SWCP Day 44 Portland - Ferry Bridge to Ferry Bridge 4K

As Portland is a circular walk with a carpark at the start/finish I decided to walk this stage as a day trip. Starting at Ferry Bridge I followed the right hand side of the causeway, saving the dismantled railway for the return leg. After walking beside the road for a mile or so I decided to climb the pebble bank of Chesil Beach and walk beside the sea instead, much more scenic. At the end of Chesil Beach I had one of the few climbs for the day, up to Tout Quarry Sculpture Park. Due to a landslide the coast path now diverts through the sculpture park and what a pleasant diversion it is with its stone elephant, dragon, bear and of course the Roy Dog. Once through the quarry I joined back up with the path on West Cliff which is quite a dramatic rugged cliff but the walking is easy along the top. The housing estate at Weston seemed to appear from nowhere on my left, but I kept my focus out to sea and the views looking back along the coastline that I walked a few weeks earlier. Continuing along the cliff tops I soon reached the Old Higher Portland Lighthouse, the path squeezes between the lighthouse and an RNLI lookout station. There are then several routes down across a grassy slope which lead me to the impressive Portland Bill Lighthouse. More quarries followed, Portland does feel like one giant quarry, on towards Church Ope Cove. I took a small diversion at Church Ope Cove to look at the ruins of the 13th Century Church of St Andrew's. After leaving the Church I had my 2nd climb of the day, up a long flight of steps. I was able to get my legs back soon after as the path remains flat along the base of Grove Cliff, a popular spot for rock climbing. My 3rd and final climb bought me up the cliff to the young offender institution and then on to The Verne, a former Citadel which is now a prison. I followed the path which lead gently down to sea level and Portland Castle. A small walk around the marina and I was back on the causeway. I walked along the dismantled railway all the way to Ferry Bridge and the end point of my walk.