This coastal site on the south-western shore of Portland Harbour, Dorset includes flood defences, open greenspace and a waterfront promenade between Portland Castle and Portland Marina.
There are splendid sea views from Castle Court Memorial Garden overlooking the marina and harbour. The site is close to the tourist hotspot of Chesil Beach, part of the Jurassic Coast and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The promenade is a great place to spot seabirds and other marine life. A series 3 stone ‘Snugs’ provide sheltered and restful seating spaces to relax and take in the views. The Memorial Garden includes a panorama telescope and several interesting interpretation panels.
With plenty of easy walking available you can enjoy a wide range of heritage features distributed across the area including the HMS Osprey Lynx Display Helicopter, HMS Illustrious Memorial, “Tom” the Torpedo, The ‘Lookout’ Log, Portland Coastguard Search & Rescue (SAR) stone, HMS Attack Coastal Forces Base Memorial, WWII Mulberry Harbour caissons and sculptures, The Millennium Pillars, Portland Branch Railway stone, harbour fortifications and naval heritage.
Osprey Quay is managed in partnership with Wessex Grounds Services who undertake the day-to-day site management.
Open access
Castletown Car Park is five minutes walk
Toilets at The Fine Foundation Wild Chesil Centre DT4 9XE
Salt is located at the end of the promenade
There are surfaced paths suitable for wheelchair access
Maintained footpaths. Osprey Quay is on the South West Coast path on the Legacy Trail.
Well-controlled dogs are welcome
Mulberry Avenue ,
Portland ,
Dorset ,
DT5 1AZ
HMS Osprey was a former Royal Navy Air Station, which between 1959 and 1999 was one of the busiest air stations on the south coast. Following closure of the base, the 80-acre site was renamed Osprey Quay in 2001, as part of the site’s regeneration project. By 2012 Osprey Quay had been transformed into a mixed-use site including Saling Academy, Marina, over 11 hectares of business space, and mixed residential development. In the same year, the site hosted the sailing facilities for the 2012 Olympic Games.
The Homes and Communities Agency (now Homes England) transferred ownership of land at Osprey Quay to the Osprey Quay Management Services Company Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Land Trust in 2014. The Trust is responsible for ensuring that Osprey Quay’s flood defences are maintained and repaired to protect local business and leisure users and for providing high quality estate management services for the site’s associated open greenspace.
Wessex Grounds Services team
nigel@wessexgroundservices.co.uk
or alternatively contact the Land Trust estates team – click here.