Portland

A Perfect Location, A Unique Opportunity

Portland Port lies at the heart of the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO world heritage site renowned for its breath-taking beauty and its incredible historical heritage.

Cruise guests visiting the port are treated to a whole host of exciting options, including the bucket list destination of Stonehenge, another UNESCO World Heritage site. And if two UNESCO World Heritage Sites are not enough for one port, passengers can also choose to visit a third at the Roman City of Bath. On top of those spectacular excursions, Dorset itself is a stunning place to explore, offering the best of countryside, coastline, events and attractions which are perfect for families and couples alike. Passengers can go to the ruins of Corfe Castle to learn about its 1,000 years of history, hear the whimsical tales of Minterne House or visit the unique and fascinating Abbotsbury Swannery. Or if you simply fancy tasting the national dish, Fish and Chips, and enjoying some relaxed sunbathing on an award-winning beach, then Portland Port can provide that too.

The Dorset landscape also provides the perfect setting for all manner of outdoor pursuits, with woodland trails, mile upon mile of rolling green countryside and some of the most dramatic coastline to be found anywhere. The county has an abundance of activities on offer, from gentle walks and relaxing rounds of golf to high speed RIB rides and paddle boarding in Portland harbour, host to the 2012 Olympic sailing events.

Portland Port has witnessed remarkable growth over recent years. It was once a relatively unknown destination in the cruise industry, however since 2007 it has quickly developed an enviable reputation as the most popular cruise port in the South West of England.

In September 2022, the port announced its biggest investment and development project to date; £26 million to build a new quay, Deep Water Berth (DWB), and extend the port’s main berth, Outer Coaling Pier (OCP). The finished project enhances the port’s capabilities by providing two adjacent berths, both capable of handling larger cargo vessels and cruise ships up to 350m in length.

And when the time comes to depart our beautiful shores be sure to keep your eyes on the quayside. Portland Port prides itself on providing a memorable send off with a musical “Bon Voyage” and a 3 shot salute from the Nothe Fort Victorian Artillery Brigade.

Ian McQuade – General Manager – Commercial

Top Five Facts About Portland Port

1. Home of Portland Stone Portland stone is a limestone which was formed during the Jurassic period. It has been quarried on Portland since the Roman times and has been used as a building stone for many major public buildings including St Paul’s Cathedral in London and the United Nations headquarters in New York City.
2. At the heart of the Jurassic Coast The Jurassic Coast is a 95 mile stretch of coast which reveals the history of Earth over 185 million years. It forms a near-complete record of the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods and is world famous for its abundance of fossils. It is a site of such international importance that it was designated as England’s first natural World Heritage Site in 2001.
3. Gateway to the “Black Death” The nearest town to Portland Port is Weymouth, which has the dubious honour of being the port where the devastating Black Death first entered England in 1348.
4. Proud owner of a long naval history King Henry VIII was the first to realise the strategic significance of Portland Port and built two castles to protect the approaches, Portland and Sandsfoot Castle. Portland Castle is open to the public and is within walking distance of Portland Port; it is one of the best preserved of its kind in the UK. In 1845 Portland Harbour became a naval base and convict labour was used to build a breakwater with 4 million tons of stone. It was bombed by the Germans in the Second World War and later nearly half a million American troops embarked for the D-Day landings. The Royal Navy sold the naval base to Portland Port Ltd in 1996.
5. The word ‘rabbit’ has long been considered taboo on Portland Instead, locals refer to them as “underground mutton”, “long-eared furry things” or “bunnies”. It is thought that the superstition surrounding rabbits was initiated by quarry workers who blamed them for increasing the risk of dangerous, sometimes deadly, landslides. If a rabbit was seen, the quarry workers would pack up and go home until they were assured that the area was safe. It is also said that local fisherman would refuse to go to sea if they saw a rabbit.