Page 117 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - England's South Coast

DORSE T AND SOMERSE T  115

host to over 500,000 troops + Portland Castle founded, but the earliest records
in advance of the 1944 D-Day Liberty Rd. Tel 01305 820539. date to 1393. Mute swans come
Landings. The fort also provides Open Apr–Jun: 10am–5pm daily; Jul– to nest here in June, attracted
fine views from its ramparts and Aug: 10am–6pm daily. & 7 - = by the reed beds along the Fleet,
the adjacent Nothe Gardens. œ ∑ english-heritage.org.uk a brackish lagoon protected
 Portland Bill Lighthouse from the sea by a high ridge of
J Jurassic Skyline Portland Bill. Tel 01305 821050. Open pebbles called Chesil Beach. Its
The Quay. Tel 0871 282 9242. May–Sep: 10am–5pm daily; Oct, Mar– wild atmosphere is appealing,
Open from 11am daily (closing times Apr: 10am–5pm Tue–Sun; Nov–Feb: although strong currents make
vary). & 7 ∑ jurassicskyline.com 10am–3pm Sat & Sun. Closed 24 & 25 swimming too dangerous.
+ Nothe Fort Dec. & 8 ∑ trinityhouse.co.uk The tithe barn now forms
Barack Rd. Tel 01305 766626. Open part of a Children’s Farm where
Feb & Oct school hols: 11am–4:30pm kids can get close to a range of
daily; Apr–Sep: 10:30am–5:30pm daily. animals, including ponies.
& 7 - = ∑ nothefort.org.uk The Abbotsbury Subtropical
Gardens are home to a large
number of exotic plants, many
8 Isle of Portland of which had been newly
discovered by botanists in
Dorset. Map F5. * 12,000. @
South America and Asia when
A rocky lump rising dramatically they were first introduced.
above the coast, the Isle of On a hilltop above the village
Portland has been described as is St Catherine’s Chapel. Visitors
the Gibraltar of England. Many can enjoy stupendous views of
of the world’s finest buildings, the abbey ruins from here.
including St Paul’s Cathedral (see
pp58–9), have been constructed O Swannery
using the Portland stone that has Portland Bill Lighthouse, which commands New Barn Rd. Tel 01305 871858.
been quarried here for centuries. stunning views from the Isle of Portland Open mid-Mar–Oct: 10am–5pm
There are spectacular views from daily. & 7 =
the top of the island, which is P Children's Farm
home to two forts. The brooding 9 Abbotsbury Church St. Tel 01305 871817.
Verne Citadel still serves as a Dorset. Map F5. * 500. n West Open mid-Mar–mid-Sep: 10am–5pm
prison, but it is possible to visit Yard Barn, West St; 01305 871130. daily; mid-Sep–mid-Oct: 10am–5pm
the other, Portland Castle, built ∑ abbotsbury-tourism.co.uk Sat & Sun. & 7 limited.
under Henry VIII to protect the
harbour. At the southern tip of The name Abbotsbury recalls the Y Abbotsbury Subtropical
the island is Portland Bill, an town’s 11th-century Benedictine Gardens
attractive head land capped by abbey, of which little but the Off B3157. Tel 01305 871387.
the Portland Bill Lighthouse, huge tithe barn, built around Open Apr–Oct: 10am–5pm daily; Nov–
built in 1906. Visitors can climb 1400, remains. Nobody knows Mar: 10am–4pm daily. Closed 19 Dec–
to the top for spectacular views. when the Swannery here was 1 Jan. & 7 limited. - =

The peaceful village of Abbotsbury, seen from St Catherine's Chapel on a hilltop above the village

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