501 to Portland Bill

The photo, by Lee Wilkins, dates from 22 June 2006; it shows the open-top 501 (Weymouth – Portland Bill) service run by First Hampshire & Dorset.

Southern National first ran this summer service. Their open-top double-deckers were yellow with jazzy Southern Belle branding on them, which gave a real summery feel to the whole travel experience. When First Hampshire & Dorset took over, they just used their standard corporate livery; this did not create quite the same buzz — although the journey itself was still great.

Portland Bill, where this service terminates, is a narrow promontory at the southern end of the Isle of Portland; it is the southernmost point of Dorset.