If you love Studland’s beaches but would prefer a more local vibe head to South Beach. It still benefits from the safe, shallow waters that Knoll Beach offers, but it’s a little more secluded and rugged. South Beach is popular with kayakers and paddle boarders due to its relatively calm, shallow water, and it has increasingly become a popular mooring spot for boats. It also has a designated safe swimming area, café and beach toy hire. South Beach also offers stunning views across to Old Harry Rocks. There is a path that leads up to the iconic chalk stalks directly from the beach – the walk is fairly easy and takes around half an hour. There are also various options nearby for exploring Old Harry Rocks via kayak and horseback. There are also echos of the past – both man-made and natural – here, with a World War II pillbox on the beach itself and easy access to observation bunker Fort Henry, next to the unique red and yellow-coloured sandstone of the cliffs. This family-friendly beach has attracted both visitors and locals alike for many years – in fact, it used to be home to an annual August regatta where […]

The poignant story behind the ‘ghost village’ of Tyneham, abandoned during World War II, will stay with you long after you have walked around its crumbling homes and forgotten farmland. Evacuated in 1943 so that the British Army could use the area for training purposes, the village soon fell into disrepair. However the church and school room are still mostly intact, having been carefully restored. Today, you can visit and walk around this village that simply stopped in time, and explore inside the church and school, discovering their history, including the last pages of schoolwork and children’s names still on their pegs. Information is displayed throughout the village about the families that once lived in Tyneham, and what life was like for them in this seemingly idyllic, yet remote spot. Nestled deep within the Purbeck Hills the story of these villagers who never returned and their now deserted homes is an interesting insight into this area’s past. *Note that seven of the buildings are currently cordoned off to the public due to safety concerns. (You can still walk around the outside of most of the buildings). The MoD is investigating whether or not they can be repaired and reopened.* Tyneham’s history […]

Handy for storing all your seaside essentials and giving you that extra bit of privacy, beach huts in Swanage are available to hire all year round for daily, weekly and seasonal hire periods. Perfect for storing beach toys and swimming gear while you explore a different aspect of Swanage and its surrounding area, or for sitting and taking in the view across the bay, many of the beach huts alongside Swanage Beach have toilet and shower facilities close by, making a trip to the seaside an easy, fuss-free experience. There are also options for long-term rental for residents, as well as beach huts for hire at some of the beaches of Studland Bay. Swanage beach huts Shore Road beach huts There are 60 beach huts on Shore Road available all year road, which is located opposite the beach – these are the closest beach huts to Swanage town. During the peak summer season (1 May – 30 September), the road in front of the Shore Road beach huts is pedestrianised for your safety and enjoyment. There is a choice of fully accessible, standard or larger family huts, and lower or upper levels. Situated right next to town, beach huts are equipped […]

Whether or not you’re taking a trip on a Swanage Railway steam train, Corfe Castle Railway Station itself is well worth a visit, for its vintage charm and picture-postcard photo opportunities. Once almost demolished, the original 1885 station building has now been restored to its former glory and is a timeless feature of both Corfe Castle village and Swanage Railway. Arriving into Corfe by steam train is also the way to travel in style from Swanage, or from the park-and-ride at Norden, for a day out exploring Corfe Castle itself, and is guaranteed to make your visit truly historic. Step back in time at Corfe Castle station Station Master’s office Meet the volunteers dressed in traditional station attire and see inside the 1950s Station Master’s office and lounge area. A porter can show you around and introduce you to the station’s historic features, as well as give you handy travel information. Ladies’ waiting area The fully restored Ladies’ waiting room evokes a time gone by and is complete with period paraphernalia throughout. Swanage Railway Museum Volunteers for the Swanage Railway worked for thirty years to save and rebuild the branch after it was forced to close and began to be demolished in the […]

This intriguing landform and small cove can be easily missed on your trip to Lulworth Cove, but making your way up the short path to see Stair Hole is well worth it. The view from Stair Hole gives a new perspective to this stunning part of the Jurassic Coast with its impressive, commanding vistas of the coastline and down over Lulworth Cove itself. If you have budding geologists with you, or if you want to bring those Geography lessons to life, this is the place to go to really see first-hand the effects of erosion on our coastline. It’s also a brilliant spot to see the limestone strata and folds of the ‘Lulworth Crumple’, just to the left of Stair Hole. Safety and walking information Visitors must keep to the path so as not to contribute to the erosion of the area and, as with all areas of the coastline, it is advised to keep away from cliff edges at all times. Adders may also be present in the grassy cliff at certain times of the year – typically spring and summer. There is a dedicated viewing point at the top of the path from which the features of Stair Hole […]

One of the most iconic landforms on the South Coast – Old Harry Rocks – is just a stone’s throw from Swanage and an important feature of Dorset’s Jurassic Coast history. There are various walking routes to Old Harry Rocks from both Swanage and Studland, each offering breathtaking views of this unique rock formation. The white chalk promontory and ‘stacks’ that make up Old Harry rise from the sea between Swanage Bay and Studland Bay at Handfast Point on the headland of Ballard Down. They were once part of a chalk ridge that connected to The Needles on the Isle of Wight. On a clear day you can stand up on the cliff and see across to The Needles – three chalk stacks, similar to Old Harry Rocks, which rise from the sea off the island twenty miles away. From certain angles, and depending on where you are in Purbeck you can also see the stack known as Old Harry’s Wife, as well as further stack and a stump to the west of Old Harry known as the Pinnacles. There is also a now-inaccessible chalk ‘island’ known as No Man’s Land, which has become isolated by the sea. The gap between this […]

The town’s largest public park is popular with local children and teens with its skate park, graffiti wall and playground equipment. The play equipment caters for very small children to older kids and there are also picnic benches within the playground. There is also a small wetland area with a wooden walkway that has been created to diversify habitats for wildlife. The nearby wildflower meadow has encouraged wild orchids to grow. The pathway behind the stream by the car park leads to a cemetery, after which there is a bridge, which is a popular place for spotting the steam train as it comes in – be aware, however, that this is a road. The nearby pitch n’ putt Swanage Golf Games is within walking distance of the park. King George’s park was first opened to the public in 1951, and is named after King George V. Dogs King George’s playing field is also a great way to let your dog burn off energy while the children play as it’s in view of the whole playground. It’s a popular spot with local dog-walkers, meaning your pooch will generally tend to come across a playmate of their own here. Note that by the […]

We are spoilt for choice in Swanage and the Isle of Purbeck with so many wonderful places to explore. To make it easier for you to plan your visit we’ve broken up some of the best walks into handy categories, so you can find the right one for your day out. For stunning scenery Perfect for both shorter walks and packing a picnic and making a day of it, these special spots are a short drive from Swanage and boast some of the most beautiful views to be found in the South of England. Durdle Door – The walk to the iconic limestone arch, synonymous with Dorset’s Jurassic Coast, encompasses beautiful cliff walks and shingle beach. Nearest car park: BH20 5PU Lulworth Cove – This beautiful cove has various walking options, from a village stroll to a hike up to Durdle Door or exploring the cliff walks of the Lulworth Ranges. Park in West Lulworth: BH20 5RQ Old Harry Rocks – One of the Jurassic Coast‘s most famous landmarks is a gentle half-hour walk from Studland village. Park at South Beach Car Park: BH19 3AU Swyre Head – Despite being the highest point in Purbeck, the walk to Swyre Head is mostly flat. With breathtaking views […]