Portland Tout Quarry

Tout Quarry lies at the junction of the A354 opposite the Portland Heights Hotel.

Starting Point and Car Park:	SY 684724 (O.S. Landranger Sheet 194). Park in Tradecroft Industrial Estate, reached by turning right at the junction of Easton Lane (A354) and Wide Street, then going 600 yds before turning right into the Industrial Estate. Go another 100yds, turn right again and follow an unmetalled track for 100yds bearing right to the public car park.
Region:	West
Length of Walk:	1.15 km (0.7 miles).
Time to do Walk:	40 minutes.
Physical Severity of Walk:	Easy walking.
Number of Sections:	7.
Restrictions:	Keep to pathways and avoid disturbing loose shale.
Refreshments	The Portland Heights Hotel or Easton.
Habitat:	Limestone
Site Owner:	Leased to Portland Town Council.
Target Species of Butterfly:	Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Clouded Yellow, Small White, Green-veined White, Small Copper, Small Blue, Silver-studded Blue, Common Blue, Chalkhill Blue, Adonis Blue, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Speckled Wood, Wall, Marbled White, Grayling, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Small Heath, Ringlet
Transect Contact:	Bill Shreeves
Other:

Portland Tout Map

Tout Quarry, Portland, has not been active for over 70 years even though it remains representative of the extensive quarrying associated with Portland.

Much of the industrial archaeology relates to the old Merchants Railway which transported the stone to the harbour.

Tout is a designated SSSI for its geology as well as its flora and fauna; over the past 10 years sporadic use has been made of the site for a Sculpture Park.

Future uses will be more controlled as Portland Town Council has a 30-year lease to develop the site for its natural interests through an interpretative Stone Centre for the quarrying history and natural environment.

The site has good views of Chesil Beach and Lyme Bay and many butterflies including six species of Blue and the Grayling. Red Admirals arriving from the continent may sometimes be observed in large numbers.

In addition to the target species butterflies occasionally seen in Tout include, Lulworth Skipper, Large White, Green-veined White, Brown Argus and Peacock.

Once parked, head north on the obvious track from Tradescroft. Go over the slight brow into the now visible dip and quarry. This is the start of Section 1. In the dip Small Blues are sometimes seen on and around the Bramble bushes. After the next brow, on your left, is a tarmac path. This will take you onto the viewpoint. Notice the Gorse on your left, an uncommon plant on Portland. Return down the path. If you are carrying out a transect walk, do not count again until you are back on the main track heading north.The very large Buddleia bushes on your left attract many Red Admirals, Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells in late summer. Once past the first large gully on your left, take the next left turn through the gully with broken stone at its entrance. This ends Section 1.

Walk along this warm gully to the clifftop, shown in the photo on page 66. In mid-July on a windy day Gatekeepers may be found seeking shelter, and again look out for the Grayling. At the cliff edge, stop and admire the view. The clifftop ends Section 2.

Turn right and walk northwards with the cliff edge on your left. Examine inlets where other workings and paths join the cliff path. Make a small circular diversion around the stone seat or have a rest and let the butterflies come to you. You may soon be surrounded by Silver-studded and Chalkhill Blues, Marbled Whites, Meadow Browns and Skippers, and the Six Spot Burnet moth is also abundant here in July. Kidney Vetch and Birdsfoot Trefoil provide suitable foodplants for the Blues along the clifftop.The Section ends when you reach the main path to the right.

Turn right and walk straight along the path. The steep grassy banks on either side of you hold good numbers of Chalkhill and Common Blues, Small Skippers and sometimes Graylings. The end of this section is at the junction with the main quarry track on your right (Section 7). Carry straight on into Section 5.

The flat areas on your right hold good numbers of Chalkhill Blues and Marbled Whites, while amongst the scrub bordering these areas the Large Skipper and an occasional Ringlet can be found. Plants in this area include Pyramidal Orchid, Ivy Broomrape and the Portland Spurge.The stony hollow near the end of the section contains a good population of Silver-studded Blues and Dingy Skippers. After the hollow, follow the main track that lies behind it as it bends up a slope. This is the end of Section 5.

Continue up the path as it winds upwards. The Brambles near the end of the section hold the Small Blue, while the Silver-studded Blue can be seen on the stony bank on your right as you walk up the path.The section ends when you come to the pavement and road. Walk back down the path, turning right at the bottom and again through Section 5. Do not count twice either of these sections if you are completing a transect form. The last section begins when you reach the main track on your left, heading south.

This barren stony area has surprisingly good numbers of butterflies, including very high numbers of the Grayling. This butterfly never rests with its wings open, but instead lets its mottled underwing blend in with stony and sandy paths. The Dingy Skipper, Small Heath and Common Blue can also be seen. As you walk along the track, the stone bridge on your right is Lano's Bridge, part of the old Merchants Railway, and also to be seen at various intervals are stone sculptures. Lano used to own this area and was one of the merchants who invested in the railway - cut blocks passed underneath while rubble for disposal over the cliffs was carried above.This section ends at the junction of Section 2, that is the stony entranced gully on your right. Continue on the main path, not recording any more if you are completing a transect form, until you reach your car.

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