12/08/2026
Wondering where to the best places in Weymouth and Portland are to watch the eclipse? Our friends at Loving Weymouth & Portland have put together a guide.
Make sure you don't directly look into the sun unless you have the appropriate ISO eyewear!
🌒 TONIGHT’S PARTIAL SOLAR ECLIPSE IN WEYMOUTH & PORTLAND
Tonight Weymouth and Portland will experience one of the most impressive partial solar eclipses visible from the UK in decades, with around 94% of the Sun obscured at maximum eclipse.
⏰ KEY WEYMOUTH AREA TIMINGS
🌒 Eclipse begins: 6.18pm
🌘 Maximum eclipse: 7.15pm – around 94%
🌒 Eclipse ends: 8.08pm
The Sun will already be getting quite low in the western sky, so somewhere with a good open view towards the west/north-west should give you the best chance of seeing it.
📍 GREAT PLACES TO VIEW IT
🏰 Nothe Fort – there will be FREE entry from 6.30pm for the eclipse viewing evening. The Fort has a limited number of eclipse glasses available to buy. Please help meet demand by sharing glasses between your group where possible. Although free entry please consider making a small donation to the fort when you attend
⛴️ Coastal Vibes Cruises – tonight’s Weymouth Lifeboat Charity Quiz should offer some wonderful opportunities to watch the eclipse from out in Weymouth Bay.
🌅 Furzy Cliff at Bowleaze – the clifftop near The Lookout Cafe should offer a great elevated viewpoint.
🌅 Portland Heights , Chesil Cove and Portland Bill – always fantastic locations for sunsets and should be just as impressive for tonight’s eclipse.
⚓ Weymouth Harbour – from what we’ve been able to check, there should be some amazing views of the eclipse over the Town Bridge and town when viewed from the South Harbourside.
🌻 Dorset Sunflower Trail – if you’re a keen photographer with the correct solar filters, the trail over the Ridgeway near Dorchester has a special photography event planned tonight which could offer some fantastic creative opportunities. Tickets £6 payable on arrival you’ll find details on the Maiden Castle Farm page
⚠️ VERY IMPORTANT – ECLIPSE SAFETY
NEVER look directly at the Sun, even for a moment. Proper eclipse glasses complying with the appropriate safety standard should be used. Ordinary sunglasses are not safe.
📱📷 The same applies to cameras and phones. Do not point a camera, phone or optical equipment directly at the Sun without a suitable solar filter fitted correctly over the lens. The intense sunlight can damage equipment as well as your eyesight.
The eclipse will not produce total darkness. At around 94% the change in the light should nevertheless be very noticeable, particularly with the Sun already low in the evening sky.
Fingers crossed for clear skies over Weymouth & Portland tonight! 🌒🤞
Images are AI mock-ups illustrating how the eclipse might look.
