DISABLED ACCESS ON PORTLAND

 I was recently asked by a visitor to my web site if I could give some information on access to places on Portland for wheelchair users.

I am trying to get information from those with experience of getting around Portland with a wheelchair. But, until I can get this information on my web site I offer my personal opinions of accessibility to the main tourist attractions on Portland as follows:

PORTLAND BILL

The area around the car park is flat and fairly easy to get over with a wheelchair. The cafes and the Lighthouse Visitor Centre are all easy to get to. However, it would not be possible to get up the lighthouse. There is a disabled toilet next to the car park.

PORTLAND MUSEUM

It is possible to get into the museum and see the ground floor and garden. However, the small upstairs area is not accessible to wheelchair users and it may be difficult to get fully into the grassed area of the garden.

CHURCH OPE COVE

There is a gentle slope down to a wonderful viewpoint above Church Ope Cove but the Cove itself is out of reach for wheelchair users.

NEW GROUND

The viewpoint at the rear of the Portland Heights Hotel is accessible for wheelchairs and the area around the viewpoint is flat. Unfortunately, Trees are being allowed to grow and these are obscuring the view.

TOUT QUARRY SCULPTURE PARK

There is a fairly rough but passable path to the quarry from the car park and it is possible to get a wheelchair around the main paths in the quarry. However, there are many small paths which are impassable with a wheelchair.

COASTAL PATH

This is not accessible with a wheelchair over most of its length because it often runs through abandoned quarries.

CHESIL COVE

There are slopes up to the Esplanade and the Esplanade itself is flat and a wonderful place to view Chesil Cove and the sea.

PORTLAND CASTLE

There is a disabled persons car park close to the entrance and the ground floor is readily available to explore. However, it is doubtful if the upstairs could be explored.

IN GENERAL

I would say that no other places outside the built up centres are really suitable for wheelchair access because of the rocky terrain of Portland.

There is a little bit of information at http://www.dorsetdisabled.co.uk/hotels.htm on hotel and other accommodation for disabled visitors to Weymouth.