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The Isle of Purbeck Distances from Swanage |
 Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland. |
Swanage-gem of the Dorset coast.
Swanage, with a population of approximately 10,000, is situated at the eastern tip of the Isle of Purbeck, nestling between the Purbeck Hills to the north and south. It capitalises on its safe beaches that adorn its east facing bay. The main industry in Swanage is tourism, replacing the Purbeck stone trade, which provided a valuable building material for many buildings in London, Manchester and other cities in England. Due to the abundance of this material, many of Swanage's buildings themselves are built of Purbeck stone and there are several working quarries in the surrounding area providing a continued source. There is a mixture of old cottages, Victorian/Edwardian buildings and more modern properties which give the town an attractive appeal and character.
One of Swanage's major attractions is Durlston Country Park, which is a recognised National Park and honey pot site. It is popular with dolphin and bird watchers due to its contrasting landscape. The coastal walks serve as a superb spot to view the dolphin species that roam in the English Channel, including the bottle nosed dolphin. Swanage also has the delight of a steam railway which is run by local enthusiasts and provides a link with Norden just past Corfe Castle. It is hoped that this will eventually link up with Wareham.
Swanage has a wide range of local amenities-a cinema/theatre, two supermarkets, some branches of multiple stores, many denomination churches, most major banks, a very wide range of sporting and social clubs, including the renowned Isle of Purbeck Golf Course (18 & 9 hole courses) with its breathtaking views. There is a broad variety of private and state schools.
Corfe Castle (5 miles from Swanage) and Church Knowle
Corfe Castle is named after its most dominant feature-Corfe Castle ruins. The village itself nestles snugly between two ranges of hills. The medieval Norman Castle served as a protection to the rest of the Isle of Purbeck until it became one of Britain's most attractive ruins in 1646 when a sustained campaign by Oliver Cromwell succeeded and it was blown up. The village itself grew up in the 1700's and still to this day remains an old fashioned village with many thatched roofed cottages lining the picturesque old streets. There are several village shops and popular Inns. Church Knowle is about 2 miles from Corfe Castle and it boasts a 13th century church, an ancient Manor house and a period Inn with restaurant.
Studland (4 miles from Swanage)
Studland offers the Isle of Purbeck three miles of unspoilt beaches and dunes, which thrive with activity during the warm summer months.There are large areas of heathland owned by The National Trust. It provides a link with Poole and Bournemouth via the chainlink ferry (from Shell Bay to Sandbanks) that shuttles across the harbour entrance. Poole Harbour is the second largest natural harbour in the world.
Langton Matravers, Worth Matravers, Harman's Cross
Just outside Swanage are three villages and a hamlet, all different and individual. Langton Matravers is the largest of the three and like Corfe Castle it has a majority of Purbeck stone buildings.Between Langton Matravers and Worth Matravers is the stone quarrying hamlet of Acton. Worth Matravers is the quietest and prettiest with its village green, duck pond and quaint Purbeck Stone cottages supplying a very picturesque retreat for those that like tranquillity and beautiful surroundings. Harman's Cross can be classed as a hamlet and is a pretty much linear settlement that surrounds the main road with many of the properties enjoying good views and countryside surroundings.