Thursday 30th July 2026
Starts 13:30 until 17:30
Top o' Town Car Park Bridport Rd, Dorchester DT1 1XT

Portland Tour: The Isle of Slingers

Explore landmarks featured in The Well Beloved

Date: Thursday, 30th July 2026

Time: 1.30pm - Coach leaves Top o' Town car park at 1.30pm

Cost: £20 - THS Conference Ticketholders

£23 - THS Members

£25 - Non-members

Meet: Meet at Top o' Town Car Park for 1.30pm coach departure

Included in the 2026 THS Conference & Festival Programme

Priority booking for Full Conference Ticket Holders (Limited places)

Booking Open to others from 2nd June 2026 (Subject to availability)

Led by Dr Tony Fincham: an exploration of all the highlights of the mystical island of Portland in a series of short walks with wonderful coastal views, including The Street of the Wells, Avice’s Cottage, Rufus Castle, Hope Cove, The Beal, and St. George’s Reforne; followed by an exploration of Tout Quarry, led by Hannah Sofaer, Artist and Creative Director of the Tout Quarry Sculpture Park.

Less than 5 miles walking with occasional steep gradients.

Please wear weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable footwear.

BOOK ONLINE

Portland and Chesil Beach, view from Portland Heights

Avice's Cottage/Portland Museum (c.) Mike Smith

The museum was established in 1932 by Dr Marie Stopes, birth control pioneer and friend of Thomas Hardy

"I am very, very sorry!" Jocelyn exclaimed."

Walter Paget, 1892 - Illustrated London News (5 November 1892): 577

Scene from Chapter XVI (continued), "The New Becomes Established" in Chapter IV of Thomas Hardy's The Pursuit of The Well-Beloved: A Sketch of a Temperament.

Scanned image, caption, and commentary by Philip V. Allingham for The Victorian Web.

Jocelyn began his narrative

Walter Paget, 1860 - Illustrated London News (8 October 1892): 459

Scene in Somers's studio at Mellstock Gardens, London, illustrating Chapter VI of Thomas Hardy's The Pursuit of The Well-Beloved: A Sketch of a Temperament.

Scanned image, caption, and commentary by Philip V. Allingham for the Victorian Web