gjgm
Well-Known Member
Not been--any reason to visit, anything to do (no car)??
Portland marina
- Thread starter gjgm
- Start date
Sailorsam101
Well-Known Member
No and no is the answer.
Nothing there unless you want to walk a fair bit. Much better to go to Weynouth.
Nothing there unless you want to walk a fair bit. Much better to go to Weynouth.
PEJ
Well-Known Member
G,
Very nice marina but there is not much there. One bar/restaurant which is perfectly nice but outside the marina there is very little of interest. You can get a bus to Weymouth or you can walk up to the Lighthouse. That is about it as far as I can remember.
Very nice marina but there is not much there. One bar/restaurant which is perfectly nice but outside the marina there is very little of interest. You can get a bus to Weymouth or you can walk up to the Lighthouse. That is about it as far as I can remember.
Montemar
Well-Known Member
Portland Bill lighthouse, Lobster Pot cafe and the Race especially in a gale
Henry VIII castle close to Marina
SAR helicopter ditto
There is a cafe up at the top near the Radome staffed by prisoners, you can get the T-shirt!
If it is breezy and sunny wind surfers quite entertaining beside the Causeway - road link to mainland
Chiswell, Hope Cove Inn and Chesil Beach
Heights Inn on the way up with great views over Chesil Beach and Weymouth Bay
You will need to walk a lot or take buses but it is an unusual and interesting place. Lots of quarries.
Look out for "Keep Portland Weird" bumper stickers
Henry VIII castle close to Marina
SAR helicopter ditto
There is a cafe up at the top near the Radome staffed by prisoners, you can get the T-shirt!
If it is breezy and sunny wind surfers quite entertaining beside the Causeway - road link to mainland
Chiswell, Hope Cove Inn and Chesil Beach
Heights Inn on the way up with great views over Chesil Beach and Weymouth Bay
You will need to walk a lot or take buses but it is an unusual and interesting place. Lots of quarries.
Look out for "Keep Portland Weird" bumper stickers
longjohnsilver
Well-Known Member
We enjoyed it for a few days for the reasons already given, but more than that without transport would get rather boring.
gjgm
Well-Known Member
Ok, thanks all.. sea currently looks good for weekend, but not sure it is warm enough for Salcombe, and Dartmouth is still a bit of a way just for a day and a bit...just wondering of something different to do. Been to Portland by car and so done the environs...feel the need to warm those engines a bit.
Ripster
Well-Known Member
We spent half a season there and as other have said, not much there. If you have push bikes you can cycle on the Rodwell trail right into weymouth - nice flat ride. You can walk, but its about 3 miles into Weymouth from the Marina. Otherwise its buses or Taxi's to Weymouth. Not much in the local village which is also about 20 mins walk, though there is a small supermarket. Nice walks and views on Chesil beach - pub and cafe just off the beach. The marina itself is very good, nice wide fairways and channels (as its usually windy!) fuel berth, newish pontoons and great facilities - showers/laundry. Good lifting facilities and boat yard, chandlery and local marine businesses (servicing, fabrication, sail loft etc). The D&R staff are very helpful, ask for Paul.
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lanerboy
Well-Known Member
Weymouth is better but Portland is very nice on a sunny day with no wind very peace full compared to Weymouth, if you do go then I recommend a walk over to Chesil beach to the Cove pub for some great food and great beer over looking chesil beach it really is hard to beat the view from your table and all food is home cooked and plenty of it, also there is a little mobile caravan near the cove pub that does wood fired pizza on a Thursday and Friday night I think it is between 6pm and 8.30pm (I think) it is amazing you wont get a better pizza
With no car though Weymouth would be a better bet either in the Marina where we are or in the town outside the Harbour masters office, also try stables next to the harbour masters office for another great pizza and beer
With no car though Weymouth would be a better bet either in the Marina where we are or in the town outside the Harbour masters office, also try stables next to the harbour masters office for another great pizza and beer
alancollins
Well-Known Member
We visited Portland a year or two ago. Went to the trouble of booking a table in the marina restaurant but, when we returned that evening, the manager told us they had decided not to serve food that evening. She advised us to go to the fish restaurant ten minutes away but, when we got there, that was closed as well. Finally we met someone who pointed us to the Cove pub. It was packed of course ,being the only game in town, but the landlady couldn't have been more helpful and managed to squeeze us in. You have been warned!
