Portland's villages
As well as the magnificent views that can be had from most parts of the coastline, there are a number of attractions that make a trip to Portland worthwhile.
The first village is Fortuneswell where you are greeted by the recently carved 'Spirit of Portland' sculpture. This depicts a fisherman and quarryman representing the two main industries of the Isle. Other examples of Portland Stone, which has been quarried since Roman times, are St Paul's Cathedral and Buckingham Palace as well as the United Nations building in New York.
From this location you can see north across the harbour back to Weymouth and to the west the remaining 30 miles of Dorset coast.
On the most southerly tip of Portland is the red and white striped Portland Bill Lighthouse. It has a visitor centre which is opened during the summer months, and the top of the tower gives exceptional views, but you need to climb 153 steps to get there.
Just a few hundred yards away is the old lighthouse which houses the Portland Bird Observatory and at Church Ope Cove there is a small museum which has just had a major makeover incorporating new displays based on three specialist themes - Stone, Sea and Famous People.
Chesil Bank
The next stretch of coastline is Chesil Bank, a natural ridge of pebbles extending for over 10 miles from Portland to Abbotsbury. It is estimated to be around 5000 years old and has been the location of many a shipwreck. It forms the barrier between the sea and the Fleet which is the largest lagoon in the UK.
Abbotsbury
Weymouth and West Bay are linked by the B3157 road and served by the X53 bus route (for service information visit www.firstgroup.com ). 10 miles along this stretch of coast is Abbotsbury where the unique swannery is located - it is the only place in the world where you are able to walk through the heart of a colony of nesting Mute Swans. Also in Abbotsbury are the subtropical gardens, which Alan Titchmarsh describes as one of the finest he has ever visited, and the children's farm which regularly features goat racing!
Burton Bradstock
Burton Bradstock the next village has evidence of the contrasting religious architecture of the 15th century St. Mary's Church and the nearby 1825 Wesleyan Methodist chapel. Its beach marks the return to sandy beaches after the pebbles of Chesil Bank.
West Bay
A further 3 miles along is West Bay, also known as Bridport Harbour, and sometimes described as the Golden Gateway to the Dorset Jurassic Coast. It has two beaches and two harbours, and a reasonable variety of eating and drinking establishments.
The remaining 10 mile stretch of Dorset Coast between West Bay and Lyme Regis has 2 beach locations, both of which are accessible by taking short detours off the A35 road. They are also served by the X53 bus route which links Poole and Exeter.
Seatown
The first of these is Seatown, which just has a few cottages and a pub near the beach. Despite its lack of facilities it is well worth making the three quarters of a mile trip from Chideock for the wonderful view of Golden Cap just a mile to the west, which at over 600 feet is the highest sea-cliff on the southern coast of England.
Charmouth
Finally we reach Charmouth, a popular sea-side village with a good range of facilities and a flat sandy beach. It also has a small Heritage Coast Centre which encourages safe and sustainable collecting of Jurassic fossils from the local beaches.
From here it is just a 3 mile trip to Lyme Regis the most westerly of the Dorset coastal towns.
