Portland Bill Lighthouse Picture

Portland Bill lighthouse

Portland Bill lighthouse is on the southern tip of Portland where it is in service as the current Portland Lighthouse. Two older lighthouses are also close by, these having been in use in earlier times to warn shipping of the treacherous jagged coast around Portland. This picture of Portland Bill lighthouse shows the Portland Lobster Pot restaurant at Portland Bill with the famous red and white stripes of Portland lighthouse in the background.

Two earlier Portland lighthouses stand close by where one is now the Portland Bill bird observatory and the other a private residence. Portland Bill is one of the most popular Weymouth and Portland attractions, the lighthouse is probably the most photographed scene on the island.
Portland Bill Lighthouse

How to get to Portland Bill

There is a large carpark at Portland Bill, there is also a bus to Portland Bill from Weymouth. The large open fields around Portland Bill make a fine place for a picnic on Portland on a fine day with fantastic views across the dramatic coastline. There are also plenty of places for a picnic on Portland around the coast with lots of beautiful viewing points to enjoy.

Portland Bill bird sightings

Portland Bill Bird Observatory
One of the earlier Portland lighthouses is now run as the Portland Bill bird observatory. There are lots of Portland Bill bird sightings with a variety of species regularly being spotted. People come to Portland Bill to enjoy the bird spotting opportunities.

There are many popular walks on Portland with Portland Bill being the ideal base to start at. Whether its a short walk along the coast from the Portland Bill carpark, past the Portland beach huts, the old lifting cranes - once used to lift small fishing boats down the rocks to the water, or you want to explore the coast around Portland, you can enjoy it all by starting at Portland Bill. Portland Bill Crane - a number of these can be seen on the Isle of Portland

There are also lots of other spots to enjoy a Portland walk from with fantastic viewing points all across the island.

One of the most popular viewing points on Portland is at Church Ope Cove, close to Portland museum, this spectacular viewing point can be found high above Church Ope Cove beach and just below the ruins of Rufus castle. Footpaths run in both directions from here, if you take the steps down towards Church Ope Cove beach, you will come across a path that takes you to the Church Ope Cove pirates graveyard.

Church Ope Cove pirates graveyard is the graveyard of the ruined ancient St Andrews church, after being destroyed by invaders and landslips it was abandoned long ago. A number of memorials still stand in this ancient churchyard, one of them has a skull and crossbones emblem - often referred to as the Portland pirate grave. The coastline around Portland Bill

Places to eat at Portland Bill

Portland is a small island with many pubs and cafes, there are no shortage of places to eat on Portland or to enjoy a drink. At Portland Bill, the already mentioned Lobster Pot cafe is a popular spot right on Portland Bill itself, with lovely views. Just up from Portland Bill lighthouse is the Pulpit Inn - named after the nearby rock called Pulpit rock, this old inn offers splendid views out towards the lighthouse and across Portland Bill. There are also many wonderful places to have a picnic on Portland.