The Rodwell Trail is a short-distance footpath that runs from Wyke Regis to the town centre of Weymouth in Dorset. The trail, opened in 2000,[1] travels along the former route of the Weymouth and Portland Railway and is part of the South West Coast Path.[2]
The trail starts on Abbotsbury Road in Westham, Weymouth and ends at Ferrybridge in Wyke Regis. The latter part of the trail is along the northern side of Portland Harbour, passing the Tudor Sandsfoot Castle.
Maintenance of the trail is carried out by the Friends of Rodwell Trail group, who carry out litter picks and clear overgrowth on the route. Their work has been promoted by local publications such as the Dorset Echo for their work.[3]
The trail is estimated to be used by thousands of people, often as a means of avoiding traffic congestion in Weymouth, and extension of the trail further along the old railway line has been proposed as a means of access to the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy during the 2012 Olympic Games.[4]
The Rodwell Trail featured on the BBC factual programme Railway Walks, broadcast on BBC Four in October 2008, and repeated on BBC Two in April 2009.[5]