The Penn Estate is set within the grounds of Pennsylvania Castle on Portland, overlooking Church Ope Cove and the Jurassic coastline. Pennsylvania Castle has inspired writers and hosted royalty and it’s the perfect base to explore the Isle of Portland.
The estate offers several types of accommodation for couples and families including holiday homes and luxury lodges. We were staying in The Front Rows and as we were driving down the kids were getting more and more excited to see which one was ours.
We pulled up late afternoon and the sky was still blue and the sea was right in front of us. We couldn't wait to get in and rushed straight for the decking where we could see Weymouth in the far distance to the left and the Portland coastline to our right. Never have I ever stayed in accommodation with such an incredible view.
We had a good look around, the living room area was spacious with plenty of comfy seating, a table, TV and fireplace and the open kitchen had everything you needed to cook plus a large dining table. I had already been organised bringing things I needed for a few days away but it was lovely to see a pint of milk in the fridge and I wasted no time making a cuppa. There was also a much appreciated started pack which had coffee and sugar sachets, a new cleaning cloth and sponge plus a t-towel.
Our accommodation had a really good sized double bedroom with a vanity table, large wardrobe and ensuite toilet and there was a twin room with a wardrobe and cupboards. There was also a bathroom with a large shower, sink and toilet.
We had arrived straight from school so the children got changed while we discussed where we would go for dinner. We had been told that The Cove House Inn was very good but advance booking was recommended and since we weren't that organised we decided to try somewhere else. The Eight Kings had good reviews online so off we went for dinner. The staff were really lovely and the kids were made to feel most welcome. Food was excellent and very reasonably priced which was nice.
When we got back to our accommodation we managed to settle the kids down and prepare for bedtime. Thanks to my new body clock I woke up at 5am and when I looked out the window I wasn’t disappointed. I could see an orange haze over Weymouth so I googled the time of sunrise and made a cup of tea so I could sit on the end of the sofa and watch the sun come up over the sea. Photographs rarely do a perfect sunrise justice but I was beaming and kept going out on the decking to hear the birds singing and the waves gently crashing. It’s certainly a memory I’ll never forget and I’m not sure there’s many places in our Country where you’ll see such beauty.
After several cups of tea the gang finally got up and I couldn’t wait to get everyone out to explore the area. After a quick breakfast we walked out of The Penn Estate looking at all the other luxury accommodation on site and then went past The Hayloft which is a café and bar offering a wide range of fresh local food and drink. The cafe is currently closed but will be opening for the summer season soon so we'll return another time to try it out.
Once we were out on the road we passed a few information boards and The Portland Museum which sadly was also closed until April and from here we followed a path to the right which took us past Rufus Castle and down lots of steps to Church Ope Cove.
The views are stunning on the way down and we spent some time on the pebbly beach dodging the waves and trying to find a fossil. I’m not even sure if fossils can be found here but we had good fun looking anyway.
Going back the way we came there was another pathway which took us left up to the graveyard and ruins of St Andrews Church. Within the graveyard we found some pirate gravestones with skulls and crossbones on and the kids spent time searching for them all. Church Ope Cove is believed to be the location of the first recorded Viking attack on the British Isles, and it was also a famous smuggling beach. It’s an absolute must see if you visit Portland.
We carried on walking up, past the grounds of Pennsylvania Castle and back to our holiday home where we jumped in the car. By now we were all really hungry and although myself and my husband have been to the Jailhouse Café previously we thought the kids would enjoy having lunch in the grounds of Verne Prison. Expia works in partnership with the Prison Service, Ministry of Justice, and other organisations to deliver projects that support prisoners whilst they are serving their sentence. This enables them to learn new skills that will be transferable on their release with the aim of reducing re-offending.
The varied menu offers everything from a delicious breakfast to jacket potates plus sandwiches, ploughmans and homemade specials. They also have kids meals which one child went for while the other asked for a jacket potato like me. My husband had a huge breakfast and everything was really tasty and great value for money. They now also have the Jailhouse Diner which is an American themed eatery located at the Grove. Before leaving we went to the garden outside and from the high vantage point you can see outstanding views of Portland Harbour and beyond.
Over the weekend we also visited Fancy’s Family Farm where the kids had a great time feeding the animals and then if you walk across the road you can explore High Angle Battery which is a late Victorian gun battery built to help defend Portland Harbour against invasion. Constructed in the 1890s, its purpose was to fire shells at a high angle onto attacking ships below. The battery’s high position and network of below-ground buildings, tunnels and concealed gun emplacements made it almost invisible to enemy warships. But, despite its design, advancements in ship speed meant the site quickly became obsolete. The battery went out of use after only 10 years, never firing a single shot in combat. We had a brilliant time exploring the secret tunnels and historic site. You can also walk over to the back of the prison and marvel at some incredible views and size of the building walls.
![High Angle Battery Portland Dorset 15]( "High Angle Battery Portland Dorset 15")
If you’re driving, head towards the Height Hotel from Fancys Farm and on the New Ground road look for a circular stone wall on your right. Within these low walls you’ll find 2 large stones with dinosaur footprints set in the stone. Pretty cool and a very unexpected find.
Portland Bill is also worth a visit and whilst we didn’t climb the Lighthouse steps (the kids were super tired) we did have a good look around the gift shop and made some purchases. They also have a wonderful visitor centre which is full of local history. The kids had a great time climbing on the nearby rocks and if you’re peckish or thirsty then The Lobster Pot Restaurant is close by.
On our weekend away we also had a good look around the shops and gardens at Easton and went to Weymouth before heading home. I don’t think we’ve ever managed to cram so much into one weekend and to say the kids (and us) were tired was an understatement.
There’s so much to do on the Isle of Portland with a whole host of water sports including sailing, diving, fishing, windsurfing, kayaking, kite surfing and coasteering and land based activities which include multiple walking routes, rock climbing, bird watching areas and animal experiences. If you’re looking to entertain the children on a rainy day then head to Portland Museum, Castletown D-Day Centre, Portland Castle, The Hangout Climbing Gym or FreePlay Gaming Arcade. Tout Quarry is also a must see which is a large nature reserve and sculpture park. There are estimated to be over 70 sculptures to discover in the abandoned stone quarry.
I can thoroughly recommend staying at The Penn Estate, we couldn’t of asked for a greater central base to explore the Isle of Portland and the accommodation was luxurious, clean and provided everything we needed for a stay away from home.
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