What better way to stay in Swanage than at a traditional clifftop hotel with a room looking out across the bay?
The Pines is just a short walk from Swanage Beach, has a restaurant with a great range of dining options with fantastic sea views, and some of the hotel’s rooms have a balcony where you can sit and watch the sunset with a drink in hand after a day out exploring this special part of Dorset’s Jurassic Coast.
The garden at this 3 star hotel is the perfect place to sit on a summer’s day, taking in the panoramic bay views, with tables and chairs for eating at or simply relaxing away from the crowds on busier days.
The Pines is also a great place to stay during winter – cosy up in the recently revamped lounge and bar, or have your dinner in the restaurant as you watch the waves roll in.
Take a short flight of private steps from the hotel directly to the beach for a day at the seaside, where you can try out kayaking and paddle boarding, hire a beach hut, or have a beach-side bite to eat; follow a path up into the Purbeck Hills where you can get away from it all and walk over to the famous Old Harry Rocks; or stroll along the promenade or catch a quick taxi to the town’s range of attractions, pubs, shops and restaurants.
Accommodation
All rooms at The Pines are en-suite and come with flat-screen TVs with Freeview and hot drink-making facilities. You can see upon booking which rooms have a sea or hills view.
Part of the hotel’s charm is its traditional feel, although it has been undergoing extensive refurbishment, bringing a light and bright, modern decor to various rooms and areas of the hotel, such as the bar and lounge.
There are accommodation options to cater for every traveller – with family-friendly rooms; double, twin and single rooms; and two wheelchair accessible rooms (all main facilities are on the step-free, ground level and there’s a lift to the upper floors, with the addition of disabled toilets at ground level.).
Standard rooms at The Pines are a great option for a comfortable stay in Swanage, and some rooms may come with views across to the Purbeck Hills.
Sea view rooms at The Pines mean you’ll wake up to the shimmering sea out your window each morning, and for a little extra, you can get a balcony too to enjoy your morning coffee on.
The Pines’ premier bedrooms come with a touch of luxury, having been recently refurbished, and benefit from private, sea-facing balconies with spectacular views.
These superior rooms are named after iconic landmarks in the locality of Purbeck, which can be easily visited during your stay – there’s The Agglestone (a curious-400 tonne rock steeped in mystery in the middle of the vast Studland heathland), The Encombe (named after the privately-owned estate and Grade II listed country manor in nearby Kingston – you’ll see the estate down in the valley if you’re doing the Kingston to Swyre Head walk), and The Worbarrow (after the relatively remote Worbarrow Bay near the famous Purbeck ghost village of Tyneham.
The luxurious Purbeck Suite comes equipped with some special added extras too, such as electric curtains, so you can wake up to a sea view without leaving bed, and a hydro-massage shower to ease any aches and pains after a long day walking or swimming.
The Purbeck Suite is reserved for grown-ups only.
Tariffs & booking
Prices are per person, per night and include bed and breakfast, with the option of adding on your evening meal on arrival at a discounted price.
Children aged two – 15 staying in one of the hotel’s family rooms stay for a reduced rate
A full list of tariffs by season are listed on The Pine’s website: pineshotel.co.uk/tariffs/
Dogs at The Pines
- 🐾 The Pines offers both dog-friendly and pet-free rooms
- 🐾 An additional charge applied per dog per night (assistance dogs stay for free)
- 🐾 Superior rooms at The Pines are all pet-free
- 🐾 Dogs are restricted guests’ rooms and the garden (you can walk your pup through the lounge to access The Pines’ garden)
Group bookings
The Pines is a popular choice for groups wishing to stay in this part of the Jurassic Coast, be it for walking, golfing, spending time with a large family, WI/U3A, or clubs and societies attending local events, such as those held annually at the Swanage Railway, the bi-annual Blues Festival, or for the town’s summer highlight, the Swanage Carnival.
It’s also a great location to stay for wildlife and geology enthusiasts, with a plethora of natural history and conservation on your doorstep. Excellent places for group visits include Durlston Country Park, Kimmeridge Bay, Wareham Forest, Studland Bay and Dancing Ledge.
Groups staying at The Pines benefit from specially-tailored packages and a dinner menu of your choice (simply ask for sample menu options in advance), providing a memorable and fuss-free experience for your group.
Call or email the hotel to discuss your group booking.
Special season and festive stays
Staying at the Pines is a great way to add a touch of sparkle to your Christmas period and to explore Swanage and its surrounding area at a different time of year.
