At one time the only safe harbour on this stretch of the Dorset coast, Weymouth later became a fashionable seaside resort, and was very popular during the late 18th century, right through Victorian times to the present day. Still a desirable area for summer holidays, Weymouth is also a busy port for ferries to the Channel Islands and St Malo in France. The town is fairly large with a population of over 50,000, and along with the rest of Dorset, it enjoys a decent climate with milder temperatures than much of the UK. Weymouth can be accessed by way of the A354 from Salisbury, via Blandford Forum and Dorchester. Weymouth Map.