About the reserve

Stone sculptures and scarce wildlife make this former quarry an interesting and unusual site to visit for all the family. Worked commercially from c.1780-1982 as one of eighty quarry sites on Portland, the remnants of the quarry's limestone are now used to create sculptures which adorn the site. The bare surfaces of mined stone have been left to regenerate naturally with a host of uncommon plants, such as rock stonecrop and Portland spurge, as well as many rare lichens. 

Control of invasive scrub to ensure that the more uncommon dry, open grasslands are not over-run forms the main management work at the site. Tout Quarries are a creative and educational resource for visitors, schools and universities who come to learn about wildlife and stone heritage through our activities and those of the Portland Sculpture and Quarry Trust.  The best time to visit is in summer, when the common blue, rarer silver-studded blue and grayling butterflies will be out in force. The reserve offers stunning views over Chesil Beach and Portland Harbour to Weymouth and Bridport.

Portland Quarries habitat restoration
Large scale habitat restoration by removal of invasive, non-native scrub has been undertaken across the Portland Quarries as part of a Viridor funded partnership project. At Tout, as elsewhere, wildflowers are now returning to large areas of the quarries previously swamped by a blanket of cotoneaster and buddleia, and have in tern attracted the first colony of silver-studded blues to the area, one of Dorset’s rarest butterflies.

Useful Information
Once on Portland take the A354 up the hairpin bend at Priory Corner. On foot, the reserve is accessed by a number of paths coming off New Road, Wide Street and from the South West Coast Path. By car, take the last exit at the Priory Corner round about onto Wide Street. After400 metres, turn right onto Tradecroft Road. The nature reserve car park is found on the right hand side at the end of the industrial estate. Use the 'Get directions' link to see bus and cycle routes.