Sunday 5th July, 11am

Thomas Hardy and Portland Walk

Visiting places of interest to Hardy and those used as settings in his novels The Trumpet Major and The Well-Beloved

Total distance 6.5m. Gradient easy except for a short section south of Hope Cove, which can be diverted round

Walk Itinerary

Starting point: Portland Museum at Easton
Route: Portland coastal path from Hardy’s Hope Cove (Ope Cove) to The Beal (Portland Bill) on the east side of the island

Key points of interest:

Avice I’s Cottage, Red King’s Castle (Rufus Castle), Sylvania Castle (Pennsylvania Castle Hotel), St Andrew’s Church, Cheyne House & Cave Hole

Lunch stop in the pub or café at The Beal

Return up the western coastal path past Marie Stopes lighthouse to the church, St George’s Reforne, which is the setting for Avice I’s funeral in The Well-Beloved. Here there will be readings from Hardy’s novels and poetry, and walkers are welcome to prepare something if they wish.

Returning back along the footpath through the quarries to the museum, passing the George pub.

The walk will be lead by Dr. Tony Fincham (Chairman of the Thomas Hardy Society) and Miss Rebecca Welshman (Postgraduate Representative)

The walk is free, but the society would like to know numbers in advance. Please book a place by contacting the society office either on email: info@hardysociety.org or by phone on 01305 251501, thank you.

For a map of Portland please visit:
http://www.weymouth-pictures.co.uk/dor/por/portlandmap.htm

For any more information please contact Rebecca Welshman rw296@exeter.ac.uk
Or telephone 01761 420005