Dorset is the perfect place for a holiday in 2011. We have three stunning properties perfectly positioned in the middle of the World Heritage Jurassic Coast and very close to the South West Coastal Path, ideal for walking. Portland is an ideal base for watersports also. Windsurfing, sailing, fishing and canoeing activities can all be found in the seas around Weymouth and Portland, the location of the sailing events for the 2012 Olympics.
Weymouth and Portland accommodation for half-term
Posted February 8th, 2012 | No Comments
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AMAZING SEA AND COASTAL VIEWS OF DORSET
HALF TERM DORSET HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS WEYMOUTH & PORTLAND
Posted October 5th, 2011 | No Comments
Half term Dorset holiday activities & events Weymouth and Portland
26th October - Bedlam and Broomsticks at the Nothe Fort www.nothefort.org.uk
28th - 30th October - Halloween Fun Evenings and Abbotsbury Enchanted Floodlit Gardens, 5 pm to 8.30 pm. Enjoy strolling through the floodlit gardens, activities for children include free facepainting and prizes for the children in fancy dress. Normal entry fees apply www.abbotsbury-tourism.co.uk
29th October - Pumpkins in the Park - Greenhill Gardens, 2 pm - 4 pm. Free event. Dust off your broomstick and fly over to Greenhill gardens to enoy another fun-filled Pumpkin in the Park Party.
29th & 30th October - Dinner and Ghostly Happenings for older children (age 14+) & adults, 7 pm. Booking essential. www.nothefort.org.uk
29th October - Revive Wild about Halloween - 4 pm - 9 pm - This year we are teaming up with Wild About Weymouth and Portland to organise fun activities for the whole family on Portland. The event will kick off during the late afternoon at the High Angle Batteries before a procession down the incline to Boscowen Leisure Centre for fun, games, music, dancing, fireshow, food and Halloween Beer tent. Portland rocks will be there so you can try your hand at the junk band and encourage our young local musicians. GWellC dance crew will also be entertaining us with fantastic street dance displays. Prizes for fancy dress and a firework finale. www.reviveportland.com
AN EXCITING YEAR FOR DORSET: WEYMOUTH AND PORTLAND WILL BE HOSTING THE SAILING EVENTS DURING THE 2012 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES
Posted June 12th, 2011 | No Comments
2012 promises to be an exciting year for Dorset: Weymouth and Portland will be hosting the sailing events during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The county will also be playing a full part in the UK’s biggest ever festival, the Cultural Olympiad. So as well as its stunning landscapes, delicious food and drink and fascinating heritage and attractions, there are even more reasons to visit Dorset than usual. Full information is on www.dorsetforyou.com/london2012
SPECIAL OFFER FOR TWO PEOPLE STAYING NEAR WEYMOUTH AND PORTLAND NATIONAL SAILING ACADEMY
Posted May 1st, 2011 | 2 Comments
Stay near Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy and take advantage of our special offer for couples. 25% DISCOUNT for couples (2 people staying) in any of our Contemporary Cottages on Portland Dorset in September & October 2011. Fabulous sea and coastal views of the Jurassic Coast. Enjoy the sunshine!
Weekend Breaks - Dorset Coastal Cottages - Weymouth Accommodation
Posted March 19th, 2011 | No Comments
Enjoy a weekend break in a Dorset Coastal Cottage. Quarries Reach is free for the weekend of 25, 26, March £130 for 2 nights. April 8th and 9th a choice of 3 houses and April 15th and 16th a choice of 2 houses. Take in some sea air, enjoy the sunshine at Weymouth and Portland Dorset. What better Weymouth accommodation could you find? 
Special Offer self-catering Weymouth and Portland
Posted February 3rd, 2011 | 2 Comments
Take advantage of our special offers for May and visit Weymouth and Portland Dorset. Enjoy the sea air and the fabulous sea and coastal views from our self-catering houses in Dorset. Try a spot of sailing at Portland, the venue for the sailing events of the Olympic Games. Contact Laser Sailing for a short course.
To book, either call or email deborah@dsare.co.uk
Self-catering accommodation in Dorset
Posted January 24th, 2011 | No Comments
Butterfly Haven At Broadcroft Quarry, Portland
Posted October 20th, 2010 | No Comments
Throughout British history, Portland has been well- respected for its gorgeous, high quality limestone. Though this has brought economy and fame to the area, it has not come without a price. Hundreds of acres of precious heath lands have been torn apart to reap the bounty that lies below. But, after the quarry has served its purpose, what then?