There’s a food-filled programme for Christmas itself, including festive treats such as afternoon tea with mince pies and a bracing guided Boxing Day walk followed by mulled wine.
Enjoy a Christmas Eve music evening, a fun quiz on Christmas Night and live music again on St Stephen’s Day – and it all kicks off with a champagne and canapé welcome in the lounge on Christmas Eve.
Each day you’ll be treated to breakfast, a buffet lunch, three-course dinner, with afternoon tea in between.
In addition to the Christmas break at The Pines, there’s a special programme of events for the New Year period, too.
Christmas menu
The Christmas menu at The Pines is available throughout the festive period for both hotel residents and locals to enjoy, and is a popular choice for groups and organisations to get together for their annual Christmas party, not to mention their popular Christmas party nights in December.
Call or email the hotel in good time to book your table or to enquire about a group party booking.
Longdown Holiday Bungalow
This self-contained, self-catering holiday cottage adjacent to The Pines is a great additional option if you are staying at the hotel with a large family group, or simply for a home-from-home getaway in a fantastic setting, with the added benefit of the use of all hotel facilities.
(pictures courtesy of The Pines/Longdown)
- Sleeps four people (one double; one twin room)
- Bed linen and towels are included (except beach towels)
- Own private garden including BBQ and patio furniture
- Parking for two cars
- Garage for storage
- Fully equipped kitchen
- WiFi & TV/DVD player
Short breaks at Longdown are available at off-peak times.
ℹ️ Booking of Longdown is made through The Pines Hotel. Find out more information online: pineshotel.co.uk/holiday-bungalow/
Dining
With great vistas across the sea toward the Isle of Wight and across the length of Swanage Bay, The Pines’ recently-refurbished restaurant makes for a memorable experience.
The hotel prides itself in using fresh, local ingredients and offers an interesting menu with some traditional favourite such as rump of lamb; steak, sauté mushrooms with French fries; and pan-fried sea bass, as well as more unusual plates such as the fig, beetroot, fennel and orange starter and a champagne and Pimm’s berry jelly meringue with honeycomb and raspberry sorbet.
Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available.
The most up-to-date, seasonal sample menus can be found on The Pine’s website.
The restaurant can be popular with locals as well as residents for weekend meals and its Sunday carvery, so booking a table is advisable.
Events
The Pines offers various packages for your special occasion event, whether that’s a wedding reception, christening party or celebration of life.
The team at The Pines will listen to your wishes and requirements and tailor them into a package that suits you – choose from buffet-style catering or set-price menus (which can be just one course, or up to the full three, depending on your needs).
There are great options too for local organisations who want to get together – why not arrange a special coffee morning or afternoon tea for your group’s AGM, festive get-together, or just as a treat.
There’s also ample room to accommodate a business meeting or event, with a function room with a capacity of 50, and the restaurant and lounge area seating up to 100 people, with the well-stocked bar a great place for mingling and catching up after a conference or meal.
Directions and parking
- 📍34 – 36 Burlington Road, Swanage, BH19 1LT
By car
If you’re coming to Swanage via the Sandbanks Ferry, just follow Ferry Road until you drive through the village of Studland – follow this road, the B3351 Swanage Road, till you see a left hand turn toward Swanage down Ulwell Road. This will lead on to Redcliffe Road, which leads directly to The Pines on Burlington Road.
If you’re driving via Wareham, simply continue on the A351 through Corfe Castle and Harman’s Cross till you reach Swanage or, at the foot of Corfe Castle itself, take a left onto the B3351 toward Studland under the viaduct, and follow this road till you reach the turning for Swanage on your right and follow directions as above.
There is a spacious on-site car park at the Pines, with dedicated disabled parking by the entrance, and handy electric vehicle charging points.
By train & bus
If you’re coming by public transport, the easiest way to get to The Pines is by taking the train to Wareham and either catching the hourly Number 40 bus or by taking a taxi – taxi companies operate out of Wareham Station, as well as Swanage itself.
Contact details
The best way to check availability at The Pines Hotel and book a room is directly through the hotel via its website. Alternatively, please feel free to give them a call and the Reception team will be delighted to help you with your enquiry.
You can check their Special Offers page, too, where there may be seasonal or last-minute discounts for your stay.
For table bookings, call or email the Reception team
- 📞 01929 425211
- 📥 reservations@pineshotel.co.uk
- ℹ️ pineshotel.co.uk