What a quirky and epic place the Isle of Portland is, a proper 'must see'! We decided to walk around the whole Isle using the South West Coast Path, which turned out to be 10.5 miles, worth every step. We started from a free road parking area (DT5 1LQ) and headed towards Tout Quarry Reserve and Sculpture Park.
An extremely interesting spot to explore, a disused Portland and Purbeck stone quarry with persevered signs of the old industry mixed with the most beautiful sculptures, there is even an area for people to learn the art of carving in stone, we loved it here, spent a long time just admiring the work. The whole place is now a reserve, full of specialist species such as, rock stonecrop, Portland spurge and very rare lichens.
From here we jumped back onto the South West Coast Path, also the Jurassic Coast, over looking the dramatic Chisel Beach, a natural barrier beach that links the isle with the mainland and headed towards the imposing fortress, Blacknor Fort, used as a defense outpost in both World Wars. There are many signs of this isle being used as a defensive and observational area during WW1 & WW2, including Anti-Aircraft gun emplacements and pillboxes.
As we walked down to Portland Bill itself, we passed the first of the 3 lighthouses on the Isle, two (twin lighthouses) are now decommissioned, one of which is used as a bird Observatory. The very famous red and white Portland Bill Lighthouse is still in use, and is pretty spectacular!
We then continued along this unusual coast, with the waves crashing into the limestone cliffs, until we reached Church Ope Cove, where the first Viking attack on the British Isles was recorded. We spent some time investigating the Norman church ruins and castle (no public access to castle but it can be seen clearly).
After a short walk from Church Ope Cove we headed up the cliffs reaching an old Young Offenders Institute, past the East Weare C Battery and to the Victorian HMP The Verne, currently in use as an adult prison but was once a huge citadel for defense of the South coast and as refuge for the Navy.
We really had an awesome time exploring this industrial, natural, defensive, prison ridden, lighthouse littered, wild but tamed Isle.
Thank you for being here, all the best, Ceri & Kat!
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