Weymouth
One of Dorset’s most popular holiday resorts, Weymouth is a beautiful place to stay beside the sea. It is also a renowned host of international sailing events and is a firm favourite with visitors to the Westcountry. The Georgian seafront is a classic landmark with the beach just minutes from the centre of town and has the air of a timeless seaside resort.
Seaside Heritage
Weymouth’s beaches are the star of the town and are popular with families on holiday. The golden sands on Weymouth Beach stretch for three miles and with superb swimming, beach volleyball and sand sculptures this is a big attraction. Across the water Ringstead Bay is quieter and another popular place to swim and sunbathe. Preston Beach is another sandy stretch of sand just outside Weymouth which is popular with families. Another very famous landmark is Chesil beach which stretches 18 miles from Portland to Abbotsbury and is a distinctive shingle structure suitable for walking and bird watching. This is a World Heritage Site and part of the iconic Jurassic Coast.
Sailing is another very popular reason for visiting Weymouth and this was the site of the London 2012 Olympic competition. The sailing Academy in Portland is an excellent place to get lessons. Other sporting activities in and around Weymouth include windsurfing, scuba diving, and kayaking. For divers this area is particularly good for wreck diving, as there have been numerous shipwrecks over the years. There are fishing trips along the coast too and Weymouth is still a working port. The South West Coastal Footpath runs through Weymouth and Portland and is a classic route for long and shorter walks along the Jurassic Coast. Portland with its cliff walks and coastline is another interesting place to explore. Taking a boat trip along the coast is a lovely way to see the area. Another interesting thing to do along the Jurassic coast is a guided fossil tour where visitors can see some of the palaeontology in this area.
For families Weymouth has a lot to offer, especially on rainy days. The Sealife and Adventure Park and Tower is a big attraction. Over 1000 marine creatures can be viewed here including black tipped sharks and more. The Tower gives amazing views of Weymouth and the coast. A few miles away is Monkey World which is a popular attraction based on a rescue centre and many varieties of primate. Sandsfoot Castle is an interesting place to explore in Weymouth, and the Nothe Gardens are a delight to relax in and with beautiful views of the sea. Another attraction is the Tank Museum in Bovington and Lawrence of Arabia’s House which is a short drive from Weymouth. Dorset County Museum is in nearby Dorchester and has an impressive collection of fossils found along the coast as well as many other local exhibits. Another option for holidays in Weymouth is to spend a day in France as the cross channel port here has day trips to the French coast and the Channel Islands.
Weymouth is full of good restaurants, many making the best of locally grown ingredients and freshly caught fish. There are some excellent local pubs with character and a wealth of places to enjoy a picnic. Each summer Weymouth is home to the Dorset Seafood Festival which is the ideal time to taste local food specialties, and there are open air events throughout the year. Weymouth also has evening entertainment with nightclubs in town and concerts at the Pavilion. There are many hotels and guesthouses in Weymouth and a wide range of self-catering accommodation. This is a popular destination and increasingly popular with people who are looking for a coastal holiday.