⛵ Hiking the Isle of Portland & Sunset by the Sea

I’m leading this hike for London Social Hiking and sharing it here so my KoZa Trails crew know when I’m out on the trails in the UK. 😊

👉 Please note: all sign-ups and payments need to be done through London Social Hiking’s Meetup page here: https://www.meetup.com/londonsocialhiking/events/312663209/?eventOrigin=group_events_list

RSVPs on KoZa Trails are just to show interest and don’t secure a spot.
Shout if you’ve got any questions — it would be lovely to see some familiar faces! 🌿🥾
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Discover the Isle of Portland, the southernmost point of the Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site and the venue for sailing events during the 2012 Olympics!
The Isle of Portland is 6 kilometres long by 3 kilometres wide and is connected to the mainland by the breath-taking sweep of the shingle ridge of Chesil Beach. On this walk, we'll explore dramatic, rugged limestone cliffs and hidden coves, and enjoy stunning coastal views and landscapes shaped by centuries of military activity, farming, fishing and quarrying. Did you know that the world-famous Portland stone has been quarried here since Roman times, and many famous buildings – including St Paul's Cathedral, the British Museum, Tower Bridge and the United Nations headquarters in New York – were built using it?
The hike will finish at the fishing village of Chiswell, where we'll enjoy well-deserved drinks and refreshments next to Chesil Beach – one of the best sunset locations in Dorset. Don’t miss this unique opportunity – it’s the only time of year we can experience the sunset on this route, with sunset at 17:00! 🌅

HIKE HIGHLIGHTS
Breath-taking clifftop views along Chesil Beach and the Fleet Lagoon
Small secluded beach at Church Ope Cove
Pulpit Rock and Portland Bill Lighthouse
Dramatic views to the cliffs of Purbeck and Portland Harbour
The “Spirit of Portland” sculpture which depicts a fisherman and a quarryman to represent the two main industries of the Isle
Tout Quarry Sculpture Park – a former quarry that is now home to over 60 sculptures, carved from Portland stone
The Olympic Rings sculpture, created to celebrate the 2012 Olympics, in which Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy hosted the sailing events

DISTANCE & DIFFICULTY
Distance: 9 miles (15km).
Ascent: 290m.
Difficulty: Easy.

ITINERARY
07:45 Meet outside Hotel Novotel London West, 1 Shortlands, W6 8DR (a five-minute walk from Hammersmith Station)
08:00 Sharp departure
11:30-16:45 Isle of Portland circuit walk
16:45-17:15 Drinks and refreshments by the sea (sunset at 17:00)
17:15 Departure
20:00 London, Hammersmith

TRANSPORT
As on most of our trips, we'll travel in a comfortable 16-seater minibus.

Explore Britain’s most stunning trails in a small group of up to 15, travelling together by private minibus to beautiful, remote locations not easily reached by public transport.