The Old Boathouse Portland Bill

The Old Boathouse is here on Portland Bill. It's that little white building you can see from the lighthouse carpark, up on the slope. The views are the whole point, really. You look straight out at the lighthouse and the channel.

It sleeps four. Two bedrooms, one bathroom with a shower. It's got a 3 Star rating. Everything works and it's clean, but it's not fancy. It's small, so the living area and kitchen are all one room. It does have a dishwasher and a washing machine.

Having it detached is nice. No one next door. There's a decked area right outside the doors with a table. Good for a morning coffee watching the boats go by.

The pub is a two-minute walk down the road. Decent. A restaurant is just a bit further. The shop is two miles away in Easton, so you'll want to bring supplies.

You're at the end of the island, so the coastal path starts on your doorstep. You can just walk out. The birdlife here is serious, especially during migrations. For a proper beach you'd go to Sandsfoot Cove in Weymouth or along to Chesil Beach.

Within about half an hour you've got Weymouth, with the harbour and the Nothe Fort. Dorchester is inland. The sailing academy is here on Portland if that's your interest.

Facilities: parking for one car on the gravel next to the cottage. Bedding and towels are included. No pets. There's WiFi, but the signal can be patchy because of the location.

Useful links: Chesil Beach Nature Reserve and the Jurassic Coast Trust site has good information.