THE BIG Dorset Outdoor Weekend hopes to make a big shout for the huge range of outdoor activities Weymouth and Portland have to offer. 

Event organisers and leisure providers gathered at the Official Test Centre on Portland for the launch of the new BIG Dorset Outdoor Weekend, which hopes to make a splash at the end of this week.

The weekend has been put together by Creative Solutions on behalf of Weymouth BID, which has funded this unique chance for people to get a taste of the outdoor activities available in the area. 

Roy Griffiths, organiser for the event and director of Creative Solutions, said: “I felt strongly for a lot of years that we don’t speak loudly enough about the activities we have in Weymouth and Portland.”

He added: “We need to shout a little more about what we do and hopefully this weekend we will do that.”

The big weekend will bring together more than 25 outdoor activity and adventure events in south Dorset, with much of the focus being on Weymouth and Portland.

Enthusiasts and complete beginners can take part in walks, runs cycle rides and a host of water sports, including windsurfing, sailing and coasteering, this Saturday and Sunday. 

Mr Griffiths said: “There is something for everyone, from novices to experts.”

He added that the weekend has intentionally been put at the beginning of the season so people can continue to enjoy any activities they discover on the Saturday or Sunday for the rest of the year.

Weymouth BID hopes that by putting a spotlight on the sorts of activities people can take part in outside the summer season, Weymouth and Portland can attract more visitors to the area throughout the year.

A spokesperson for Weymouth BID said that these visitors will put more money into the local economy out of season by staying at hotels and visiting shops and restaurants, and then will go back and tell others about the great time they have had. 

One of the leisure providers on board for the weekend is the Official Test Centre on Portland itself, which is putting on windsurfing and paddle boarding tasters.

Tris Best, who is running the windsurfing, said: “It allows us to promote and expose the sports to as wider user range as possible. It is the perfect opportunity to try the sports.” 

Mr Griffiths said that the weekend could attract a thousand people across all the events.

He added: “We are hoping this is the start of an annual event. We can almost double the number of events from this year because of the amount of interest we have had.” 

You can see the full listings here.