Rocks, Swans, and a Castle – Exploring the Isle of Purbeck

We’re going to the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, an area rich in natural beauty, history, and geology.

Despite the name, Purbeck is not an island (although with the sea on two sides and Poole Harbour on a third, it sometimes feels like one). The area’s unique geology makes it a magnet for fossil hunters and part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. The UK’s longest National Trail, the South West Coast Path, passes around Purbeck and forms the backbone of two of the planned walks. We’ll arrive in the seaside resort of Swanage, the largest town in the area, on Friday night, for three days of walking on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

Please sign up using the form here: https://forms.gle/o5dfQtKg6CNJtqr26

Provisional walks programme, subject to change

Day #1: Corfe Castle doubleheader

Morning walk (6 miles, leisurely, 260m ascent)

Afternoon walk (4.5 miles, leisurely, 179m ascent)

This pair of walks – one to the west and one to the east of Corfe Castle – both offer fine views across Purbeck from the ridge of the Purbeck Hills. Everyone can choose between doing both walks (combined figure of 8 challenging walk of 10.5 miles) or the morning or afternoon walk only and spending the rest of the time visiting the castle or exploring the historic village. It is possible to reach Corfe Castle on the steam railway from Swanage! (although bus and car options exist too)

Day #2: Choice of two walks through Durlston Country Park

Option 1: Swanage to Worth Matravers and back, via Durlston Country Park and the Coast Path (12 miles, challenging, 457m ascent)

Heading out from Swanage, we’ll pass through Durlston Country Park and along the South West Coast Path, past Dancing Ledge and Winspit Quarry. This walk should have good opportunities for sea swimming – the organiser needs to do more research on the best spot and tide conditions. Leaving the coast, we’ll head inland to stop at the unusual Square and Compass pub in Worth Matravers, with its attached fossil museum, before we follow the inland Priest’s Way footpath back to Swanage. 

Option 2: Swanage to Durlston Country Park Loop (5 miles, leisurely, 235m ascent)

We’ll head out with the rest of the group around Durlston Bay and to the country park, where we will split. We’ll have time to explore Durlston Castle and the visitor centre, before looping up through Townsend Nature Reserve and back into Swanage. This walk is only 5 miles, but it still has a reasonable amount of ascent.

Day #3: South Haven Point to Swanage

South Haven Point to Swanage (8 miles, moderate, 186m)

We’ll take the 50 “Purbeck Breezer” open top bus from Swanage to South Haven Point, and follow the last/first stretch (depending on the direction you walk the trail) of the South West Coast Path back to Swanage. This walk will include Studland Beach, the spectacular rock formations at Old Harry Rocks, and views across Swanage from Ballard Down. 

Accommodation

We have currently booked two rooms at YHA Swanage with a total of eight beds. For three nights these will cost between £92.25 and £123 per person, depending on how many spaces are filled. Depending on demand and availability, we may book more rooms. Please fill in this form (https://forms.gle/o5dfQtKg6CNJtqr26) to request your space.*

Two and three bed rooms are available at the hostel – please book these yourselves if you would prefer this option. Swanage also has plenty of alternative accommodation options if anyone would prefer not to stay at the hostel. In either case, please still fill in the form, so the organiser knows you are coming. 

* T&Cs: Spaces will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis, and you will need to pay before your place is confirmed. Payment details will be sent to you by the trip organiser if a space is available, after you submit the form. Due to the nature of the group, once you have paid and secured your place, if you then decide to cancel, you will only be able to receive a refund for the accommodation once the trip is full and a replacement participant has been found to take your place – and payment has been received from all participants, including the replacement participant. If the trip is cancelled by the YHA, we will only be able to give refunds if we receive the money back from the YHA. The Berkshire Walkers account is used only to streamline payments to suppliers. In the event of a supplier failure Ramblers and Berkshire Walkers are not liable for reimbursement.

Food

The plan is to organise a group meal out on at least one night (probably the Friday). The other two evening meals will not be organised centrally.

f you are staying in the hostel, there is a kitchen for self-catering, and you can pay for breakfast in the mornings (£5.95 per day for continental or £9.95 for cooked).

Travel

There are two ways to reach Swanage by public transport. One is to catch a direct Crosscountry train from Reading to Bournemouth, followed by a 50 ‘Purbeck Breezer’ bus from outside Bournemouth station direct to Swanage. Buses leave hourly, with a journey time of around 1 hour and 15 minutes. All single bus fares are currently capped at £3.

Alternatively, travel by train to Wareham station (this will require at least one change of train from Reading) and then board a 40 ‘Purbeck Breezer’ bus to Swanage. Buses on this route also leave hourly with a journey time of around 30 minutes.

Both stations are within the Network Railcard zone.