Thankfully, at Broadcroft Quarry Nature Reserve you can find a great example of how to transform ‘Post-Industrial’ land into a conservation land of true worth. At this stunning, seven hectare reserve, they have taken the utmost care in restoring natural herb-rich flora and scrub to the landscape, which in turn has brought forth many indigenous birds, butterflies and insects.
In fact, there are over twenty-four different species of butterfly to be seen on this land. The main attraction for butterfly lovers is the Silver-Studded Blue, which are very abundant here as they have made their colony on the limestone.
To reach Broadcroft Quarry by car, take the main road A354 to Portland and then follow the signs for Easton. After entering Easton, turn left onto Grove Road. The parking lot on the south side is approximately a quarter of a kilometre down. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Weymouth to Easton Square. It is just a short walk to the grove.
Things to Do on Portland
Posted July 2nd, 2010 | No Comments
The Isle of Portland in Dorset is one of the main gateways to the legendary Jurassic Coast of southern England. This gorgeous stretch of land is known for its abundance of highly prized limestone which is quarried and used to construct many well known buildings, like St. Paul’s Cathedral and Buckingham Palace, throughout the UK. Limestone might be the most profitable of Portland’s exports, but it is really the natural jewels that you can find on this peninsula which attracts so many of the tourists that visit here year after year.
The first glimpse of Portland can be seen as you drive onto the island bypassing the long stretch of Chesil beach. Along this beach you can find every kind of water sport you can think of to fill your days. Windsurfing, diving and sailing are well established pastimes in this region, and it is here that will be the venue for the 2012 Olympic sailing event. If diving is more your fancy, you can hire guides and instructors to aide your venture into Portland Harbour, the deepest man-made harbour in the United Kingdom. There are many old wrecks to explore underneath the water’s surface, including some fascinating relics from WWII.
On land, you can make your way to Portland Bill, the southern-most point in Dorset, which is the location for the red and white striped lighthouse that is still in use today. Two other lighthouses are also on the Bill; the Old Lower Lighthouse, home of the Portland Bill Bird Observatory, and the Old Higher Lighthouse, which is privately owned. A former owner of the Higher Lighthouse was Dr. Marie Stopes, the pioneer of birth control who opened the first family planning clinic in London in 1921. She also founded the Portland Museum which features maritime artefacts and history.
Also of interest is the sheer amount of pure, unadulterated land to be found here! You can walk or cycle around the cliffs or even take this opportunity to explore more of southern Dorset. Don’t forget to visit the two castles that are on the peninsula, Portland Castle and Rufus Castle. Portland Castle was built under King Charles in the sixteenth century to defend this run of coast from the French and the Spanish. It is one of the best preserved castles from this era and is not to be missed. Rufus Castle, named after William II with his red hair, is the ancient Norman castle that was originally built in the twelfth century, though what remains today was mainly rebuilt around the 1400s. It stands on a rock overlooking the Church Ope Cove.
There is a wide selection of holiday accommodations available to suit all budgets, ranging from hostels to B&Bs, self-catering cottages to hotels. Wherever you choose to stay, make sure to ask the owner’s recommendations on their favourite places to visit in Portland, as this little jewel of the south has tonnes to offer.
Tout Quarry Sculpture Park
Posted June 15th, 2010 | No Comments
For a new spin on a walk whilst in Portland, why not visit the Tout Quarry Sculpture Park. The abandoned quarry is situated between the cliff’s edge and the road to Portland Bill on the northwest corner of Top hill. You can access this quarry by walking along the road to Fortuneswell, turning right onto Wide street, then right again at the Tradecroft Estate. It is at the bottom of the hill.
In 1983, the Tout Quarry Sculpture project began to make something beautiful out of a deserted old spot that had lost its usefulness. Now, visitors are able to walk through the quarry exploring the wide variety of different works of sculpted art. And, with so much displayed, you could visit every year and still see something new each time.
New to the park is the stone lithophone, an instrument made entirely of stone. Dame Evelyn Glennie, percussionist, is set to play this remarkable instrument, for the opening ceremony of the sailing event for the 2012 Olympics. To make this, each stone had to be painstakingly sculpted and tested to produce a specific tone.
For those that are keen to take this experience into a more active role, it is possible to take courses in stone sculpture via the Portland Sculpture and Quarry Trust. They offer weekend, 1 week, 2 week, and 4 week courses on selected dates throughout the year.
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