Weymouth

Weymouth is a town in Dorset situated on a sheltered bay at the mouth of the River Wey on the English Channel coast. The town is 8 miles south of Dorchester and 5 miles north of the Isle of Portland. Weymouth Bay has long been called "England's Bay of Naples" for its beautiful scenery of coastline, cliffs, as well as its soft golden sands and safe bathing waters. Surrounded by outstanding countryside it remains a largely unspoilt haven.

Weymouth was originally a fishing village but in the 17th century it began to be developed as a tourist destination. It was King George III who, with his regular visits, made Weymouth into a fashionable holiday resort. He delighted in the sweep of the sandy bay, the peacefulness and of course bathing in Weymouth's sea waters as a health cure for his nervous disorder. He enjoyed his excursions to Weymouth so much that he bought Gloucester Lodge on the seafront to be his holiday home.

The Radipole Lake reserve is in the centre of Weymouth and offers panoramic views as well as guided walks and talks. The large reed bed, open water, flood meadows and bushes attract many different birds. Bearded tits and Cetti's warblers can be seen all year. Joining them in summer are reed, sedge and grasshopper warblers. In winter, bitterns, pochard and tufted ducks visit. The shop stocks books, binoculars, in fact, everything for the keen ornithologist.

Water sports feature prominently in Weymouth. With excellent wind conditions all year round the waters of Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour are a Mecca for windsurfers and dinghy sailors as well as divers coming to the area to explore the wrecks lying around the coast. As one of the top angling venues in the country Weymouth offers all types of fishing, not only fishing from the pier but also fishing trips which can be booked from one of the charter boats in the harbour. Weymouth has one of the largest Dive and Angling Boat Charter Fleets on the south coast with knowledgeable skippers who know where the best locations for diving or angling are.

For decades tourism has been the largest industry in Weymouth with almost a hundred events held throughout the course of the year, including firework festivals, dragon boat racing, beach volleyball, handball and motocross, as well as the annual carnival in mid August which attracts around 70,000 people each year. Weymouth is the only port in the world to have hosted the start of The Tall Ships' Races three times. In 1983, 1987 and 1994, with the 1994 event attracting 300,000 spectators.

Located at the heart of the World Heritage Coast, Weymouth has much to offer with its historical buildings and Georgian seafront, to the bustling modern town centre that is complemented by quaint side streets with traditional pubs, contemporary bars, cafés and restaurants. Weymouth’s picturesque harbour boasts fishing boats, yachts, catamarans and the high-speed Condor Ferries making day trips to the Channel Islands and St Malo in France.