Itinerary #6 - Weymouth Crown copyright

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Weymouth (popn. 2011, means everything is within walking Weymouth 52,323) is situated on a peninsula, distance of the centre. The shop- sheltered from the north by the ping precinct is partially pedes- 1. Weymouth 180 Ridgeway, from the west by Chesil trianised, while the towns offers a 2. Weymouth Harbour 183 Beach and,f rom the south, by huge range of hotels, guest houses, Esplanade 182 Portland. The estuary of the River restaurants, pubs, traditional fish George III Statue 182 Wey, already a port during the Iron and chips and many small shops Jubilee Clock 182 Age, was developed by the Romans selling traditional seaside wares. Shopping Precinct 183 as a military and commercial deep Pleasure Pier 184 water harbour. Later it became a Royal Navy developments great- South Pier 184 major commercial port, trading ly affected Weymouth from the Sand Sculptures 182 with Europe and North America. 1860s, with the construction of Tudor House 183 Some of the earliest emigrants left the Nothe Fort. The Whitehead 3. The Nothe Fort 188 from here in the 1620s. Torpedo Works were established 4. Melcombe Regis 180 in 1891, immedi- 5. Wyke Regis 184 Seaside Resorts were becoming ately creating a demand for skilled 184 very popular with the rich by the labour. During WWII it em- Sandsfoot Castle 184 late 1700s. Weymouth, with its ployed about 1,600 people, produ- 6. Ferry Bridge 184 long sheltered sandy beach, mild cing up to 20 torpedoes per week. 7 186 climate and good harbour, de- It finally shut down in 1997. East Fleet 186 veloped rapidly after King George Fleet 186 III became an enthusiastic visitor. Annual Events include Weymouth 8. Bennett’s Water Gdns 186 The Georgian and Regency style Carnival, Seafood Fes- 9. Radipole Lake RSPB 185 houses on the Esplanade were built tival, MotoX 10. Lodmoor Country Pk 186 for wealthy businessmen and their and the Sand Sculpture Festival. Sea Life Park 186 families who flocked to this newly Weymouth Pavilion has live per- Lodmoor RSPB Res 185 upmarket and fashionable resort. formances throughout the year. In 11. Upwey Wishing Well 182 keeping with being a year-round 12. Roman Temple 180 Apart from its fine beach, resort, Weymouth offers some- 13. Osmington Horse 186 Weymouth has a great deal to offer thing for everyone whatever the 14. 187 today’s visitors. Its compact size season.

Dorset Guide Book 1st edition by Charles Tait 340 What to Do and See - Portland

ORDNANCE SURVEY 1:50,000 & 1:25,000 maps OS Landranger Map 194 Dorchester & Weymouth OS Explorer Map OL15 Purbeck & South Dorset

Weymouth 1. Weymouth (page 180) is situated in a beauti- railway line from Weymouth Harbour to Ferry ful sheltered position overlooking . Bridge. There are fine views across Weymouth Bay. With its beautiful long sandy beach and many fa- Sandsfoot Castle (page 184) is a “device fort” built cilities, the town is a fine and popular seaside resort. by Henry VIII off the Rodwell Trail. The ruins of 2. Weymouth Harbour (page 183) remains a this large gun platform have recently been stabilised. working ferry and fishing port with a large marina 6. Ferry Bridge (page 184) spans the Fleet estuary. upstream. The quaysides have many interesting old The first bridge was built in 1839, while the current buildings, shops, pubs and restaurants, as well as one dates from 1985. boats and anglers to watch. 7. Chesil Beach (page 186) is a shingle barrier The Esplanade (page 182) was mostly built be- beach, stretcheing 18mi (29km) from West Bay to tween 1780 and 1850 by rich Londoners. Today Portland. It is up to 200m wide and 15m high and this elegant curve of buildings is largely hotels and is very hard walking. guest houses with shops and offices below. East Fleet (page 186) is the southern half of the Fleet The George III Statue (page 182) was erected in Lagoon. The“Fleet Observer” runs boat trips here the centre of the town to commemorate the King’s in summer. The South West Coast Path follows the 50th Jubilee in 1810. He still surveys the Esplanade beach from Ferry Bridge to Langton Herring. from his high plinth. Fleet (page 186) inspired the novel Moonfleet. The The Jubilee Clock (page 182) on the Esplanade, Fleet can be accessed in several places near here, in- celebrates the 50th year of Queen Victoria’s 50th year cluding via the romantic Moonfleet Manor Hotel. in 1887. Both the statue and the clock were reno- 8. Bennett’s Water Gardens (page 186) are 2mi vated for the 2012 Olympic Games. (3km) west of the town centre on the B3157. For- The Shopping Precinct (page 183) is partly pedes- mer clay pits have been imaginatively redeveloped trianised. Apart from the ubiquitous chain stores and landscaped into a delightful exotic fairyland. it has a wide choice of independent shops, ranging 9. Radipole Lake RSPB Reserve (page 185) is a from upmarket fashion and jewellery stores to out- large area of lakes and wetland northwest of the har- lets selling seaside resort goods. bour. There is a visitor centre, several hides, board- The Pleasure Pier (page 184) is dominated by the walks and a choice of trails. Weymouth Sea Life Tower. The viewing capsule 10. Lodmoor Country Park (page 186) has a host commands fine panoramic views over the town. of attractions including Weymouth Sea Life Park. Sand Sculptures (page 182) have been a feature on Lodmoor RSPB Reserve (page 185) is another the beach near the Pleasure Pier for over 90 years. wetland site with several hides and nature trails. Tudor House Museum (page 183) in Trinity Street 11. Upwey Wishing Well (page 182) off the A354 dates from the 17th century. The nearby Old Rooms north of Weymouth, was regularly visited by George are an even older merchant’s house. III and is the source of the short River Wey. 3. The Nothe Fort (page 188) was originally built 12. Jordan Hill Roman Temple (page 180) is sign- as a gun battery by Henry VIII. The current im- posted off the Furzy Cliff road above pressive fort dates from the 1860s and houses a fas- northwest of the town. Only the footings remain. cinating military museum. There are many military 13. The Osmington White Horse (page 186) is artefacts from over 100 years of usage of the site. carved into the chalk of White Horse Hill. Said to 4. Melcombe Regis (page 180), north of the har- represent George III leaving Weymouth it is best bour is the oldest part of town. The first town viewed from the A353 west of Osmington. bridge was built in 1594. Originally Weymouth 14. Ringstead Bay (page 187) is overlooked by the was the settlement on the south side of the harbour. dramatic chalk cliffs of the and Burn- 5. Wyke Regis (page 184) is the former industrial ing Cliff. This lovely shingle and sand beach can be part of Weymouth, now mostly housing estates. reached by toll road off the A353 or by footpath The Rodwell Trail (page 184) follows a disused from the National Trust White Nothe carpark.

341 Dorset Guide Book 1st edition by Charles Tait