Much more is known about the Osmington White Horse. This carving was done in 1808 to honor King George III who holidayed at nearby Weymouth 14 times during his reign. It shows the King riding his favorite charger Adonis. Unfortunately, due to illness, the King never visited Weymouth after the carving was done and thus never saw it.
The carving is 280 feet (85 m) long and 323 feet (98 m) high. It can be seen from the A353. |
Running between Portland and Abbotsbury is Chesil Beach. At 18 miles long, it is the largest tombolo in the UK. The beach is made up of some 18 million pebbles ranging from the size of a fist to the size of a pea.
During the Age of Sail, the beach was the site of many shipwrecks. Because of its low population density, during World War II, the British used it for testing new weapons including the bouncing bombs made famous in the Dam Buster raid. Today, the area is popular with fishermen and nature lovers. It has its own visitor center. |
Dorset has strong military connections. Recalling Doset's role in the preparations for the D-Day landings and supplying the subsequent campaign in continental Europe is the Castletown D-Day Centre in Portland (right).
British troops, including armored formations, still train in the Dorset countryside. The Tank Museum in Bovington has some 300 tanks and military vehicles. |
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Cruise destination - England - Dorset