Swanage and the Surrounding Countryside
Nestled at the foot of the Purbeck hills, Swanage town is surrounded by countryside and home to many types of flora and fauna. To the west of Swanage beach lies Durlston Country Park, awarded the RHS Conservation & Environment Award. It comprises of 260 acres of beautiful country park, which is home to many types of rare birds and butterflies. The view from Durlston Country Park out to the bay is spectacular, taking in dramatic cliffs and crashing seas and even visiting dolphins. There’s even more to the park, as it is home to many sites of interest including the Anvil Point Lighthouse, Tilly whim Caves and the Great Globe carved from local limestone and assembled on Durlston Head in 1887. In the same year George Burt built the Victorian folly Durlston Castle, which is currently being renovated to become one of the major information centres for the Jurassic Coast.
Along the coast you will find Lulworth Estate and Lulworth Castle and chapel. Lulworth is home to some of the most breathtaking coastlines in the area, with the beautiful Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door. If you are visiting Lulworth, you should pay a visit to the deserted village of Tyneham. Tyneham was home to a population of 250 people and had a village school and church, but in 1943 the entire village was evacuated for military purposes. Tyneham’s inhabitants were re-distributed throughout Purbeck and it was promised that they could return to their homes when the war was over, but sadly this never happened and the village is still used for military purposes today. It is the village that time forgot, and definitely somewhere to put on your list of places to visit.
One final place to mention here is Brownsea Island, accessible from Swanage by taking Shell Bay Ferry (at Studland) over to Sandbanks in Poole where you can catch boats making regular trips to Brownsea Island- the largest island in Poole Harbour. This beautiful little island is home to red squirrels, sika deer and a multitude of bird life. It was also the birth place of the scout movement in 1907 when Robert Baden Powell held his first scout camp there. Whilst you are in the area, have a look around the Sandbanks Peninsula, called 'England's Monte Carlo' in a recent ITV television programme, and home to some of the most expensive property in the UK. Stunning views across Poole Harbour and out to sea ensure that property prices in this area keep on rising with average prices now around £1-2 million pounds for a modest 2 bedroom house!
There are so many places to visit and things to see in Swanage and the surrounding countryside. When you first arrive at the apartment, visit Swanage Tourist Information Centre on Swanage seafront to pick up some of the many guides and leaflets printed by Swanage and Purbeck council to help you to plan your walks, bike rides and trips on public transport.