31 October 2008 - Fortuneswell, Portland, Dorset.

A visit to the Isle of Portland to complete another leg of the Dorset Coast Path.  We have previously walked around the Isle of Portland. We have also done the coast path from Weymouth to Ferry bridge. So this walk completes the link from Portland to Ferry bridge.

Our walk started at the view point car park next to the Portland Heights Hotel. This is the magnificent view along Chesil Beach. Our target at Ferry Bridge can be seen in the distance.

The edge of the Verne. Our path down can be seen on the side of the Verne. The path follows the old Merchants Railway. In late Victorian times this would have been busy scene with wagons full of stone blocks being pulled by horses along the track to the top of the incline.

A distant view of Fortuneswell from the Verne.

A closer look from further down the path.

The start of the steep descent down to the waterfront.  This is the old incline used to send the stone down to the dockside. Follow this link for some history and old photographs.
From here you can see the newly converted apartments being put in place for the 2012 games. You can also see the construction work in progress for the new sailing centre.

At waterfront level now. This gutted concrete frame used to be a Navy accommodation block. I expect it is going to be converted in line with the new apartments blocks in the picture below.

From the outside it looks like this block is nearly finished.

Our path took us past Portland Castle.

A nice old red brick building with control tower that used to be part of the Naval Air Station.

We followed the newly constructed path that  leads to the sailing academy. We had to take some detours due to the ongoing construction work.

The start of the walk along the causeway to Ferry Bridge. This wind surfer was traveling at quite a speed in the strong but very cold NE wind.

Looking back to the port area and the sailing academy.

This slightly out of focus picture shows the bed of an old railway line that we were following. The railway first ran in 1864. The last train was in 1965. Follow this link for a history.

The tide was out on the Fleet. We did see quite a few waders in the distance but the light was too low to make any identification.

Almost at the extreme point of our walk.  The Chesil Beach holiday village can be seen on the skyline.

This pub has obviously undergone a name change. From this side the old sign says Royal Victoria Hotel.

From the other side the new sign says The Ferry Bridge Inn. Our point of turning round and walking back to the car on top of Portland.

Fading light on Portland Harbour.

Chesil Cove with the last bit of light. The sun was just about to disappear. Just have to climb to the top now!