- Portland Bill Lighthouse is in Dorset, England.
- On the southernmost point of Dorset
- Check access, weather and local guidance before travelling.
About Portland Bill Lighthouse
Portland Bill Lighthouse stands on the southernmost point of the Isle of Portland, a stark white tower guiding vessels through the treacherous waters of the Portland Race where the English Channel tides meet the Shambles sandbank. It remains an operational Trinity House station with a visitor centre on site.
The story of Portland Bill Lighthouse
The present lighthouse was built in 1906 to a design by Sir William Douglass for Trinity House, replacing two earlier lighthouses on Portland — the Old Higher Light of 1788 and the Old Lower Light — which had proved inadequate for marking the Portland Race. The 41-metre tower was first lit on 11 January 1906 and equipped with a first-order catadioptric lens. It was electrified in 1959 and automated in 1996, the keepers withdrawn after 90 years of continuous manning. The lighthouse visitor centre opened in 2015 in the former keeper's cottages.
Visiting with care
The lighthouse is open to the public from spring to autumn with a visitor centre and guided climbs of the 153-step tower to the lantern room, offering views across the Portland Race and the Chesil Beach. The surrounding headland is part of the Isle of Portland SSI and rich in geology and seabird life.
Interesting facts
- Built in 1906 by Sir William Douglass for Trinity House.
- The 41-metre tower replaced two earlier Portland lighthouses from 1788.
- It marks the treacherous Portland Race where Channel tides collide.
- Automated in 1996; a visitor centre opened in the keeper's cottages in 2015.
Getting there
Parking and access details — check locally for the latest information.