Archive for the ‘News’ Category

Weymouth Midnight Walk 2010

Tuesday, August 17th, 2010

Weymouth Midnight walk

Weymouth Midnight walk

Now in it’s fourth year the Weymouth Midnight walk is being held at the Esplanade in Weymouth on Saturday 21 August.

This is a ladies only event starting at the Pavilion there are two options a 6km or a 10km walk.

The purpose of the walk is to raise money for Weldmar Hospicecare Trust.  It is an independent charity working in Dorset.  All our services are provided free of charge. 70% of the funds we need is raised locally; the rest is given by the NHS. We are the only agency providing specialist palliative care* in north, south and west Dorset.

Pictures from last year

If you need a pair of boots for the event, why not try the Regatta Women’s Lady Guideway Shoe at SAVE £30.00.

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Weymouth Carnival

Thursday, August 12th, 2010

Weymouth Carnival

Weymouth Carnival

Weymouth, Dorset is the place to be on 18th August for the annual Weymouth Carnival festivities. More than 100,000 people visit Weymouth each year during Carnival week where locals and holiday makers are treated to a truly fantastic, colourful and fun filled family day out. This year the Weymouth Carnival is organised by the Rotary Clubs of Weymouth and a dedicated community committee. The Carnival raises much need funds for the local community and worthy causes.

There are plenty of festivities at Weymouth beach to keep you entertained through out the day, and here at The Outdoor Store we have put together a summary of the main events.

Event list

Sand Sculpting Competition 10:30am

Weymouth is famous for its sand, perfect for making sand castles. You can get some tips from local sand sculptor Mark and all you’ll need is your bucket and spade to get creative. Who knows you may win a prize for your creation!

Beach Football 10:30am to 2:30pm - 3:30pm to 5:30pm

The Beach Football event is organised by Tim Davis and his team at WeySports (the Weymouth & Portland Community Sports Development Group) and players from Weymouth Ladies FC. This event is free and suitable for children of all ages and abilities. Kids will receive coaching and can take part in organised beach football matches.

Beach Space Hopper Race 1:30pm

The competitive Beach Space Hopper Race is open to women and children. Just bounce your way along the beach to the finish line or preserve your energy whilst enjoying the fun.

Bleep Test Challenge 3:30pm

This one is for the men and not for the faint hearted. Similar to pre-season football training, levels of football fitness will be tested using a special Bleep Test on the beach.

Waitress Trolley Race – Banus at 5pm

The classic Waitress Trolley Race is making a return to Weymouth Carnival, so come along to Banus and cheer along competitors from your favourite restaurant or bar.

Coach Pull Challenge – Marks & Spencers at 5:30pm

The Coaching Pull Challenge is a new addition to the Weymouth Carnival. Father and son, Chris Reay and CJ from The Channel Guest House, along with Dan Milverton of Future Physiques, will each take it in turn to pull the 12,500kg Bluebird Coaches over 40 meters. This will be followed by pub teams of 6 to see whether they can pull this coach the same distance and record a better time.

Children’s Fun Run – The Kings Status at 5:30pm

Children can take part in the Children’s Fun Run starting at The Kings Statue up to St Johns Church and back again.

The Grande Parade – Weymouth Pavilion at 6.30pm

Not to be missed, this year’s Grande Parade sees the return of the motorised procession after an absence of 2 years, in addition to people dressed in fancy dress, bands, majorettes and Morris dancers. You’ll also get a chance to cheer on the newly crowned Carnival Queen.

The Internationally famous Red Arrows will again be displaying their expertise above the skys of Weymouth (weather permitting) and the Spectacular Firework Display is at 9.30pm.

If you would like to keep up to date with the latest goings on with the Weymouth Carnival plans why not follow the Facebook and Twitter pages.

facebook.com/WeymouthCarnival

twitter.com/Wey_Carnival

Sponsors

A huge number of local businesses give their support to Weymouth Carnival. This year’s main sponsors are Skanska who are constructing the Weymouth Relief Road for Dorset County Council and DJ Property which lets industrial, retail, office, leisure and storage properties in the Weymouth area. DJ Property and The Outdoor Store have a family connection, Mickey Jones manages DJ Property a family business started by his late father David since 2003 and his brother Jonah is the owner of The Outdoor Store.

Make sure to put the date in your diary and we hope you enjoy the Weymouth Carnival as much as we do.

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Walking in Weymouth, Dorset

Friday, August 6th, 2010

Looking out across Chesill Beach in Portland

Looking out across Chesill Beach in Portland

Did you know walking is good for you? It has good health benefits for all the family, regular walks keep your lungs in shape, provides good muscle tone and builds your stamina without too much effort. It is a fantastic outdoor activity and there is nothing more relaxing than a leisure walk where you can leave the daily stresses of life behind and explore your local countryside.

For those who enjoy walking in Weymouth, Dorset, The Outdoor Store has compiled a selection of the best local routes for you and your family to discover. You can either drive to the starting points, or take a bus from Weymouth.

Weymouth Walks - Short distances up to 2.5 miles

Rodwell Trail

This trail is a level 2.5 miles walk along the coast with wildlife habitat and fantastic views across Portland Harbour. You can start the walk at Ferrybridge a 20 minutes journey by bus from the Kings Status in Weymouth.

As you follow the trail back to Weymouth you can take a short detour to visit Sandsfoot Castle and gardens. As you pass through a wooded cutting you will see the old railway platforms at Rodwell Station and marvel at the engineering of the brick built railway tunnel. From here on there are marvellous views of the Dorset coast.

Download the Rodwell Trail map

The 3 Lighthouses on Portland Bill

The 2 mile circular walk around Portland Bill offers great views of the 3 lighthouses that protect ships around Portland. Portland Bill is a 40 minute journey by bus from the Kings Statue in Weymouth and you will see the first lighthouse ‘Portland Bill Lighthouse’ built around1903 as you alight at the car park.

This lighthouse is painted in bright red and white and is a traditional tourist symbol of Portland. To see the remaining two lighthouses ‘The Old Higher Lighthouse’ and ‘The Old Lower Lighthouse’  you need to head north on the South West Coast Path and follow the relevant footpath signs.

Download the 3 Lighthouses Route Map

Weymouth Walks - Longer distant walks

Railway Walks

Julia Bradbury the Countryfile presenter is well known for her love of walking. Last year she introduced many people to a walk along the disused railways between Weymouth & Portland for the BBC TV series ‘Railway Walks’.

The railway route was built in 1865 to carry passengers and the world famous Portland Stone between Weymouth and Portland, the line was closed in April 1965.

There are three routes for you to explore covering 6 miles namely:

  • The Rodwell Trail mentioned earlier takes you along Portland Harbour.
  • The Merchants’ railway from Castletown to Yeastes Incline follows the original horse drawn Merchants railway built in 1826 and used by the quarrymen to transport their wagons of stone.
  • Follow the disused railway line which ran to Easton. Look out for an old engine shed being restored by Portland Gas Trust and the herd of feral British Primitive goats which have been reintroduced to help control scrub.

Download the Railway Walk Leaflet

The above route details are available to download on www.visitportland.co.uk or call into The Outdoor Store where we stock a variety of maps including the Ordnance Survey Explorer Map OL15 that covers the South West Coast Path and Chesil Beach area.

Look foward to seeing you out there Walking in Weymouth .

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