Old Higher Lighthouse, Portland Bill

About Old Higher Lighthouse, Portland Bill

Branscombe Lodge and Slopes Cottage are 4 star tourist board rated self-catering cottages in the grounds of an 18th Century lighthouse.

Branscombe Lodge has a 4 star tourist board rating and is a self-catering cottage in the grounds of an 18th Century lighthouse. It is set in quiet unspoiled rural countryside and accessed by a private road. Originally it was the paraffin store for the lighthouse but has been converted into an “upside down” house. The sitting room with dining area is upstairs with magnificent views of sea and coast on all four sides. It is spacious and comfortably furnished. It has TV,DVD and HiFi. All other rooms are down stairs and all have sea views. The double bedroom enjoys morning sun and the twin room evening sun. The kitchen and bathroom both face south. The kitchen is fully equipped with all necessities of home. It has a full size cooker, microwave, washing machine and tumble drier, fridge with freezer compartment. The bathroom has a bath with shower over, WC and basin. The whole cottage is kept up to date and very clean. The cottage is cosy and heated by off peak storage heaters, which are £1 coin operated. 

Stopes Cottage awaits a tourist board rating and is a self-catering cottage attached to the 18th Century lighthouse via a corridor.  It is set in quiet unspoiled rural countryside and accessed by a private road. Originally it was a lighthouse keeper’s cottage and is all on the ground floor. The sitting room facing south and west has views of sea. It is spacious and comfortably furnished. It has TV,DVD. The double bedroom enjoys morning sun and the twin room evening sun and sea views. The kitchen/ dining room is large and faces south it has sea views and enjoys hours of sunlight. It is fully equipped with all necessities of home. It has a full size cooker, microwave, washing machine, clothesline and airer, and fridge and freezer. The bathroom has a bath with shower over, WC and basin. There is also a separate cloakroom. The whole cottage is kept up to date and very clean. It is cosy and heated by gas, which is meter read. £1 coin meter operates electricity.

Guests have access to the lighthouse tower/ observatory where they can enjoy sitting and watching the sky, sea, birds, and anything that passes, including dolphins! The sunsets are fabulous! To give added interest and see more closely there is a large gun sight binocular in the observatory. The cottage is surrounded by ornamental gardens with an outdoor swimming pool and Jacuzzi (Seasonal) Branscombe has a private garden area with garden furniture and BBQ. There is ample private parking right outside the kitchen window inside double gates. Access to the property is by private road and the only passing traffic is on foot along the coastal footpath.  Fran & Les (your hosts) live on site and are always available to help and advice.
The lighthouse has a long history. The first on this site was in 1716 and was a coal-fired beacon. The first one stone built was in 1769 and later rebuilt in 1869 and worked in conjunction with the Lower lighthouse, which is now a RSPB bird observatory. It had a 16wick burner and was the first lighthouse anywhere in the world to use Argond lamps and a true reflector. When it was new King George111 was anxious to see “This new lighthouse” and came for a visit. It became disused and went into private ownership in 1906 when the new red and white one was built. After which it had various owners including Dr Marie Stopes and it was during that time it was visited by some famous people including H.G.Wells, Thomas Hardy G.B.Shaw and ballerina Margot Fontaine who later became a Dame. When Fran & Les bought it in 1981 it was totally derelict and has been restored with their loving care and hard work to make it the attraction it is today. 
There is much to see and do in the area and it is a good central point for exploring Dorset and the surrounding counties. The Royal Manor of Portland is technically an island and is connected to the mainland via a bridge and the great Chesil beach. It is 4miles long and 21/2miles wide. All around are the wonderful views of the Jurassic coast in all its glory. The Old Higher Lighthouse is at the southerly point. There are several villages on the island with their own shops, including the latest addition of a Tesco in Easton! We are 10miles from the centre of Weymouth and can be accessed by bus, although the service is only half hourly. Locally bird watching is a favourite pastime, together with walking, which is almost unrestricted, sunbathing, fishing, and horse riding and climbing. Golf is about 9 miles to the north in Weymouth. Dolphins are often seen around the tip of our Island. We have several pebble beaches on the Island but Weymouth has a truly wonderful sandy beach. If it’s a peaceful quiet break you are looking for there is no better place than The Old Higher Lighthouse.

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SPECIAL OFFER: Short breaks £180 until the end of the year. 
Christmas is still available in Stopes Cottage