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Heritage railway
Swanage Railway
Steam and diesel trains run between Norden, Corfe Castle and Swanage, with stops at Harman’s Cross and Herston Halt.
A mini guide to
Swanage, Studland & Purbeck: things to do
Places worth your time in Swanage, Studland & Purbeck
Top places
Things to do in Swanage, Studland & Purbeck
Landmarks, museums, parks and viewpoints in and around the area.
Castle ruin
Corfe Castle
Norman castle ruin above the village, in a gap in the Purbeck Hills; besieged twice in the Civil War and now National Trust.
Country park
Durlston Country Park
Clifftop nature reserve south of Swanage with Durlston Castle, the Great Globe, walks and sea views.
Directions Website Report a problem with Durlston Country Park
Victorian pier
Swanage Pier
Pier built in 1895 for passenger steamers, now looked after by a charitable trust; open to walkers and anglers.
Beach
Studland Beach
Long sandy beach on Studland Bay at the eastern end of the Jurassic Coast, backed by dunes and heath.
Chalk sea stacks
Old Harry Rocks
Chalk stack and stump at Handfast Point, marking the eastern end of the Jurassic Coast; reached on foot.
Bay
Kimmeridge Bay
Bay on the Isle of Purbeck known for its fossils and its cliffs of Kimmeridge Clay.
Fossil museum
The Etches Collection
Museum of Jurassic marine life in Kimmeridge, based on fossils Steve Etches collected along the local coast.
Directions Website Report a problem with The Etches Collection
Model village
Corfe Castle Model Village
Model village and gardens in Corfe Castle with a café, beside the Swanage Railway station.
Directions Website Report a problem with Corfe Castle Model Village
Coastal ledge
Dancing Ledge
Flat rock platform at the foot of a small cliff near Langton Matravers, signposted from the South West Coast Path.
Cove
Chapman’s Pool
Small cove west of Worth Matravers on the Isle of Purbeck.
Headland
St Aldhelm’s Head
Southernmost headland of the Purbeck peninsula, 5 km south-west of Swanage, on the Jurassic Coast.
Nature attraction
The Blue Pool
Former clay pit near Furzebrook with a coloured lake, heathland walks and a tearoom.
Fossil site
Spyway Dinosaur Footprints
Site near Swanage where Visit Dorset says more than 100 fossilised dinosaur tracks are preserved in a flat layer of rock.
Chalk downland
Ballard Down
Chalk ridge between Swanage and Studland Bay ending at Ballard Point, with long views along the coast.
The Jurassic Coast
More areas to explore
14 sights · 7 places to eat
Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door & Wareham
A famous rock arch, an almost circular cove and a Saxon walled town
Open the mini guide →
15 sights · 10 places to eat
Weymouth & Portland
A Georgian harbour town, a wide sandy bay and the Isle of Portland
Open the mini guide →
12 sights · 15 places to eat
Bridport & West Bay
A market town, a small harbour and the cliffs of Golden Cap
Open the mini guide →Photo credits
- Swanage, Studland & Purbeck (area photo): Bob Harvey, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Swanage Railway: LordHarris at English Wikipedia, Public domain, source
- Corfe Castle: Chin tin tin, CC BY 3.0, source
- Durlston Country Park: Michael Garlick, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Swanage Pier: Daniel Schmidt, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Studland Beach: Malc McDonald, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Old Harry Rocks: Jim Champion, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Kimmeridge Bay: David Martin, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- The Etches Collection: Jpbowen, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Corfe Castle Model Village: Chris Gorringe, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Dancing Ledge: JimChampion, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Chapman’s Pool: Tanya Hart, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- St Aldhelm’s Head: Jim Champion, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- The Blue Pool: David Purchase, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Spyway Dinosaur Footprints: Tim Marshall, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Ballard Down: Mike Faherty, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door & Wareham: Brian Deegan, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Weymouth & Portland: Jorge Franganillo, CC BY 4.0, source
- Bridport & West Bay: Martinvl, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Lyme Regis & Charmouth: Martinvl, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Seaton, Beer & Sidmouth: michael cooper, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
Keep exploring the Jurassic Coast