Weymouth is a fishing and tourist town in South Dorset. It brings ashore more
weight of fish than any where else in Great Britain. It has a working fishing
harbour as well as a marina and large sandy beach. It can be accessed by road,
rail or sea. By road it is about 50 minutes west of Southampton down the A31 (click
here for detailed direction from London), 1 hour south east of Taunton (M5)
on the A356, and 1 hour east of Exeter. By rail there are direct trains from
London and Bristol. Weymouth no longer has the car ferry run by Condor to
Guernsey and Jersey. This closed in May 1997 and has been relocated in Poole.
Weymouth also has a marina for private boats which can be accessed by sea passed
the Condor ferry port. There are moorings in the main channel, and the jettied
marina can be accessed under the town bridge. The bridge is raised every 2 hours
8am to 8pm and is now in full operation after recent repairs.
Portland Harbour just outside Weymouth is an excellent place for watersports, due to its 3 mile square of flat water. It is shallow at the westside making it idea for windsurfing. Follow the sign for Portland and then park at Chesil beach. Sailing boats can be launch from the sailing club at castle cove on the North side of the harbour. Weymouth has approximately a 2 mile long beach stretching around the whole bay with about 1/2 mile of fine sand at the town end. Roller blades, bikes and windsurfs can be hired from Second wind at the other end of Weymouth bay at Bowleaze Cove.Roller blading is permited along the whole of the 2 mile boardwalk, however cycles are not allowed on the mile nearest to Weymouth town. Windsurfs can also be hired at Portland harbour, for those wanting flat water.
Weymouth town centre has some large shops including M&S, Boots,Tesco's,
Menzies, Top Shop, Dority Perkins, Dixons, Currys as well as some good smaller
shop such as Eldridge Pope Wine shop, Helen's Wholefoods, Weymouth Hi-Fi and
A-Ha. Brewerys Quay on the other side of the harbour is excellent for craft
shops, as well as there educational attractions including Discovery and The Time
Walk. The Bar at Brewerys Key serves excellent cheap food and has excellent Jazz
and Folk bands (Ken Watkins Folk band is excellent on Sunday evenings!)
