A secluded pebble beach on the sheltered eastern side of Portland, Church Ope Cove is a popular place with both locals and visitors and a great location for swimming, snorkelling and fishing.

It is believed to be the location of the first recorded Viking attack on the British Isles and was a famous smuggling beach.

The main path to the beach can be reached by following the road past Portland Museum and under the arch bridge of Rufus Castle, where it joins the South West Coast Path down steps to the beach.

There is an alternative path through woodland at the side of Pennsylvania Castle and through the ruins of Portland's old Parish Church of St Andrew’s.  Some of the tombstones here have a skull and crossbones carved on them - a common symbol used at the time to represent death - so the churchyard is sometimes known as the “pirates’ graveyard”.

More information about the site from thebeachguide.