Portland Bill lies at the southern tip of the Isle of Portland.  Once the Isle of Portland really was an island, but is now a peninsula connected to the mainland by a narrow causeway. There are a few built up areas on the peninsula, beyond which is more open ground, leading to Portland Bill.  The Isle of Portland is famous for its Portland stone, a pale limestone which is very popular for public buildings as it is fairly easy to work, but hard enough to resist weathering. Stone from Portland was used extensively in London in buildings such as St Paul’s Cathedral. Apart from the properties of the stone for building, the location of the quarries on the peninsula meant it was relatively easy to transport the stone long distances by barge.

The main attraction at Portland Bill is the lighthouse, but there are also some remains of quarrying activities to explore.

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Location and Parking

Postcode: DT5 2JT

Take the A534 across the causeway to the Isle of Portland, and keep going south until the road ends at Portland Bill.  There is a large pay and display car park.

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Portland Bill Lighthouse and Trinity Obelisk

Portland Bill lighthouse was completed in 1906, and replaced two older lighthouses which though decommissioned are still standing. It makes a splendid subject with its bright red end white striped design.

A short walk north along the coastline and there are some foreground rocks that catch the incoming waves in windy conditions.

In this area north of the lighthouse, there is also the remains of an old crane used to winch stone onto barges below, and a row of bright beach huts.

Trinity Obelisk

Trinity Obelisk stands just south of the lighthouse, right at the tip of Portland Bill. It is a triangular pillar of white Portland stone, built in 1844 to provide a day-time warning to ships of the rocks around Portland Bill. The obelisk stands at 7m high.

By dropping down to the rocks below the obelisk it is possible to work the sea into the composition, however this is not entirely satisfactory as the obelisk is then partly hidden on the rocks above.

Pulpit Rock

The area around Portland Bill was quarried for Portland stone, and pulpit rock is a remnant of those days. It is a rock pinnacle standing in the sea with a large block of Portland stone resting against it, like a bible resting on a pulpit. This is not a natural formation, but was left behind by the quarrymen who once worked this area. There are good views of Pulpit Rock from both sides, though probably the best views are from the west. Many people climb up onto the top (despite the warning signs!) and including someone in the image provides a sense of scale.

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