Visit Swanage

Here you can hire canoes and pedaloes, enjoy the timeless antics of Punch and Judy, or simply laze away sunny days. And when the sandcastles have been built and ice creams eaten, children will find lots more to do in the beachside Recreation Ground where, on Sunday afternoons in summer, open-air band concerts also take place. Should lazing on the warm sandy beach prove just too tiring, within minutes' walk you will find a refreshing change of scene in the lively attractive town centre with its many interesting shops, boutiques and restaurants. Or maybe you could while away some time in the nearby parks and gardens. Spectacular floral displays adorn the gardens during spring and summer and the town is truly deserving of its 'Southern England in Bloom' award.

Travelling just a short distance along the coast from Swanage you find very different contrasts in the coastline depending on whether you head east or west. Three miles or so east of Swanage you'll find Studland beach one of the most beautiful long sandy beaches in the area backed with sand dunes and heathland. The whole area is managed by the National Trust and is a joy to visit. From Studland a car ferry takes you some 200 metres across the mouth of Poole Harbour to Sandbanks from where you can travel on to Poole and Bournemouth. You'll find a totally different coastline though when you travel west for now you are traveling along the Jurassic Coast with it's beautiful craggy cliffs and small bays and inlets. Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door and Kimmeridge are some of the easiest visited beaches in this area and should not be missed. Travel inland a short way and you'll reach Corfe Castle and Wareham.

With so many places to eat and drink when you visit Swanage, you certainly won't go hungry! Choose from seafood specialities and traditional fish and chips to cosy tearooms serving Dorset cream teas. Traditional local pubs beckon with hearty pub-grub; stylish bistros offer continental cuisine and take-away restaurants cater for all tastes. You can be sure of a comfortable and relaxing stay too, with such a wide variety of quality Swanage self catering accommodation available, many are conveniently located within a short walk of both the town and beach.