View Northwest from Portland

The Isle of Portland provides spectacular walking country and dramatic views of the mainland.

To the left is Chesil Beach.  It may in this photo look like a sandy beach, but in fact it is an 18 mile long pebble beach.  Between it and the mainland is the 13 mile long Fleet Lagoon.  Until 1839, when the first bridge over the Fleet Lagoon was built, Portland had been accessible from the mainland only by boat.

The large expanse of water in the centre and right of the photo is part of Portland Harbour, a massive artificial harbour constructed in the mid to late 19th century and specifically designed as a base for the new British steam navy.

The Harbour is now home to the  Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, built - at considerable expense, no doubt - for the 2012 Olympic Games

To the far right, beyond the Harbour, part of Weymouth can be seen.