The UK is full of beautiful destinations, from historic villages and coastal towns to tidal islands and dramatic landscapes. One destination that’s full of natural beauty and stunning landmarks is the Isle of Portland in Dorset.
The isle is not quite a true island, and is linked to the mainland by Chesil Beach. The beach, the isle, and the surrounding area are part of the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The Isle of Portland itself is just four miles long, but feels much bigger thanks to its museums, castles and three lighthouses.
Highlighting the unique yet stunning nature of Portland, the Visit Dorset website writes: “Its isolated location, quaint villages and rocky, coastal scenery give the island its own special atmosphere, perfect for exploring.”
Alongside which, the isle is home to a unique and rich variety of birds, animals and plant life. Those interested in this particular aspect can visit either the Wild Chesil Centre on the mainland or the Portland Bill Observatory on the isle itself, which Visit Dorset describes as a “birdwatcher’s paradise.”
Visitors to the isle should make their way to Portland Castle. This 16th-century fortress was built on the orders of King Henry VIII to deter potential invasions from France or the Holy Roman Empire.
During the English Civil War, the castle was taken by Royalist forces and survived multiple sieges before surrendering in 1646. It then remained in use as a fort throughout the Napoleonic Wars, once again as a deterrent to invasions from France.
The castle would once again be used in war during both the First and Second World Wars, when it was used as offices, accommodation and as an ordnance store.
Portland Castle is now run by English Heritage as a tourist site, while Historic England has called it “one of the best preserved and best known examples” of King Henry’s forts.
The Isle of Portland is also believed to be the first place where the Vikings arrived in England, even before the infamous Viking raid on Lindisfarne in 793.
The Vikings are believed to have landed in Portland four years earlier, in 789, as recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. This didn’t go so well for the residents of the isle; the King’s reeve, or tax collector, tried to collect taxes from the would-be invaders, who responded by killing him and sailing on.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
