Weymouth Bay is the gateway to a great holiday

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Sailing at Weymouth Bay

For sailors heading east or west along the South Coast, Weymouth Bay is a great place to take a break. Whether you’re stopping to get the tide right at Portland Bill or replenishing body and boat after crossing Lyme Bay or the English Channel, you’ll find everything you need and more.

Boats at Weymouth Bay

Weymouth Bay

Weymouth has been a holiday destination since Georgian times, and it is easy to see why the golden sand beach draws visitors to the town. Visitors arriving by boat have the choice of Portland Marina, Weymouth Marina or the bustling Weymouth town quay.

The first option for visitors is Portland, located on the west side of Weymouth Bay inside the harbour breakwater. Portland Marina was the sailing base for the 2012 Olympics and has all of the facilities you’d expect, including spacious visitors’ berths.

There are berths on the bustling Weymouth quayside, or pass under the lifting bridge and through to the more tranquil Weymouth Marina. The bridge opens every two hours, and there is a free waiting pontoon on the west bank.

Traditional holiday fun

Weymouth and Portland are only a couple of miles apart, but they offer distinctly different perspectives of Dorset.

Portland is the more rugged destination, with cliffs offering fabulous views across Chesil Beach and the Fleet lagoon, the iconic Portland Bill lighthouse, a thatched museum and even a pirates’ graveyard. The South West Coast Path passes through Portland Marina, and a loop of the Isle is around 10 miles.

In contrast, Weymouth’s charms are sweeter and more accessible. The Blue Flag beach is safe for swimming and sandcastles, and even has resident donkeys and Punch and Judy. Fishing boats line the quay, and the narrow streets have an eclectic array of shops, restaurants and bars.

Weymouth and Portland

Stretch your legs

While Portland walkers need to put their best foot forward (or take the bus) up the steep inclines, Weymouth walkers can take it easier on relatively flat terrain.

The Rodwell Trail connects Weymouth and Portland, and this re-purposed railway is an enjoyable 2-mile stroll. There are easy detours to see Sandsfoot Castle, Chesil Beach and the Fleet, and plenty of places to stop for ice cream.

If you like fortifications, Henry VIII’s Portland Castle overlooks Portland Marina and is run by English Heritage. In Weymouth, the Nothe Fort is rather younger but commands a fine view over the harbour entrance and the Nothe Gardens are a popular picnic spot.

Follow Weymouth Esplanade east past beyond the beaches, and you will soon be high on the white cliffs of the Jurassic Coast. The village of Osmington Mills makes a good rest stop and maybe a quick swim before heading back for dinner.

Seafood specialities

The clear waters of the Dorset coast are famous for seafood. You can buy fish and shellfish from the boats in Weymouth, or take the easy option and try one of the area’s welcoming pubs or restaurants. Weymouth has some award-winning chip shops as well as quality restaurants like Crustacean, Les Enfants Terrible and Al Molo.
Overlooking the Fleet is the Crab House Café, or enjoy the scallops and sunsets at the Cove House Inn on Portland.