Portland Bill, Dorset

View Larger Map

Portland Bill is a much-visited location at the tip of the Portland peninsula with ledges that drop straight down into the sea, a lighthouse and the iconic Pulpit Rock. Take the A354 out of Weymouth and, once you get to the peninsula, Portland Bill is well signposted. There’s a large pay-and-display car park from which the ledges are a short, easy walk. If you walk down past the Lobster Pot cafe to the eastern side of Portland Bill, there are the some old cranes and winches once used for loading stone onto boats. This is also a good vantage point for looking back at the lighthouse. To the other side of the car park, the path takes you to Pulpit Rock and, when the tide is low, a number of ledges that you can walk out onto. Portland is a great place for both sunrise and sunset at any time of year, especially during the winter. It can get very busy at weekends and holidays and Pulpit Rock is a popular spot for photographers. Visit at sunrise, though, and you may have the place much more to yourself!