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Beach
Weymouth Beach
Wide, gently sloping sandy beach along Weymouth Bay beside the Esplanade.
A mini guide to
Weymouth & Portland
A Georgian harbour town, a wide sandy bay and the Isle of Portland
Photos
1 / 8Welcome to the area
A Georgian harbour town, a wide sandy bay and the Isle of Portland
Weymouth is a seaside town and harbour on a sheltered bay at the mouth of the River Wey. Wikipedia says its history includes the Georgian era and its role as a departure point for the Normandy landings, and Wikipedia places it approximately halfway along the Jurassic Coast. The beach is wide and gently sloping, and Nothe Fort and the harbourside are close to the centre.
South of Weymouth, the Isle of Portland is a tied island joined to the mainland by Chesil Beach. It has Portland Castle, Portland Bill Lighthouse, a sculpture park in Tout Quarry, and the quarries that supplied Portland stone for St Paul’s Cathedral and the United Nations Headquarters, according to Wikipedia.
Highlights
Start here
If you only have a few hours, these are good places to begin.
Victorian fort
Nothe Fort
Sea fort on the Nothe peninsula guarding Weymouth Harbour, now a museum next to Nothe Gardens.
Museum
Weymouth Museum
Local museum at Brewers Quay with artefacts from Weymouth’s history, from Tudor panelling to brewery memorabilia.
Harbour
Weymouth Harbour
Working and leisure harbour at the mouth of the River Wey, with quaysides on both sides.
Castle ruin
Sandsfoot Castle
Ruined artillery fort built by Henry VIII near Weymouth to defend Portland Roads.
Wetland reserve
Lodmoor Nature Reserve
Wetland, RSPB reserve and country park behind Weymouth’s seafront with reedbeds and rare birds.
Find your way
On the map
The map shows Weymouth & Portland and the streets around it. The Getting there page lists nearby stops and stations.
Insider tips
Before you go
1
Choose your Portland stops
Portland Castle (English Heritage), Portland Museum, the lighthouse visitor centre and Tout Quarry are each on their own site, so check opening before you drive down the island.
2
Keep clear of the cliffs
Visit Dorset advises staying away from any cliff edge and from the base of cliffs, because rock falls can happen at any time. Check current advice before fossil hunting or walking below cliffs.
3
Sea walls are not fenced
Visit Dorset warns that sea walls and harbours are often not fenced, so take care near the edge.
4
Watch the weather
Visit Dorset says wind and tide can create hazardous sea conditions, with large waves and undertow. Take weather warnings seriously and follow lifeguard and safety signs.
Tips from the Britlens editors
Explore this guide
Everything for Weymouth & Portland
The Jurassic Coast
More areas to explore
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A market town, a small harbour and the cliffs of Golden Cap
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Lyme Regis & Charmouth
Fossils, Mary Anning and the curve of the Cobb
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Seaton, Beer & Sidmouth
Chalk cliffs, a fishing cove, a seaside tramway and a Regency-era resort
Open the mini guide →Photo credits
- Weymouth & Portland (area photo): Jorge Franganillo, CC BY 4.0, source
- Weymouth Beach: Edward Betts, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Nothe Fort: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Weymouth Museum: Mike Faherty, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Weymouth Harbour: Jonathan Hutchins, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Sandsfoot Castle: Ajsmith141, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Lodmoor Nature Reserve: Mike Faherty, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Portland Castle: Mark.murphy at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Portland Museum: Neil Owen, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Portland Bill Lighthouse: David P Howard, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Tout Quarry Sculpture Park: Ajsmith141, CC BY 3.0, source
- Church Ope Cove: Neil Owen, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Chesil Beach Centre: N Chadwick, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Weymouth Pavilion: Paul Gillett, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Abbotsbury Swannery: Mick Knapton at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Bridport & West Bay: Martinvl, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Lyme Regis & Charmouth: Martinvl, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Seaton, Beer & Sidmouth: michael cooper, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Swanage, Studland & Purbeck: Bob Harvey, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door & Wareham: Brian Deegan, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
Keep exploring the Jurassic Coast