer only) or the X10 bus (Mon-Fri) from the Kings statue or the Number 1 service from behind Debenhams. Please check www.traveline.org.uk for more details.
The bus will drop you just outside The Heights Hotel.…
Portland Castle

Type

Type:

Castle/Fort

PORTLAND
Awards
- Visit Britain We're Good to Go 2020
A well preserved coastal fort built by Henry VIII to defend Weymouth harbour against possible French and Spanish attack. Exhibition: 400 years of the castle's history.
Free
Church Ope Cove and East Weares

Type

Type:

Natural Feature

Portland

Discover one of Portland’s hidden gems on the island’s sheltered east coast. Climb down steps to enjoy this secretive cove or explore the weares , a unique rocky landscape created through landslips and quarrying.
Fine Foundation Chesil Beach Centre

Type

Type:

Country Park/Nature Reserve

Portland

Managed by Dorset Wildlife Trust, the centre's exciting displays and programme of activities will help you make the most of your visit to Chesil Beach and Portland.

Free
Weymouth Walk - Portland Bill Lighthouse Walk

Type

Type:

Walking

Portland

From the Kings Statue, catch the 501 service (Summer only). Services to Portland Bill take approx. 40 minutes.
The bus will drop you at the northern end of the car park at Portland Bill. Leaving the first lighthouse behind you, join the South…
Portland Bill - Legacy Trail

Type

Type:

Viewpoint

Portland

Jutting out into the English Channel at the centre of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage site, this is a very special place for wildlife and geology. Follow a short circular walk along the west and east cliff tops and across the extensive common…
Portland's Quarries

Type

Type:

Natural Feature

Portland

Portland's quarries are fascinating places to explore. They are full of quarryman’s tunnels and gullies, fossil-filled rocks, colourful wildlife and over hidden sculptures. Follow the old horse-drawn tramway routes used to move the Portland stone. …
Tout Quarry Nature Reserve and Sculpture Park

Type

Type:

Country Park/Nature Reserve

Portland

Tout Quarry Nature Reserve and Sculpture Park is an abandoned stone quarry which has now been turned into a stone sculpture park. Now one of Portland’s most popular attractions, you can discover over 60 hidden sculptures in the Quarry, such as…
The Merchant’s Incline

Type

Type:

Viewpoint

Portland

The Merchant’s Incline is a wonderful way to walk up onto Portland with stunning views across the Harbour and Chesil Bank. Previously a gravity-operated railway, it’s now the South West Coast Path. It’s a steep, long climb but a wonderful traffic…

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Alive with activity

Portland Castle

Explore Portland’s quarries

Portland’s hidden curiosities

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