Portland is famous for the high quality limestone, which has been quarried on the island for centuries and has been used to build many of London’s most famous buildings including: St Paul’s Cathedral and Buckingham Palace.
This tiny island, linked to the mainland by a causeway, is just four miles long and 1 1/2 miles wide. It forms the southern most point of Dorset and has successfully retained much of its natural rugged charm, being the central point on the World Heritage designated Jurassic Coastline.
The island has a good range of amenities and facilities including: schools, local shops, a new supermarket, leisure centres and a selection of restaurants and pubs. In addition, there are outstanding opportunities in the surrounding area for outdoor pursuits from water-sports to rock-climbing.
The Portland area is experiencing a very exciting renaissance. The National Sailing Academy, which is to be the venue for the London 2012 Olympic sailing events, is one of Portland’s newest additions. Investment in the region, prior to the Olympics, has resulted in the building of the new Portland Marina and Osprey Quay development whilst extensive improvements to the road network has considerably reduced travelling time to nearby Dorchester, Poole, Bournemouth, Exeter and other major conurbations. By very virtue of the area’s Olympic appeal and status it is now also attracting major ‘blue chip’ business names such as Sunseeker, who are themselves a magnet for international visitors and employment. All of which is helping this small island make big gains in the 21st century.
Pennsylvania Heights is pleasantly secluded, but by no means isolated. Direct trains to London Waterloo run from neighbouring Weymouth (approximately 6 miles), as do a number of ferry services to the Channel Islands and France. The South West also has international airports at Exeter, Bournemouth and Bristol.
Pennsylvania Heights
Pennsylvania Road
Portland
Dorset
DT5 1HT
Local Authority
Weymouth & Portland Borough Council
Transport
By Rail (via Weymouth) :
London Waterloo
Southampton
By Road :
Dorchester
Bournemouth International Airport
Exeter Airport
Southampton Airport
Heathrow Airport
Gatwick Airport
By Ferry (via Weymouth) :
Jersey
Guernsey
St. Malo
Cherbourg (via Poole)
2 hours 50 mins
1 hour 50 mins
14 miles
42 miles
63 miles
70 miles
129 miles
152 miles
3 hours 25 mins (6 crossings per week)
2 hours (6 crossings per week)
5 hours 15 mins (2 crossings per week)
Under 2 hours (fast service)