Sunday 4 October 2015

West Bay & Portland

West Bay .... We've had a recent trip down to Dorset and beyond - and oh did we get good weather - couldn't have planned it any better.



West Bay Dorset




The sandstone cliffs and Jurassic coast here are huge and still people like standing near the edge!!!








 Then on to

Portland 


and the Ocean Hotel, which gave us access to some great walks


 and more stunning views...
 


 Portland Bill is where you see 3 Lighthouses...not all used for the original purpose though.

One is now a bird observatory


another is a private house that also does holiday accommodation




and the third is a Lighthouse in full use, although it is worked remotely these days, no lighthouse keeper in situ.  This one is actually open to the public, but no I didn't go in it, the thought of walking up narrowing steps to the top gives me vertigo just thinking about it!!!









 Plus there is a National Coastwatch lookout...
(I did notice that whoever was on duty swung a large telescope round to
observe an incoming yacht - nothing seems to escape their attention which is good)






Our Portland stay was a good one, which we intend to repeat again one day,
and perhaps by then I will be persuaded to climb up that lighthouse!

Oh...and Portland - Weymouth were host to the 2012 Sailing section of the
Olympics and there's a typically designed monument to
mark the event.  The legacy that the Olympics brought is still enjoyed throughout the area.


~ and then onward on our trip,
to be added shortly ~






21 comments:

Judy said...

Very nice trip! Love the lighthouses!

liz said...

the landscape looks a lot like the other side of the Channel: Cap Griz Nez

ann @ studiohyde said...

Thanks Judy :-)

ann @ studiohyde said...

Hi Liz, thanks for this, I'm going on another trip now across the channel via the interweb :-)

rusty duck said...

Fabulous scenery that can't help but inspire art. And those blue skies... beautiful!

ann @ studiohyde said...

Exactly, I could do with spending a week there just painting!

Christine said...

Thanks for the tour, it looks lovely there and nice sketches too.

robin cox walsh said...

What a lovely time you're having! (I'm just slightly jealous, lol!)

ann @ studiohyde said...

Thanks Christine and Robin....I enjoy taking you all along with us on our trips :-)

CJ Kennedy said...

Beautiful. the cliffs and the beach look like the location of David Tennant's Broadchurch mystery? I wouldn't walk along the cliff for love nor money. I love the lighthouses.

ann @ studiohyde said...

Hi CJ, well have to admit I needed to google search Broadchurch, and sure enough it is the place where it was filmed!! Well spotted you. Have to admit I've heard of Broadchurch but never watched it...Well, this is the jurrasic coast, think I must be a dinosaur, lol ;)

Shammickite said...

When people say they have been to Portand I always ask them "Did you see Bill?" Ok bad joke.

Down by the sea said...

You should have told me you were in the area we could have shared a walk on the beach and a cup of tea - maybe another time! Sarah x

Cris, Oregon Artist said...

What a lovely trip. So nice when the weather cooperates. :) I love light houses and cllif views. You got some fine sketching in as well as great pix of the area. I feel like I'm on the trip with you. :)

Eileen H said...

Looks a lovely trip, but seeing folks standing on the edge of the cliffs now that made me feel giddy :) The recent warm weather has been wonderful!

ann @ studiohyde said...

Well at least you didn't ask if it was at Her Majesty's pleasure! lol :-)

ann @ studiohyde said...

That would have been great. Another time I'll let you know, my email is in a tab on the header so perhaps you could let me know your email too.....:-)

ann @ studiohyde said...

Thanks Cris, it was a lovely trip, especially being able to do all that sketching :-)

ann @ studiohyde said...

I know, I kept watching and hoping they wouldn't move too near the edge! Yikes!!!

juliefordoliver.blogspot.com said...

thanks for sharing your trip. I really enjoyed every word and photo.
I have to ask...is this the same Portland Bill where the Viking first landed in England? Going way back in my memory bank.

ann @ studiohyde said...

Thanks Julie....yes it is the same Portland Bill where the vikings landed, your memory serves you well :-)