2015 Download the Dorset Visitor App WHAT’S ON WHAT TO DO AREA MAP www.visitweymouth.co.uk www.visitportland.co.uk The great place to be... ...for something relaxing and fun! You’re spoilt for choice for places to eat and drink outside, soaking up the atmosphere along the seafront. Widened pavements have created a Mediterranean style café culture or cross over to the boat styled boardwalked beach cafés which are open all year round. On your way, take a look at theSt. Alban sand Street sculptures in their specially designed shell shaped home, or the gleaming statues and Jubilee Clock. Stunning veils of artistic lighting gives the seafront a welcoming ambiance for your evening stroll. Floodlit tropical planting and colourful light columns brighten up the Esplanade, or look out to sea to view the atmospheric reflections of the bay. Getting to and around Weymouth and Portland has never been easier. Whether you are travelling by car, train or coach, Weymouth is an easy and acessible ‘Jurassic Stones’ sculpture Jubilee Clock holiday destination. There are also a host of cycle racks around the borough for your bike trips and adventures. Make your way to Portland, stopping off at the redeveloped Chesil Beach Centre, run by the Dorset Wildlife Trust. Don’t miss the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, home of the sailing for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, whilst visiting Portland Marina, Osprey Quay and Portland Castle Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy from Portland Weymouth Beach ‘Sand Weymouth Esplanade lighting Sculpture’ arena Portland Marina ...for something relaxing and fun! St. Alban Street High quality beach facilities with a unique blend of modern and traditional seaside fun ‘Jurassic Stones’ sculpture Jubilee Clock Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy from Portland Weymouth Beach ‘Sand Weymouth Esplanade lighting Sculpture’ arena Portland Marina The great place to be... ...on golden sands Weymouth beach is a fun, relaxing and safe place for the whole family to enjoy Weymouth’s three mile beach with level promenade is just minutes from the town centre and historic harbour. There’s plenty of entertainment for everyone to enjoy, ranging from traditional attractions such as Punch & Greenhill Gardens Judy, pedaloes and donkey rides, to lively events and international sporting championships. Weymouth Esplanade and Beach Did you know? Punch and Judy Family fun on Weymouth Beach • • With golden sands and safe shallow waters, • Weymouth is the ideal beach holiday destination. Council beach staff, • RNLI lifeguards and lost children attendants provide peace of • mind, whilst deckchairs, sun loungers and suntraps are available for hire. Enjoy a delicious Dorset ice cream! Sandsfoot Castle and Award-winning donkeys gardens ...on golden sands Greenhill Gardens In the quieter months enjoy a relaxing stroll along the promenade or across the sands with your dog. Sit in a beach side café and watch the world go by, or do something different and take part Weymouth Esplanade and Beach in the Christmas ‘Chase the Pudding’ race! Did you know? Punch and Judy Family fun on Weymouth Beach • Weymouth Beach has received a Beach Award since 1987 • Weymouth’s beach donkeys are national award winners • The improved seafront now has more eating out areas for all seasons • Weymouth beach is home to an international sand sculptor • Weymouth hosts a number of world class sailing and beach based sporting events Enjoy a delicious Dorset ice cream! Sandsfoot Castle and Award-winning donkeys gardens The great place to be... The natural place to be... ...on the waterfront Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of this attractive, traditional working harbour Weymouth Waterfront is situated at the heart of the town and is a busy, traditional harbour, offering an ever changing scene all year round. Sited around the harbour are several restaurants, bars and cafés – many alfresco – offering traditional seaside refreshments, award winning fish & chips, à la carte menus and fine dining experiences. See the historic Town Bridge lift, take a ride on a pleasure boat, visit the attractions and quaint shops or enjoy a stroll or guided tour around the quay. There is a prosperous local fishing trade with catches being delivered daily along the harbour. Festivals and events take place throughout the year in and around the harbour – even on Christmas Day! Weymouth Traditional Harbour Did you know? • The Town Bridge lifts every 2 hours during the day • You can catch a small row boat to take you across the harbour • You may see a visiting Tall Ship and even have the chance to go aboard Town bridge, Weymouth • Weymouth Harbour Guide is available from the Harbour Office: 01305 838423 Visit the Pommery Seafood Festival Enjoying a harbourside lunch The natural place to be... ...on the waterfront Weymouth Traditional Harbour Did you know? Town bridge, Weymouth Visit the Pommery Seafood Festival Enjoying a harbourside lunch The great place to be... Did you know? Greenhill Gardens in Weymouth and Cycling and walking leaflets are ...to enjoy nature Easton Gardens