Swanage and The Local Area

Swanage is the gateway to the World Heritage Site that runs from Studland Bay to Exmouth in Devon. With its gently shelving beach and sfae bathing it provides an ideal base for exploring the beautiful Isle of Purbeck and the Jurrassic Coast.

The Isle of Purbeck has many attractions to suit all ages, sport & leisure activities, interesting & historical towns, Corfe Castle with its Norman Castle towering over thatched Purbeck stone cottages and the saxon walled town of Wareham with its meandering river.

Swanage & Studland are an ideal base for walking, cycling & golf breaks and steam railway enthusiasts can enjoy the lovingly restored service that runs between Swanage & Corfe Castle.

From the recently renovated pier, you can take a boat to Poole, Bournemouth, the Isle of Wight or Brownsea Island, as well as coastal cruises to Old Harry's Rocks and Durlston.

The shaded waters under the pier are home to marine life normally found in deeper waters and so is very popular with divers and underwater photographers alike.

Take a stroll down the pier and pop in to the Exhibition Centre located in the ground floor of Marine Villas.

As well as artefacts from the many wrecks along the surrounding coast, it features a collection of colour photos of the marine life under the pier, an underwater diving scene and part of the exhibition is devoted to the early history of the pier and the paddle steamers.

Swanage Railway provides the perfect opportunity to admire Purbeck's breathtaking scenery from the carriage of a steam train.

The award-winning Swanage Railway currently operates on the six miles of track between Swanage and Norden, through the beautiful Isle of Purbeck, passing the magnificent ruins of Corfe Castle.

The goals of the Southern Steam Trust (the controlling body of the Swanage Railway) are to restore the rail link between Swanage and Wareham, re-establishing a daily service to connect with main line trains, and to create a comprehensive historical record of steam railways and steam technology in Southern England.

Trains operate every weekend and Bank Holiday throughout the year, and every day throughout the week during peak season.

The terminus of the Swanage Railway is situated right in the town and you may take a delightful standard gauge preserved steam train journey through the Purbeck countryside to Corfe Castle. During the summer, trains run very late so you can enjoy the pubs and forget the car.

The bus station is alongside Swanage railway station and services are provided to many local attractions and places.

Links To Places of Local Interest Click Here