The Beach and Surrounding Coastline
Swanage beach continually achieves European Blue Flag status and has also won the Encams Tidy Britain Group seaside Award. It is a gently sloping sandy beach that has a designated safe swimming area so that you can enjoy bathing in the sea without worry. A traditional Punch & Judy show can be found on Swanage beach in peak season, which is entertaining for children and parents alike! Enjoy award-winning Purbeck ice cream and sit in one of the deck chairs to truly admire the beauty of the beach, or spread out your towel and indulge in some serious sun worshipping.
For those who wish to travel slightly further afield, a trip to Studland beach, just around the headland is definitely worth making. If you are feeling energetic it is well worth making the trip over the hills of Ballard Down to see some of the most beautiful views that the South Coast has to offer, and end at Studland beach, which comprises of 3 miles of soft sand stretching from South Haven Point to Old Harry Rocks. Behind Studland Beach you will discover the National Nature reserve set in miles of beautiful heathland, which is home to rare birds and reptiles.
If the children need entertaining, a rockpooling excursion is an exciting diversion. Some of Purbeck’s best rock pools can be found at Kimmeridge Bay, which is watched over by the nineteenth Century folly Clavell Tower. At Kimmeridge you will also find the Marine Nature Reserve and visitor centre.
Of course, apart from the beauty of Purbeck’s beaches there is the special world importance that comes with being the eastern gateway to the Jurassic Coast: 95 miles of stunning coastline stretching from East Devon to Dorset, named a World Heritage Site. The coastline was named a World Heritage Site because of its rocks, which clearly depict a geological walk through time spanning the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. The entire Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site is accessible via the South West Coast Path National Trail, which covers 27 miles of glorious coast line, including Swanage. To get onto the path follow the acorn symbols.
Walking and sunbathing are not the only beach pursuits for visitors to Swanage. The area is also known for some of the best diving in the country, accessible from the restored Victorian Pier where people can also try their hand at other water sports. For those who would like to enjoy the beauty of the water without learning a new skill, we recommend a boat trip to Bournemouth that will take you around the beautiful Purbeck coastline and Poole Harbour (the second largest natural harbour in the world) to the bustling town of Bournemouth.
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