in Portland have both available from the Tourist Information received the Green Flag Award Centre (also see page 28) Silver Studded Blue Butterfly Quiet and secluded coves, quarries, The fastest animal on earth, the Peregrine nature reserves, cliff top walks and Falcon, breeds on Portland spectacular views around every corner Portland’s disused stone quarries have become wildlife havens Here at the heart of the World Heritage Coast, Weymouth Weymouth and the Isle of Portland are & Portland has an outstanding variety of natural places joined by the world famous Chesil Beach to visit and explore. On land, at the coast and under the Chesil Beach Centre Chesil Cove, Portland sea there is an amazing diversity of wildlife and geology for all to enjoy. Walk along the rugged cliff tops or visit one of the RSPB reserves or a disused stone quarry, now a haven for Did you know? wildlife. Try to spot the Silver-Studded Blue butterfly or • • visit during the bird migrations in Spring and Autumn. You may even see a bottlenose dolphin or a puffin! • With coast and countryside as diverse as the activities on offer, you can enjoy a range of outdoor pursuits catering • • for all tastes including boat trips, walking and cycling. Portland Bill Or venture under the water, either snorkelling or diving to experience the amazing geology and underwater life including sponges, red algae, snakelock anemones, violet sea slugs and sea stars. Guillemots on Portland cliffs Enjoy a walk along the South West Coast path View of Chesil Beach from Portland Did you know? Greenhill Gardens in Weymouth and Cycling and walking leaflets are ...to enjoy nature Easton Gardens in Portland have both available from the Tourist Information received the Green Flag Award Centre (also see page 28) Silver Studded Blue Butterfly The fastest animal on earth, the Peregrine Falcon, breeds on Portland Portland’s disused stone quarries have become wildlife havens Weymouth and the Isle of Portland are joined by the world famous Chesil Beach Chesil Beach Centre Chesil Cove, Portland Did you know? • The Chesil Beach Centre has • The coastal inland footpaths and cycle network been redeveloped along with make the area perfect to explore on foot and bike the Chesil Beach Café, which • See if you can spot the Portland stone sculptures serves locally sourced food. at Tout Quarry • Weymouth and the Isle of • Look for the ‘Natural’ flag Portland are joined by the Portland Bill throughout the Borough. world famous Chesil Beach Check out the new Legacy Trail linking the nature reserves on www.visit-dorset.com Guillemots on Portland cliffs Enjoy a walk along the South West Coast path View of Chesil Beach from Portland The great place to be... ...for history and heritage Castle ruins, lighthouses, smugglers’ tales and royal connections are all waiting to be discovered. Steeped in history, Weymouth and Portland has a range of museums, castles and a fort to explore. Immerse yourself in the history of the Tudors at Portland Castle or the ruins of Sandsfoot Castle. Many events take place throughout the year ranging from a Victorian festival and re-enactments to national Armed Forces Day Celebrations in June. King George III’s visits to Weymouth in the late 18th century are commemorated by a town statue and white horse on the chalk hillside. Georgian buildings sweep along the seafront, boasting unrivalled views of the bay. Why not take a town walk to learn more about the history of the area? Weymouth and Portland’s waters have an intriguing history of smugglers’ tales and shipwrecks, learn more about these at Portland Museum, or take to the waters King’s Statue and Bathing Machine with one of the many diving specialists to discover a wreck for yourself. Did you know? Take a boat trip from Weymouth to Portland harbour Sandsfoot Castle and gardens Portland Lighthouse ...for history and heritage King’s Statue and Bathing Machine Did you know? • Portland Bill lighthouse has 153 steps to the top Take a boat • You can walk or cycle along an old railway line trip from (Rodwell Trail) Weymouth to Portland • Thomas Hardy called Portland the Isle of Slingers in his novels; the isle was the main setting of harbour The Well-Beloved (1897) • Portland stone is famous for its use in British architecture, including St Paul’s Cathedral and the British Museum Sandsfoot Castle and gardens Portland Lighthouse ...for leisure & attractions Nothe Gardens St. Alban Street Cove Gallery Enjoy the beach cafés Olympic rings at Newground, Portland Did you know? • Greenhill Gardens and Sandsfoot Gardens in Weymouth together with Easton Gardens in Portland have received the Green Flag Award • Weymouth has a farmers’market every second Sunday of the month on Westham Bridge • Weymouth has an RSPB nature reserve in the town with regular walks, workshops and nature events • The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games are remembered on Portland with a gold post box and Olympic Rings crafted from Portland Stone Take in the sights of • Weymouth Pavilion Theatre is run by a Community Enterprise group bursting Weymouth & Portland on with energy, events, theatre shows and functions.