Dorset Free Kids Day Out No 1: Touts Quarry Sculpture Park & Nature Reserve Portland

Portland in Dorset is a very unique place, a small island only 4 miles long by 1.7 miles wide and is joined to the mainland (Weymouth) via the Chesil beach road. The Chesil beach itself is a sight to be seen, a 5,000 year old 28 kilometre beach made of large pebbles and it sweeps from Portland into the distance as far as the eye can see, with the sea one side a magnificent lagoon the other, that is a haven for wildlife. 

The lagoon is known as the Fleet Lagoon and there are many stories of smugglers and pirates connected to The Fleet, some found in J Meade Faulkner's book Moonfleet, an exciting tale of smugglers and Black beard!

Portland is famous for so many things and an important part of our Jurassic coastline. Its most famous export is Portland stone, a limestone that has been used for British and world architecture including St Paul’s cathedral, and is still being mined to this day.

The island also has a prison, and the famous lighthouse, Portland Bill. As you approach the island you can see what was the naval base and then years later in 2012 where the Olympic sailing was held at the Weymouth and Portland sailing academy. The Olympic rings sculpture carved in Portland stone can be seen overlooking the bay.

There are houses that almost look as though they cut into the island as it rises up from the sea and the roads are steep and narrow in places, and when you reach the top it’s surprisingly flat. Once on the island there is a lot to see and we went to Touts Quarry, sculpture park and nature reserve.

Touts quarry is free to visit and there is a small free car park that leads to the old quarry. The old abandoned quarry itself is surprisingly big and there are sculptures scattered here and there between discarded rocks. 

There are up to 60 hidden sculptures within the quarry and a maze of paths to discover and scramble over and new art is added and changed each year so there is always something new to discover.

The edge of the quarry looking seaward is open so don’t let children wander near the edge. But deep into the quarry away from the cliffs they can enjoy an adventure, whether it’s discovering carvings and sculptures or if they love wildlife. 

As always nature takes things back when man is finished with it and the quarry is no different. There are masses of grasses and flowers with butterflies and insects. We saw birds of prey dog fighting in the sky with crows and a weasel break cover and run across the track while the birds of prey were distracted.

If you are taking a pushchair you can go down into the quarry on the main pathways, although a little bumpy at times ( it is a quarry) but there are hundreds of step and paths that are not accessible to wheels, so bear that in mind if taking a mixed age group to the quarry. 

It’s well worth a visit with young adventurers and nature lovers alike and there are plenty of spaces to picnic. So if you are looking for free days out in the summer I would definitely recommend visiting Touts Quarry!