Local Area
Weymouth Bay is in the middle of the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO world heritage site with 185 million years of history. Along Weymouth bay, there are three beaches. Penn House is directly on Greenhill beach, walk left to Overcombe or right to Weymouth. Weymouth beach is popular with families and those interested in traditional British seaside fun, such as golden sand, Punch and Judy, pedalos, ice cream, and donkey rides. Whereas, Greenhill and Overcombe are idyllic peaceful havens.
Sammy has been visiting our shores for over a year now and brings great joy to all who meet him.
Although Sammy loves people and is incredibly friendly, he is still a wild animal and we ask that you respect his space.
He has been known to join paddleboarders out in the sea, however, when he comes to shore to rest he should only be observed from a distance.
A colony of seals live next to the cliffs on Portland and dolphins are frequently spotted in Weymouth bay.
Weymouth Harbour
Our bustling harbour is host to the famous Dorset Seafood Festival in July, and Weymouth's popular music festival QuayFest, every bank holiday weekend. Take an evening stroll down the harbourside and visit some of the wonderful restaurants and bars. During the day there are plenty of places to go crabbing, stop for a boat tour or take in the beautiful views. We recommend visiting the Stone Pier Cafe towards the end of the harbour for lunch or even dinner with live music (Please check their events on Facebook).
Local Parks
Stop for a picnic in the Nothe Gardens or Lodmoor Country Park. These are wonderful places to walk and there's always plenty of wildlife to see.
Lodmoor Country Park is a 10-minute walk from Penn House. Next to the park are local attractions such as The Sealife Centre, Sand World, and Pirate Crazy Golf.
The Nothe Gardens are next to the Nothe Fort and the Stone Pier Cafe. You can see all of Weymouth bay from here, as well as Portland Harbour.
The Nothe Fort and Gardens
Our Historic Nothe Fort was built around 1860 to protect the Naval Harbour of Portland. It was in use for almost 100 years, now its a museum and popular tourist attraction. For events and tours please visit their website.
Sandsfoot Castle
Sandsfoot castle was originally built in 1539 on the order of King Henry VIII. It was used to protect Weymouth against an invasion from France. It then saw service During the English Civil war, used by Parliment and Royalists.
Its ruins are now a popular tourist attraction. Surrounded by the beautiful Sandsfoot Gardens, relax and enjoy the view of Portland and Chesil Beach.
Activities and Things To Do.
The posibilites are endless, visit many local attractions during your stay including; The Sea Life Centre, Pirate Crazy Golf and Sand World which are all a short walk from Penn House, or Fancys Farm on Portland. If you are interested in local fishing spots head to Chesil beach, Stone Pier or Overcombe beach. We can also recommend several watersport companies that cater for Kayaking, Paddleboarding, Jet Skiing, Windsurfing and more. In the evenings you have a wide choice of restaurants that serve locally sourced food. As well as great bars with live music and of course the award winning Nook Coctail bar who also host fun cocktail making classes.
Durdle Door.
Durdle Door is a naturally made limestone arch on the Jurassic Coast near Lulworth, Dorset. Its estimated that the arch began to form 10,000 years ago when the sea erroded and pierced through the portland limestone cliffs.
A 30 minute drive from Penn House this beautiful cove is not to be missed. Once you have parked on the Lulworth estate it is a 20-30 minute hike to this bay but the views are definitely worth it.
Weymouth Nature Reserve
"Nestled in the centre of Weymouth, the reedbeds of Radipole Lake are an unlikely urban home to some stunning wildlife, including fabulous birds like bearded tits and kingfishers, and elusive creatures such as otters and water voles. Start your journey at the family-friendly Discovery Centre and have a go at pond dipping."
Portland.
The Isle of Portland is a tied island just off of the coast of Weymouth. This quaint town is surrounded by incredibly beautiful scenery. From the cliffs to the quarries there are some unique and picturesque walks.
Visit Portland lighthouse, stop for a cream tea at The Lobster Pot next door and take in the views.
Portland is connected to Weymouth by Chesil Beach. Famous for its beauty and history, Chesil Beach has been written about many times by famous writers such as Thomas Hardy and Ian McEwan. Part of the Jurrasic Coast, this UNESCO World Heritage site is not to be missed.