The Portland Round
Area |
Distance |
Difficulty |
Access Restrictions ? |
Portland |
7.5 miles |
Easy |
No - |
An excellent 7.5 mile walk which takes in Portland Bill, the quarries, Verne Prison and give a variety of great views, including views over Weymouth Bay, Portland Harbour and a fantastic view along the Jurassic Coast to St Alban's/St Aldhelm's head. No ascents or descents of any significance. |
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The detailed walk is below and also here in PDF format if you wish to print:-
The Portland Round
How to get there: - Grid Reference; SY 680700. Go through Weymouth towards Portland, up through the bends onto Portland and at the first roundabout follow the signs for The Portland Spa and Southwell Business Park. After about 2 ½ miles, as you enter the Southwell Business Park, park near the entrance as this is where the walk starts and ends.
There are various paths that cut back across Portland from the main path so this walk has great flexibility.
Note: Toilets are available at Portland Bill (3/4 mile) and various other places along the walk.
Leave the car park entrance and just after the lay-bye on the right you will see a Footpath sign and follow this path along the side of the fence, onto the Coastal Path.
At the end, turn left and head down to Portland Bill and Lighthouse, passing by one of the 2 old lighthouses and the Portland Bill Coastguard station.
At the bill, left of the lighthouse, follow the stone marker indicator leading you towards Church Ope Cove. Follow the coastal path indicators through the old quarries which take you onto the road at one stage for 1/3 mile, to Church Ope Cove. Whilst on the road, you can walk on the grass verge on the right, past the Chain Weares car park and then follow the finger pointer on the right off the road section.
After ascending from Church Ope Cove, the path becomes a flat track but soon after, be careful to follow the yellow indicator on the stone which leads you left, up beside a small quarry rather than following the track.
At the top, bear 90 degrees right, on the level, not back down the small track and stay on the level to Grove Point and Verne prison. Here, with great views across Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour, you again meet the road and follow this around the prison. As you leave the entrance, follow the wooden indicators through the boulders and follow these signs (and no others) along the large flat track, past fenced off buildings to your right until you meet the tarmac road again.
Stay on the road, past the High Angle Batteries, straight across at the junction until you meet car parks on your right. Follow the path to the right of the car park until you see the next Coastal Path sign. Follow the road to your right, passing the Cenotaph and other memorials on your right.
Just in front of the Portland Heights Hotel, you will come to a sharp left hands bend, just before a roundabout. Follow the yellow arrow indicator to the right, down across the road and you are now on the west side of Portland.
Follow the path along the west cliff until you see the Southwell Business Park on your left and Portland Bill straight ahead. Do not be tempted to go to the east of the Business Park but retrace your steps back along the south side of the fence and back into the car park.
Jurassic Jaunts
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