ROCK CLIMBING

Rock Climbing in Weymouth & Portland

If you or your guests enjoy climbing or want to try something adventurous, Weymouth and the Isle of Portland provide some of the best sea-cliff and crag climbing on the Dorset coast.


1. Portland: A Climber’s Playground

  • Portland’s Limestone Cliffs: The Isle of Portland is one of the UK’s premier climbing destinations, with over 1,300 bolted sport routes.
  • Crag Highlights:
    • The Cuttings: A very popular sport climbing area with a large number of single-pitch routes, many suitable for beginners. r
    • Blacknor Beach: Known for slab climbing and coastal bouldering, with a variety of moderate routes set on the hillside above the sea.
    • Nicodemus Knob: A striking limestone needle with a few sport routes plus some trad lines — a real climber’s landmark with great views.
  • Deep Water Soloing (DWS): Portland’s cliffs are also used for deep water soloing, especially on non-tidal faces. portlandtowncouncil.gov.uk
  • Bouldering Spots: You’ll find bouldering on Portland in places like the Cuttings Boulderfield, West Weares, and Blacknor Beach. portlandtowncouncil.gov.uk
  • Courses Available:
    • Portland Climbing offers taster days, 2-day introductory courses, and coaching for sport climbing, trad climbing, and more. portland-climbing.co.uk
    • Rock & Sun run guided bookings for all levels — ideal if you’re new to outdoor climbing or want to challenge yourself safely. rockandsun.com
  • Guidebooks: To really explore the routes safely, pick up a climbing guide — the Portland Rock Climbing Guidebook is a great resource. Climb Europe


2. Weymouth / Nearby Crags

  • Weymouth Outdoor Education Centre (WOEC): Based locally, WOEC offers rock climbing taster sessions right on the sea cliffs of Portland. dorsetcouncil.gov.uk These are ideal for first-timers or climbers moving from indoor to outdoor climbing: equipment and transport are provided, and sessions are led by experienced instructors who know the local crags well.
  • Climbing All Year Round: Thanks to the sheltered coastal climate, climbing on Portland is possible for much of the year.
  • Scenic Walk‑In Access: Many climbing areas, such as cliff faces and old quarries, are accessible via the South West Coast Path, making it easy to walk to climbs and appreciate the geological beauty of the Jurassic Coast. southwestcoastpath.org.uk


3. Safety & Skill Levels

  • There’s climbing for all levels, from total beginners to very advanced climbers.
  • Taster sessions with WOEC or guided climbs are strongly recommended for newcomers — the terrain can be exposed and there are sea cliffs. dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
  • If you’re climbing without a guide, make sure you’re using up‑to-date guidebooks (like those from Rockfax) and climbing with proper gear.