A perfect weekend in Portland
We arrived late on Friday night, greeted by a gloomy weekend forecast. By morning, the wind and rain had rolled in as promised.
Still, we changed into shorts—it was warm enough, and wet legs dry faster than wet trousers—grabbed our waterproofs, packed a picnic, and caught the bus to the start of our walk.
Our first stop was the rocks, where we stood watching waves crash dramatically against the shore. From there, we climbed up along the coastal path, passing fields with sweeping sea views, military-looking compounds, and a few industrial sites. When hunger hit, we found a sheltered spot out of the wind to huddle together and enjoy our picnic. Recharged, we continued on, eventually looping back above Chesil Beach before descending to the seafront and returning home for supper.
The next day brought sunshine. We packed up for the beach, choosing Church Ope after checking the wind forecast. It's a beautiful, pebbled cove, naturally sheltered and perfect for a swim. While we took a dip in the sun, Betty, the dog, stood guard over our things.
After drying off and enjoying a well-earned ice cream, we strolled back along the path behind the beach, passing climbers scaling the rocks. The headlands were bursting with buddleia, and the sea shimmered in shades of turquoise.
