Bournemouth

Bournemouth in Dorset is approximately 100 miles from London. The nearby town of Poole practically merges into Bournemouth but Bournemouth is best known for its 7 mile sandy beach. It is a popular tourist destination in the summer months. 

Bournemouth has a variety of restaurants, cafes and bars. There is a little something for everyone in this town. The seafront backs onto a beautiful park and a central pedestrian shopping area.

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Weymouth

Weymouth is a busy town and it has long been known as a seaport. George III lived in Weymouth. Today's Weymouth relies on tourism and is a popular resort with a busy seafront. This is deckchair land and it can get quite crowded.

Weymouth as you would expect, has good fishing and boating trips and high speed ferries operate from Weymouth harbour from the Channel Islands and France.

Nearby you have Abbotsbury Swannery and Abbotsbury Garden, Portland Castle, Corfe Castle and Chesil Beach.

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Swanage Railway

If you are visiting Corfe Castle then the Swanage Steam Railway is definately the best way to arrive at Corfe Village. The six miles of track between Swanage and Norden pass through the spectacular Isle of Purbeck countryside with dramatic views of Corfe Castle.

Like many revived railways in the UK the Swanage Railway is no exception and relies on volunteers for its day to day running and restoration. The railway is currently working towards restoring the rail link from Wareham and providing a daily service to connect with main line trains.

Great care has been taken to keep the railway station preserved and looking as it would have looked in the days of steam. Baggage stacked outside on the main platform really do add to the authentic look and feel of this station. Definitely worth a visit.

More details can be found at: www.swanagerailway.co.uk/

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Swanage

Swanage is a popular destination on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset. There are plenty of long sandy beaches around swanage and the water is clean and clear. The parks and gardens are a delight and Corfe Castle can be visited by taking a train on the Swanage Railway.

Swanage has award winning beaches, miles of footpaths, a victorian pier and good local facilities. If the weather is good and you just want to laze about, soak up the sun and swim, then stop here.

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Portland

Portland is famous for its Portland stone and Portland cement and a visitor to Portland will see the quarries on his or travels. Portland even has its own breed of sheep.

Portland Bill joins Chesil Beach and is almost an island made from limestone. The scenery is more rugged than mainland proper but it does have some rather unique features and interesting places. The scenery is absolutely stunning too. Portland Bill lighthouse is a very impressive building and has a visitor centre and is open for tours.

There is still a prison on the island and Portland has its own port and some rather unique churches and buildings. The British have a fascination with islands or bits of land that stick out into the sea but Portland Bill is a fascinating place and with some unique qualities of its own.

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Lyme Regis

Lyme Regis is part of the Jurassic Coast and World Heritage Coastline. Surrounded by beautiful countryside, Lyme Regis is a holiday resort and fishing port.

From Cobb Harbour there are a variety of deep sea fishing trips for mackerel and diving expeditions. Lyme Regis is famous for its fossils and due to cliff erosion interesting new finds are always being made here.

This is great walking country. The walk from Lyme Regis to Seaton ( some 11 miles ) is an area unspoiled and of great natural beauty. In 1840 a huge 20 acre landslide occurred and provided a natural habitat for orchids and rare ferns and plants. It is now a National Nature Reserve.

More details can be found at: www.lymeregis.org

Lulworth Cove

Lulworth and Lulworth Cove is on the Purbeck Heritage Coast and a well known tourist destination. The arrival of Lulworth Heritage Centre emphasises its importance as a major attraction which draws over half a million visitors each year.

Since 1641 Lulworth has been part of the Weld Estate which includes Lulworth Castle. It forms part of the 95 mile coastline of Dorset and East Devon World Heritage Site. Lulworth is actually 5 miles of beaches that include Durdle Door, Man o' War, St Oswald's Bay, Stair Hole, Lulworth Cove, Mupe Bay and Arish Mel.

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Corfe Castle

Corfe Castle, now part of the National Trust, is situated Near Wareham in Dorset. It has over a 1000 years of history and dates back to the time of William the Conqueror.

Corfe Castle was built and added to over the years. Henry I built the keep, King John the Gloriette and Henry II the south west gatehouse. The castle was destroyed purposely during the English Civil War and what you see are the damaged walls and foundations rather than the weathering of time.

Corfe Castle was the home of Bankes family who moved to Kingston Lacy House in 1646 after the castle was destroyed. The castle and Kingston Lacy Estates were handed over to the National Trust in 1981.

The award winning Swanage Steam Railway has a park and ride and takes you from the station right up to Corfe village. Corfe village is also definitely worth a good look around and has an excellent bakery and interesting buildings.

For photographs of Corfe Castle click here or view the photos on You Tube

Chesil Beach

Chesil Beach is a long shingle ridge that joins with Portland and extends to Burton Bradstock covering some 18 miles. At Burton Bradstock there is a visitor centre and access to the beach. By far the best views are from Portland where these photographs were taken.

There is a history of shipwrecks on Chesil Beach, caused by the strong sea breeze and tides. In 1749 the Dutch vessel 'Hope' encountered storms in the English Channel and ran aground with a cargo of gold and silver. The locals had a field day and the hapless Dutch had to fend for themselves and make their way to shore and safety, abandoning their ship and its precious cargo.

The beach is thought to be over 5000 years old. This is a popular shore diving and fishing site and has been designated as a "special site of scientific interest".

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Bournemouth & Poole

Bournemouth boasts seven miles of golden beaches, nearby Poole, Studland Bay and Swanage are just a short distance away and this area features a host of attractions. The town combines both a modern centre with beautiful parks and gardens and tree lined avenues with a wide variety of shops and amenities.

Bournemouth is a top holiday destination in the UK. The beach is sandy and offers good bathing facilities. There is plenty of entertainment in the evenings and Bournemouth has over 250 restaurants and numerous clubs and bars.

The New Forest is nearby and provides a beautiful countryside alternative to the coastal scene. Poole has three miles of golden sand of its own and is certainly not overshadowed by its neighbour.

Canford Cliffs beach is a popular destination and Poole Quay offers a great day out with an atmosphere all of its own. Good restaurants, cafes and pubs with a true seafaring tradition and plenty of yachts and shipping vessels constantly making their way in and out of the harbour.

For photographs of Bournemouth and Poole click here or view on You Tube