After escaping the hustle of towns, we found ourselves in the hills, enveloped by the quiet of nature. With minimal light pollution, the night sky was truly breathtaking, a canvas of stars shining brightly above us. As the temperature dropped, the chill of the night set in, making the morning feel even colder. To shake off the cold, we began our day with a short walk, letting the movement warm us as we prepared to head to our next destination—Portland.

Our first stop of the day was overlooking Chesil Beach, a sight that instantly captivated us. The rugged coastline stretched into the distance, and we decided to take a walk around the area. It’s steeped in history, with memorials scattered throughout and a massive moat that once protected a fort, now converted into a prison. The scenery was stunning, even with the somber presence of these historic remnants.

Next, we drove out to Portland Bill, the iconic lighthouse standing tall and resilient against the powerful winds. The dramatic seascape here is nothing short of mesmerizing—perfect for some quiet reflection before heading back to Chesil Beach for another walk, this time along the pebble ridge.

The adventure continued as we moved further down the coast. We stumbled upon an old hill fort and, to our surprise, discovered a relic from the Cold War—an Observer Corps nuclear bunker. It felt like we had stepped back in time, imagining what life must have been like when such places were active.

Our journey then took us to Charmouth, a small coastal town famous for its fossils. After parking up, we headed straight to the beach for a fossil-hunting expedition. Scanning the shoreline, we found a few small treasures, the remnants of ancient creatures frozen in time.

With our finds safely tucked away, we headed back to the van and ended the day with a classic seaside meal—fish and chips, the perfect way to wrap up a day of exploration along the Dorset coast.