Swanage and Corfe are 45 minutes from Bournemouth on the Isle of Purbeck. Corfe Village and its famous castle are built from the local Purbeck stone which is probably the best limestone for building and polishing in England, and is used throughout the world. In February 1646, during the Civil War, Corfe Castle was destroyed by Parliamentary forces. If you wonder what the castle looked like in the early 17th century, visit Corfe Model Village on the Square in Corfe (open Easter - end October).

Swanage began as an Anglo-Saxon fishing village. John Mowlem was born in Swanage in 1788. He was a wealthy civil engineer and many buildings in the town were designed by him. The town's history has been dominated by quarrying and shipping. Purbeck marble from the hills and cliffs is found in many churches and cathedrals in the UK. The boats which took stone to London came back with things such as The Wellington Clock Tower which was on London Bridge and is now close to the Lifeboat House. The front of the Town Hall was once the Mercers Hall in London.

In the 19th century the railway made Swanage popular as a resort. The Victorian pier has been restored and is now a lovely place to walk or fish. Boat trips leave from the pier in the summer and there is also a diving school on the pier. The water in Mill Pond comes from a spring. The Mill House has a date stone of 1734 and this is the most photographed part of Swanage. There is also an old prison built in 1803 – it’s very small!

Swanage railway has been restored and there is a steam train between Wareham, Corfe and Swanage. You can travel in the way passengers did in did in 1885 when the railway first opened.

The Globe in Durlston Country Park was erected in 1887 by George Burt , John Mowlem’s nephew. Durlaston Castle is not really a castle but a Victorian folly (folly is the name given to unusual buildings which rich Victorians used to build). Durlston Country Park has part of the Dorset Coastal Path running through it and you can see wildlife if you are quiet, particularly birds. At certain times of the year you can see dolphins swimming in Durlaston Bay. Swanage Heritage Centre in The Square gives a fascinating insight into the history and heritage of the town and its residents (both famous and infamous). You can see a film about Swanage, try the interactive displays and learn about the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.

There is a folk festival held in Swanage every September.