I was not particularly looking forward to this leg of the big walk, Portland to me has always been a quarry, and in terms of progress it did not move me closer to the finish line. How wrong to pre judge. I was met for breakfast by my old friend Neil, also know as Eddie and Jaf. Neil and I go back to our early working days and have enjoyed a lot of time together in the interim. Leaving the edge of Chesil beach we attempt to locate the start of the circular route of the path working anti-clockwise. Not easy given the amount of landslip on the western side of the island. A brief discussion with a local couple point us back to where we have just come from, and a very narrow and steep path to Tout Quarry. The terrain is rock on rock and jarring on the joints, but we then enter a world that looks like a scene from Dr Who. Within the quarry is a sculpture Park, and the items are all hewn out of solid rock, with amazing skill. We leave the quarry heading west and walk a ledge that is just about clinging to the main island, and head south towards Portland Bill. The views from here towards Chesil Beach and the long length of coastline heading West. We reach the Bill with it’s iconic lighthouse and are surprised by the amount of people, again enjoying some morning sunshine. We are also surprised by the tidal force racing around the end of the landmass. Tea and apple cake are soon consumed and we head towards the east of the island, with the quirky beach huts, and brutal landscape. Some tough terrain leads to a wider path and very high cliffs, and we come across a climber scaling the cliffs. Just as Neil states that he likes the level path we are on the path turns inland, and the cliff where we have just seen the climber mastering is now our to traverse and reach the summit. Out on to a road at the top and we find ourselves on a no entry for vehicles but path signage telling us to go forward along the side of some very serious security fencing of a young offenders institute.The island is now grey and serious, and seems appropriate for this and the prison we come across half a mile later. A long incline from the summit to the area adjacent to the olympic sailing centre brings us back to the gravel boundary formed by Chesil Beach. A surprisingly interesting walk, once again with an old friend.