Montemar
Well-Known Member
That would probably have been "The Boat that Rocks" which is now in new hands and rather better value for money but the writing is on the wall...bring sandwiches.
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chanelyacht
Well-Known Member
Hadenough
Well-Known Member
Best place in the world
Shaddup, don't spoil it!
Yotdoc
New Member
We have just moved our boat there this weekend- spent the last 6 seasons on a fore and aft mooring in the upper reaches of R. Hamble and have been sailing from the Hamble on/off for the last 30 years. Spent 6 (unplanned) days in Portland Marina in July during our usual 2 week West Country break- that was as far as we got due to poor weather.
So, a chance to explore. I've always "avoided" Portland ( when it was a Naval port and because of the race), but we both found it to be a quite charming place. We took several bus trips around the island and the views from the top of Portland in the open-topped double decker are nothing short of spectacular. Pubs etc and quality of the marina (and friendliness of the staff) already mentioned.
Walks along Chesil Beach with the dogs were great fun and you always feel you've earned your beer at the Cove Inn afterwards. East coast walks along the old quarries fascinating.
Water is lovely and clean and it's a lot more relaxing than tackling Southampton water! (The contrast on our way home to the R. Hamble on a Saturday in July was stark)
Great location for setting off for the CIs/ Cherbourg (should be a beam reach both ways in the prevailing s'westerlies rather than a 10 hour pinch to windward from the Needles) and I will try the inshore passage to the West Country next season! And also great for just going out for a little potter (never found the Solent very good for this, particularly after all the faff with the dinghy to get to our mooring).
We are really looking forward to it ( better location for us as we live in Somerset and due south, so no more A36/M27 and Salisbury).
Will probably miss the Solent a bit, if I'm honest, but think we've served our time there and time to try something different.
Simon
So, a chance to explore. I've always "avoided" Portland ( when it was a Naval port and because of the race), but we both found it to be a quite charming place. We took several bus trips around the island and the views from the top of Portland in the open-topped double decker are nothing short of spectacular. Pubs etc and quality of the marina (and friendliness of the staff) already mentioned.
Walks along Chesil Beach with the dogs were great fun and you always feel you've earned your beer at the Cove Inn afterwards. East coast walks along the old quarries fascinating.
Water is lovely and clean and it's a lot more relaxing than tackling Southampton water! (The contrast on our way home to the R. Hamble on a Saturday in July was stark)
Great location for setting off for the CIs/ Cherbourg (should be a beam reach both ways in the prevailing s'westerlies rather than a 10 hour pinch to windward from the Needles) and I will try the inshore passage to the West Country next season! And also great for just going out for a little potter (never found the Solent very good for this, particularly after all the faff with the dinghy to get to our mooring).
We are really looking forward to it ( better location for us as we live in Somerset and due south, so no more A36/M27 and Salisbury).
Will probably miss the Solent a bit, if I'm honest, but think we've served our time there and time to try something different.
Simon
Sailorsam101
Well-Known Member
Be careful having a boat in the water at Portland for the winter. There is a real reason why only strong metal cradles are used for boats ashore.
A mate had his Sadler 34 there for two winters four years ago. The damage caused by the winter wind and storms that lash that place got so expensive that he had to move. From what I could see and from what other owners told me storm damage to boats there is very common.
The marina is very nice indeed but the location is far too exposed.
A mate had his Sadler 34 there for two winters four years ago. The damage caused by the winter wind and storms that lash that place got so expensive that he had to move. From what I could see and from what other owners told me storm damage to boats there is very common.
The marina is very nice indeed but the location is far too exposed.
Pete7
Well-Known Member
Spent several days there in July as others have said during socking weather. Marina has great big wide pontoons and plenty of space for visitors to choose a location that suites them. Marina Restaurant a little pricey for basic pub food, however, nice position with good views. An easy choice or those who want to break the journey going East or West.
