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| Nothe Gardens, Weymouth No Panorama? you may not have 'JAVA' enabled on your browser. CLICK, HOLD and DRAG on the image to PAN around, use your CONTROL and SHIFT keys to ZOOM in and out. |
There are many outstanding coastal walks around Weymouth and Portland or just a short drive into the surrounding countryside to visit some of the many memorable locations, visit TE Lawrence, Lawrence of Arabia's House or the frequently written and filmed about Thomas Hardy Countryside with the beautiful scenery as seen in the much acclaimed film "Far From The Madding Crowd". With Weymouth being centrally placed on the sout coast there are many opportunities to explore some of the wonders of the Dorset countryside, home to the great writers such as William Barnes, Thomas Hardy and more recently Jane Austin. The County is proud of its rich and varied history with places like Corfe Castle dating back to the Norman settlements after the Battle of Hastings in 1066, damaged beyond repair by the Roundheads during the Civil War of 1643. Visit the Tolpuddle Martyrs Museum or the incredible Maiden Castle - a vast earth hill fort built by the Ancient Britons and one of the most important sites of its kind in Europe or visit the Celtic God of fertility, Nodens, an awesome carving in the chalk hills of Cerne. Joined to the mainland of Weymouth, by the south-east tip of Chesil Beach and a public road bridge, the "Island" of Portland provides a most dramatic coastal landscape. An explorer's Island with `curiosities' of history and folklore just waiting to be discovered. Places of interest include: Portland Bill, Pulpit Rock and Lighthouse overlooking the English Channel; Portland Castle, one of the best preserved of Henry VIII's Coastal forts; the mighty sweep of Chesil Beach; Portland Museum and Shipwreck Exhibition; Church Ope Cove, with the ruins of Rufus Castle and St Andrew's Church. There are also Gardens, Churches, a Sculpture Park and Cliff Walks offering spectacular views and as evening falls the most breath taking sunset you may ever see!. From Roman times the strategic value of this channel port has been exploited to its advantage and for nearly 2000 years, the twin Boroughs of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis have been major import/export centres. Fierce rivalry between the boroughs over trade, smuggling and even piracy led Elizabeth I to combine them to form the basis of the modern town, now over 400 hundred years old. In 1588 many local ships fought the Spanish Armada in a major battle off Portland, and successfully captured the San Salvador which was brought into port and looted. The Mayor is reputed to have run away with the pay chest! Today the Weymouth and Portland Musuems record these significant historical events, whilst the Deep Sea Adventure, Victorian Nothe Fort and Tudor House atttractions depict our local and maritime heritage. Weymouth's fame as a seaside town goes back over 200 years to the times when King George III and the Royal family spent their holidays in the resort, making Weymouth "The First Resort". VR Photography Rohan Perera © Red Door VR Limited.
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