Portland - is this an upmarket coastal area? what is it like for holidays?

[mulranno]

what are the nicest bits - is it easy to travel around dorest from here or is transport difficult?

Portland is a very beautiful place with intense tourism activity and well organized. I?m sure the transport is also diversified and you will easily find a way to travel around. I hope this link will help you www.travelportland.com/ .

We went in September and it was lovely. Very close to Weymouth.

Not at all up market and very insular but very pretty and a good base for exploring the area. Some nice looking holiday cottages near the lighthouse if I remember correctly.

It is far from upmarket, but still worth a visit e.g. Church Ope (walk down to a cove with ruins nearby); Portland Bill (lighthouse, views, tearoom) and there's a Sculpture Park too. Chesil Beach is nice for a walk. I probably wouldn't actually stay on Portland and Weymouth is quite touristy. There are loads of other lovely places nearby to stay instead e.g. Dorchester, Upwey, Bridport, Abbotsbury to name but a few.