Tout Quarry Sculpture Park & Nature Reserve — Attraction in Portland

This is another place we knew about but hadn’t been to before - Tout Quarry Sculpture Park & Nature Reserve on the Isle of Portland. The car park (free) is at the end of an industrial estate, along an unmade up track. You walk straight into a circle of sculptures which are impressive, then you get to explore. Go on a sunny day with blue skies and it is spectacular -almost like walking through a film set or another planet. Huge stones left over from the quarrying days make you feel small. If you take children or dogs, do watch them - there are some very sheer cliffs to fall off. The signage could be better - the maps are very weathered and difficult to read with no scale. We didn’t find Anthony Gormley’s Falling Man - oh well, a good excuse for another visit. Did you realise Christopher Wren built 40 churches from Portland stone in London after The Great Fire of London? I did spot a wheatear and a redstart, so it also lives up to the nature reserve...

Some amazing sculptures on display at the Tout Quarry Sculpture Park, free parking and free admission which is great. The sculptures are incredible, truly amazing work gone in to them. I sent the drone up and took an ariel view of the area which shows all the sculptures. Kids and the dog love the adventure, there are old caves to explore and investigate, larger boulders to climb, even a concrete maze. Lovely place for an explore would highly recommend if nearby. The Roy Dog story was interesting and which the little plaque next to the sculpture adds to the story and adventure. This is a nice little place to get out and have your exercise. There was a bit of dogs mess unfortunately which was disappointing as this is such a lovely place, there are bins provided for your dogs mess as well. All in all a lovely place to visit the sculptures are amazing definitely worth...

Not the easiest place to find initially, as signposts seem to stop near the entrance to the stone merchant. (Turn right in front of Portland stone to find a car park). The park is a nice little walk around, although probably best to have good walking shoes! There is a map of exhibits at both ends, but after that you are on your own, and is very easy to miss them. It could do with some marker posts or something. We also found that some of the paths were blocked due to being overgrown or rocks falling blocking the path, which made some sculptures inaccessible. Still, some great views and things to look at, just needs a little maintenance. (Not sure who owns it?) Seems quite popular with dog walkers too. Can't grumble too much as it's free...