Any date · Isle of Purbeck
The Isle of Purbeck takes in Wareham, Corfe Castle, Swanage, Studland and the coast round to Lulworth. Listings include Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove and Old Harry Rocks, the ruins of Corfe Castle, Tyneham village and the nature reserves at Arne and the Blue Pool. The Swanage Railway, bike hire at Norden and the Sandbanks Ferry are useful ways to get about without a car.
Festivals and shows
A community celebration in Swanage marking the start of the countdown to Christmas, with the town's Christmas lights switched on for the season.
Open all year
Isle of Purbeck Golf Club offers two heathland courses with views over Poole Harbour, set within a nature reserve where rare plants and birds can be seen. The 9-hole Dene Course suits golfers of all abilities, including beginners, while the Purbeck Championship course challenges more experienced players. The clubhouse has a restaurant and pro shop.
Open all year
A seafront venue in Swanage offering cinema screenings, live theatre, comedy, dance and music performances. School holiday matinees provide indoor entertainment for families, while a sea-view bar serves snacks and drinks including local beer and cider.
Open all year
A quiet shingle bay inside the Army's Lulworth Ranges, a mile's walk (about 20 minutes) from the car park at Tyneham village, and a lovely spot for a picnic. The ranges are usually open most weekends and school holidays: check GOV.UK or call 01929 404714 before you go, and keep to the paths marked with yellow posts. There are no lifeguards or toilets on the beach, and don't sit near the cliffs.
Open all year
A steel sculpture at South Haven Point, just before the ferry to Sandbanks, marks the end of the 630-mile South West Coast Path. The final leg from Worth Matravers passes Old Harry and three miles of sandy beaches, with views across Poole Bay to Bournemouth and the Isle of Wight. The last half mile of beach is popular with naturists. Bus 52 runs from the Sandbanks side of the ferry to Parkstone station.
Open all year
Ruined hilltop castle in the Isle of Purbeck, partly destroyed during the English Civil War. Visitors can explore fallen walls, spot murder holes and arrow loops, and take in wide views across Purbeck. A thousand years of royal and family history, from Henry I to the Bankes family, unfolds across the site, appealing to both adults and children.
Open all year
A walking and cycling route starting at Wareham Quay, running past the town's railway station and into Wareham Forest. It links with a longer circular trail through heath and woodland, suiting those wanting a short stroll or a longer forest walk.
Open all year
A striking natural limestone arch on the Jurassic Coast, reached by a steep path and steps from either Lulworth Cove or the cliff-top car park. The shingle beach suits confident walkers rather than those with mobility difficulties, and swimmers should take care as the shore shelves steeply with a strong under-tow.
Open all year
A heritage steam railway running 12 miles through the Purbeck countryside between Swanage, Corfe Castle, Harmans Cross, Herston Halt and Norden. Trips offer views of Corfe Castle and a chance to break the journey at stations along the line, including a railway museum at Corfe Station. Steam trains run most weekends year round and daily from April to October, with vintage diesel trains also in use.
Open all year
A rocky bay of shale below layered cliffs, overlooked by Clavell Tower and known for rock pools, fossils and some of Dorset's best surf. Ledges of harder limestone let you walk out and see fossils in the rock. The clear water is good for swimming and snorkelling, and surfers and windsurfers come all year for the waves, including the reef break at Broadbench.
Open all year
A deserted village evacuated in 1943 for wartime military training, now part of the Ministry of Defence's Lulworth Ranges. Visitors can see the ruined Row of terraced houses and the restored church and school, which hold exhibitions about the village and its former residents. A picnic area is set among restored farm outbuildings, and a mile-long walk leads on to Worbarrow Bay.
Open all year
Around 300 tanks and military vehicles fill the halls of The Tank Museum at Bovington, the home of the tank. Nine exhibitions in seven large halls follow the story from the Somme to the beaches of Normandy and the deserts of Iraq, with stories from the soldiers who fought in them. Allow four to five hours. Parking is free, and there is a café, soft play and a shop. New exhibition work causes some disruption until January 2027.
