CWGC Tours 2026 - Portland Royal Naval Cemetery

Join the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for a free tour of Portland Royal Navy Cemetery, led by one of our experienced volunteer tour guides.

Our tours are free to the public, but if you would like to support us then please consider donating to our charity The Commonwealth War Graves Foundation (CWGF).

https://foundation.cwgc.org/donate/

MEETING POINT at the Cross of Sacrifice in the cemetery.

Throughout the First World War, Portland Harbour was used regularly for training exercises and patrols for German U-boats. During the Second World War, Portland Harbour continued hosting training exercises. However, after Germany’s successful invasion of France, the naval base quickly became the target of air attacks. On 4th July 1940, HMS Foylebank was attacked while at Portland Harbour, which resulted in her sinking on the 5th.

By May 1944, both Portland Harbour and Weymouth Harbour were used as part of the D-Day preparations. They were major embarkation points for American troops, particularly the US 1st Division who embarked for ‘Omaha Beach’ in June 1944.

The tour lasts approx. 90 mins and covers about 200 metres on paths and grass on uneven ground on a hillside. If wheelchair access is required it is possible to drive down to the cemetery as long as the gates on the wide path from Verne Common Road are open.

Extremely limited parking - if possible please park on the road to HMP Verne and walk down the path to the cemetery, this takes no longer than 10 minutes down a metalled path.

There are no facilities or toilets on site, so please bring water if required.

Please dress appropriately for the weather and wear suitable footwear. The cemetery is very exposed and can, even if sunny, be chilly.

Well behaved dogs on a lead are welcome in the cemetery.

Please note there can be last minute cancellations. This can be due to various reasons including illness, site issues and weather. We will email you as soon as we can, but this could include the morning of the tour, so please check your emails prior to leaving for the tour.

The Commonwealth War Graves Foundation (CWGF) aims to actively engage all communities with the work of the CWGC by telling the inspiring stories through education and outreach projects.

The CWGF is an independent charity registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales (1171947) and Scotland (SC051982).