Pennsylvania Castle Estate’s dramatic setting on the cliffs above a secluded cove in Portland, Dorset, is hard to fault, with stunning views over the landscaped gardens to the sea. The Jurassic Coast is famous for its stunning scenery, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Enjoy a truly bespoke experience, with all stays individually designed to suit your exact requirements. Whether you would prefer to take the estate on a self-catered basis, arrange partial catering, or enjoy a full luxury hotel style service with nightly turndown, housekeeping and butler service included; we will ensure every request is covered. We can also assist in arranging any activities, entertainment or transport you may require, so you can relax knowing the smallest details are taken care of.
The beautiful Pennsylvania Castle stands sentinel in its estate, surrounded by idyllic gardens that cascade down to the coast below. The Castle offers ample space for guests to relax and dine together, with a beautiful Dining Room to seat 60 people, complete with its own bar. During the early summer months (early/mid May – July), the indoor pool is converted to an Orangery, providing a spectacular setting for banquets and events for up to 100 guests, with floor to ceiling windows opening onto the terrace with incredible views.
The elegant living rooms include a wonderful dual aspect drawing room with stunning French crystal chandeliers and beautiful mahogany parquet flooring, a library, TV room, conservatory and office. There is a luxury country kitchen, well equipped for catering for groups, or we can arrange a fully serviced stay to include a chef and all staff for you as required.
The wonderful freeform indoor swimming pool offers beautiful views of the sea, complete with dual aspect French doors providing direct access to the south facing terrace. This extraordinary room is flooded with natural light and can be converted into an Orangery by the use of a temporary floor covering the swimming pool, providing an indoor dining option for up to 100 people. Please note the Castle is used for events throughout early/mid May – July, when the swimming pool is unavailable.
There is accommodation across the Estate for up to 48 guests, with nine en-suite bedrooms in the Castle itself. The stunning master bedroom suite is set in the turret with breath taking views over the coastline. There is a sumptuous oversized Emperor bed and a stunning handmade crystal pendant, together with a handmade freestanding double ended bath in the bedroom, and an en-suite shower room.
The remaining six bedrooms on the first floor are all individually designed with luxurious bed linen on either king or super king beds, and en-suite shower or bathrooms to maintain guest privacy. One of the bedrooms on the first floor is a family room with one king size bed and two single beds. A mezzanine level has two further bedrooms, both with twin beds (all four beds are three quarter doubles) and adjacent en-suite bath/shower rooms.
Within the grounds of the Estate and just a short walk from the main castle are two charming cottages and five Clifftop lodges. Cove Lodge offers three bedrooms and two bathrooms, a lovely open plan living space and kitchen with fabulous views, whilst Little Lodge is a self contained cosy cottage with one bedroom and bathroom.
The five Clifftop lodges have recently been constructed to the highest standards, set on top of the cliffs with dramatic views over the coast below. Each has been sensitively built to blend with the natural habitat, made from locally sourced Portland stone. Each lodge has two bedrooms and two bathrooms, a kitchen and living area, with floor to ceiling windows looking out to the coast. There are luxurious furnishings and beautiful architectural details that reflect the incredible surroundings.
The Clifftop lodges each have a private terrace and there is also a spacious roof terrace, which makes a spectacular setting for drinks receptions or barbecues.
The grounds of Pennsylvania Castle Estate are truly exceptional, with extensive landscaped gardens and numerous terraces ideal for outdoor entertaining. The beautiful English garden features mature hedges and trees, box hedges, dry stone walls clad with roses and sweeping lawns with beautiful views over the bay. There is a wedding pagoda on one of the lawns with amazing views, creating a wonderful setting for a summer wedding. Beyond the English garden lies a magnificent Italian garden, also accessible from the swimming pool terrace, with a lovely ornamental fountain, lily ponds, terraces and rose beds. From the upper level a pathway leads to the tropical garden, with exotic plants and palms and a wonderful waterfall creating a wonderfully tranquil place.
The path continues beyond the gardens and winds down giving direct access to sea, passing the romantic ancient ruins of the 12th century St Andrews Church before arriving at the idyllic Church Ope Cove, a picturesque sheltered beach. The ruins of Rufus Castle, the oldest castle in Portland, are easily visible at the cliff edge of Church Ope Cove.
The sweeping driveway provides ample parking, with another large parking area to the north of the house able to park twenty cars, and the large lawn area beyond the gardens offers a helipad should you wish to arrive in style, however this must be arranged in advance.
The village of Easton with a selection of pubs, restaurants and shops is a ten minute walk from Pennsylvania Castle, with the cosmopolitan town of Weymouth around 15 minutes’ drive away.