Local Area

Swanage is situated on the Isle of Purbeck and marks the gateway to the Jurassic Coast which stretches from Exmouth in East Devon to Studland Bay in Dorset, a distance of about 96 miles, and was inscribed on the World Heritage List in mid-December 2001.

You can relax on the glorious sandy beaches of Swanage Bay (The Castleton is only 100 metres from the finest beach in Swanage) as well as enjoying all the delights of the traditional English seaside such as Punch and Judy shows and ice cream on the beach. You can also walk the Dorset stretch of the South West Coastal Path (just a few hundred yards from the Castleton) to Old Harry Rocks and take in the stunning views from Ballard Down. Or enjoy one of the finest walks in the country from Swanage to Corfe Castle across Nine Barrow Down – and then take a leisurely ride back via Swanage’s world famous steam train!

On the southern side of Swanage lies Durlston Country Park with its nature trails and remarkable cliff walks. Visit the Park Centre and hear dolphins and other sea creatures on the hydrophone. For the ‘Twitchers’ amongst you, the numbers and variety of birdlife to observe in this beautiful area will captivate you for hours. At the centre of the Isle of Purbeck lies the historic stone village of Corfe Castle dominated by the evocative and dramatic ruins of the 1000 year old castle. The town and castle’s turbulent history makes a fascinating and most compelling story.

Whatever the weather, visitors always enjoy a trip to Monkey World which is a world renowned ape rescue centre and kids of all ages will be happily occupied for hours at Bovington Tank Museum to name just a few. Swanage is the ideal base for exploring the many natural and man-made delights of the region with a broad range of activities and visitor attractions to suit all ages.