Open all year
Swanage's gently shelving golden sand and clear water have earned the Blue Flag and Seaside Award for 24 years in a row. RNLI lifeguards cover Central Beach in the summer season, 10am to 6pm, and there's a clearly marked area where boats and other craft aren't allowed. Dogs aren't allowed on Central Beach from 1 May to 30 September, but are welcome all year on Monkey Beach, between the Stone Quay and Swanage Pier.
Open all year
Wareham River Boat Hire, in the town centre, rents motor boats, kayaks, canoes, rowing boats and paddleboards for exploring the River Frome and its swans, ducks and herons. There is no need to book: just turn up, though larger groups can book. Life jackets are included and dogs are welcome aboard. Under-8s must share a craft with an adult, and motorboat hirers must be over 18. A wheelchair accessible boat can be booked in advance.
Open all year
A designated naturist area on Knoll Beach at Studland, where clothing is optional along a 900m stretch marked by green-topped posts and signs. The National Trust asks naturists to be clothed outside the marked area and everyone to respect others. It's about half an hour's walk from the Shell Bay and Knoll Beach car parks, and there are no toilets at the naturist beach itself. To avoid the area, use the Heather Walk trail through the dunes.
Open all year
A pebble beach in a sheltered cove on the Jurassic Coast, popular for its blue waters and rock pools that are good for exploring with children at low tide. Walkers can reach it via the South West Coast Path, with nearby landmarks including Stair Hole and Durdle Door. A visitor centre by the car park offers information, toilets and baby changing facilities.
Open all year
Monkey World is a 65-acre rescue centre for primates near Wareham, home to rescued and endangered apes and monkeys. Visitors can watch keepers' talks, take guided or self-guided tours, and let children play in the Great Ape Adventure Play Area. Cafés and picnic areas are also available on site.
Open all year
A nature reserve on the edge of Poole Harbour with heathland, ancient oak woodland and shoreline habitats. Visitors can spot all six native UK reptile species along with birds such as White-Tailed Eagles and Dartford Warblers, and there is a café and shop on site. Pushchair friendly paths and baby changing facilities make it suitable for families.
Open all year
The smallest of Studland's beaches, popular with locals and visitors, with sheltered water that suits paddleboarders and kayakers. There's a swimming-only zone in summer, good rock-pooling at low tide and Joe's Café, which isn't run by the National Trust. Park at South Beach car park, which has toilets nearby, and walk through the village. Dogs are welcome all year, with restrictions in the summer months.
Open all year
A sand and shingle cove just east of Durdle Door on the Lulworth Estate, with aquamarine water and calm seas for gentle swimming and paddling. The final descent is steep and not suitable for people with disabilities, so wear trainers or walking boots. Refreshment kiosks, souvenirs and toilets are in the car park area, and dogs are allowed.
Open all year
A 25-acre heathland and woodland nature reserve set around a lake, with paths to explore and the UK's longest rope bridge to try. Families can follow the Trail of Enchanted Doors to a play area with swings and climbing frames, then visit the tearooms, gift shop and plant centre.
Open all year
A chain ferry crossing between Sandbanks and the Isle of Purbeck in around four minutes, offering coastal views along the way. It provides a quick link to nearby National Trust sites such as Studland Bay and Corfe Castle, running seven days a week with no need to pre-book. Foot passengers, cyclists, motorcyclists and cars can all travel, with foot passengers going free from Studland to Sandbanks.
Open all year
A 3.8 mile round walk from Studland village out to Old Harry Rocks, dramatic chalk sea stacks on the Isle of Purbeck coast. The route climbs Ballard Down, giving views over Poole Harbour and Swanage Bay.
Open all year
Part of Studland Bay's four miles of golden sand, with views of Old Harry Rocks, Knoll Beach is where you'll find the National Trust café, shop and a large car park. Beach wheelchairs and an all-terrain electric wheelchair are free to borrow, and there's a Changing Places toilet. The Purbeck Breezer 50 bus and the Sandbanks chain ferry make it easy to arrive without a car. From May to September dogs must be on a short lead.