This ‘ship’ is hidden away in a quiet corner of disused Tout Quarry, on the Isle of Portland. Every time we visit, we discover something new.
Archive for the ‘Isle of Portland’ Category
Stranded Ship Leave a comment
Jurassic Coast Challenge 2013 Day #2 – ‘You should have been here yesterday…’ Leave a comment
The Jurassic Coast Challenge is an epic three day event along (you guessed it) the Jurassic Coast, running a marathon(ish) length each day along the South West Coast Path. I had to go to work yesterday, so wasn’t able to attempt Day #1 from Charmouth to Weymouth. I ran most of this stretch a few weeks back but my run pales next to what the entrants faced yesterday; torrential rain and gale force headwinds, making for outrageously tough conditions. Hence, when I had a crack at Day #2 today (Weymouth to Lulworth via Portland Bill), I had to keep my whingeing to a minimum as the vast majority of folk I was running alongside had had it much much worse yesterday…and yet were somehow still fresh and fit today.
At the end of 27.7 miles, 4000 feet of climbing and 5 and a half muddy hours of slithering and staggering, I was not feeling fresh and fit. I honestly have no idea if I’ll be able to get down the stairs tomorrow morning, let alone run from Lulworth to Sandbanks. I am however morbidly curious to see how it pans out…
Sunset over Weymouth Bay Leave a comment
After a great afternoon of mountain-biking…
Portland MTB 2 comments
Last month whilst running around the Isle of Portland’s coast path, I was struck by what a great mountain biking route it would be; winding singletrack atop sheer cliffs, rocky tracks through abandoned quarries, sketchy moves over huge blocks of quarried detritus, brake-melting descents down disused quarry inclines.
Unfortunately, the coast path is not a bridleway, so it is not possible to ride it.
The Verne Citadel 1 comment
Yesterday’s run took me beneath the impressive walls of the Verne Citadel, perched 151 metres above sea level atop the highest point of the Isle of Portland. This massive fortification originated in the 1840s as a prison camp for inmates constructing the breakwaters of Portland Harbour (although there was likely an Iron Age hillfort on the site beforehand). It was substantially expanded into a defensive site in the 1860s, with prisoners quarrying and digging out the dry ditch. This was yet another ‘Palmerston Folly’, one of a chain of hugely expensive fortifications constructed to defend against a chimeric French invasion at the behest of the then-Prime Minister Palmerston.
The Verne is now a medium security prison and is (obviously) closed to the public. It’s still a pretty impressive sight, viewed from the SW Coast Path which follows its perimeter.
Isle of Portland Coast Path 2 comments
As previously noted, I’m entered for a double-ultra-marathon at the end of the month, with the slight problem of not having run at all for several months. I’ve been out a few times this week, trying to rediscover my legs (and ignore my waistline) and I thought it might be a good idea to kickstart my training with something longer…
Unfortunately, a circuit of the Isle of Portland turned out to be both much longer and much harder going than I was counting on, after only a week of training! I really didn’t care though, as it was a magnificent route. I’ve paddled around the Isle numerous times, and walked small parts of the coast…but this was the first time I’ve seen most of the coast path. The less said about the steep 450 foot climb up onto the Isle the better, but after that, it’s pure enjoyment. You weave through old Victorian fortifications (of which more in a future post) and then drop down below the cliffs on the east coast to weave though and over endless boulders and overgrown quarry remains; top notch trail running. Along the way, you pass Portland Castle and Church Ope Cove.
The run back along the west coast is along less interesting terrain (a constant gradual incline up wet muddy slippy grass, ouch) but eventually leads along the very edge of Portland’s highest cliffs; don’t trip! At the moment, some of this path is cordoned off due to slippage and cracks forming on the path…when that lot collapses towards the sea, it’ll be quite a sight. All that follows is a rapid descent, a short trudge along the pebbles of Chesil Beach and a final grind along Portland Harbour back to the car park at the Chesil Beach Centre.
All good. I’m quickly going to have to remember how to go a lot further, though…
Church Ope Cove Leave a comment
Church Ope Cove is the only proper beach on the Isle of Portland, located on the eastern side of the isle. For paddlers rounding Portland Bill, this is usually the only easily accessible landing spot with which to break up the journey. However, the pebbles are fairly steep and boulders can make landing awkward at some states of the tide.
I’m going to have a crack at running around the coast of the Isle tomorrow morning. Nothing can go wrong.
Portland Quarries Leave a comment
Much of the surface of the Isle of Portland is effectively a vast industrial wasteland; quarried waste is strewn all along the coast, in particular.
Portland Bill lights and marks Leave a comment
Various tall objects to be found at the southern tip of the Isle of Portland. The smaller lighthouse is no longer in use; instead it belongs to the British Ornithology Trust, and you can stay there if so inclined.
Portland sun 1 comment
The cliffs along the west coast of the Isle of Portland.
No sign of that large yellow object in the sky, this weekend. Time to head to the rivers instead…
Off the Bill Leave a comment
Bimbling around, a few yards offshore of the most southerly point of Dorset.
On Chesil Beach Leave a comment
Chesil Beach is very big, and very long; a 15 metre high, 200 metre wide and 30 kilometre long barrier beach. One thing you’ll notice about it, is that it contains a fair amount of pebbles.
Launching from the eastern end of Chesil Beach for the paddle around Portland Bill…
