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Fun days out at the Nothe Fort

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Nothe Fort

If you’re looking for a fantastic day out, The Nothe in Weymouth is a must-visit!  This Victorian fort, built in 1872, is located at the mouth of Portland Harbour and Weymouth Harbour. It was originally constructed to protect the harbour from attack and later became an important Royal Navy base during World War II.  Today, it’s a top heritage attraction offering a mix of history, fun, and stunning views of the Jurassic Coast.

(Information reference, Nothe Fort website) 

Family day out

The Nothe Fort is perfect for all age groups making it an easy choice if you have different age groups in your holiday party.  Even doggies are welcome! There’s usually a trail for children to follow, which keeps them entertained while learning about the fort’s history. The maze of underground tunnels, Victorian Gun Deck, and the impressive World War II gun on the ramparts are just a few of the highlights. The kids especially love braving it through the ghost passage – it’s a thrilling experience! 

We can easily lose a few hours here, especially the first few times we went.  So much information and you spot new things each time!  They do make it as interactive as possible and have won awards for being such a great tourist attraction.  It’s amazing to see the photos of the derelict building before it was bought back to life. 

The fort arranges lots of events during special celebrated weekends and school holidays, making it a great spot for family outings over and over again!  External events are also held such as silent discos and ghost hunts if you’re brave enough!!    

Getting there

Walking 

Turn left out of Sunnyside and walk down Abbotsbury Road and through the underpass.  You’ll come out by the nature reserve, cross over and take a right alongside the marina before hitting the town.  Follow this all the way to end and round the corner, walk under bridge and climb stairs to walk over the harbour bridge.  Turn left after the bridge.  Keep walking along this side of the harbour, you’ll see the sign to The Nothe Fort.   It is a good 20-30 minute walk but all part of the day out and there are lots of places to stop on route or after the fun. 

By Car 

There is a car park at The Nothe Gardens that can be used for this area.  Search for this in your sat nav / maps application – it’ll be better than my directions!!  It’s about a 5 minute drive. 
 
Overall, The Nothe in Weymouth is a fantastic day out filled with history, fun, and adventure. Whether you’re exploring the tunnels, enjoying the events, or just taking in the beautiful views, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. 

Value for Money

When it comes to costs, The Nothe offers great value for money. Adult tickets are £9.95, children aged 5-16 are £4.50, and kids under 5 get in for free. They also offer a family ticket for £24.50 (2 adults and 2 children) and a small family ticket for £14.50 (1 adult and 2 children). Plus, you get a free annual pass with every admission ticket, so you can return as many times as you like throughout the year or even a couple of times in your week stay! 

You can take your own picnic or treat yourself to something in the cafe.  There are water jugs on the side.    

Things to do nearby

If you don’t want to go into the Nothe Fort it is still worth a wonder up there to take it in!  If you have the fort to your left and look out to sea, you’ll find the Nothe Gardens which has a small play park and stunning views out to sea.   There are also public toilets here.  If you take the coastal path to your right you’ll walk to a bay called Newton Cove, popular for paddle boarding (not a sandy beach).   There is an ice cream van there famous for the longest Mr Whippys – they are regularly posted on social media in amazement of there size!

Another nice walk is the other side of the Nothe Fort.  If you are looking at the main gates walk down the steep steps or slopes to your left.  Turn right at the bottom and walk all the way down.  You’ll find the Stonepier Cafe for a cuppa, ice cream, cake or even a glass of bubbles!  The old pier is there and another stoney beach, good for sea glass searching according to the kids! 

This is the view from the Nothe Fort but shows the Pier you can walk down next to Stone Pier cafe. 

Overall, The Nothe in Weymouth is a fantastic day out filled with history, fun, and adventure. Whether you’re exploring the tunnels, enjoying the events, or just taking in the beautiful views, there’s something for everyone to enjoy☺️