Local Area Guide

We’re so glad you’ll be joining us in this beautiful corner of Dorset. The venue is in Kingston, a small, historic village set on the Isle of Purbeck, overlooking Corfe Castle and surrounded by rolling hills, woodland, and some of the most dramatic coastline in southern England. If you’re staying a little longer than the wedding, there's plenty to explore.

Getting Around

Local Travel: Taxis and cars are definitely easiest way to get around, especially in the evenings. Bus services are also available during the day, more details here. Another option is to use the Swanage Steam railway, which normally runs from Corfe to Swanage, with occasional connections to Wareham, however it is a tourist attraction and so is priced accordingly.

Accommodation

Unfortunately there is no accommodation left at the venue (if you have a room we’ve let you know). However there are plenty of other hotels, and AirBnBs nearby.

Kingston itself is a couple of minutes walk and has pub, the Scott Arms with some accommodations, and a few AirBnBs.

Nearby small villages include Corfe, Langton Matravers, Worth Matravers and Harman's Cross. These are a short drive/taxi ride away from the venue or walkable if you’re keen. Note: some of these walks are along small roads, which may be busy in the summer.

Swanage itself is a small town with plenty of hotels and AirBnBs and some rentable holiday caravans. It’s about a 15 minute drive/taxi ride from the venue.

The closest campsite on foot is Woodyhyde, although some of the path may be muddy in wet weather. The closest campsites by car or taxi are Acton Field or Tom’s Field, with many others not much further away.

Please note that although it is not the school holidays in the UK, Purbeck is a popular destination for weekends away in the summer, so many places, including campsites will book up.

Things to do

The Isle of Purbeck and the wider Jurassic Coast area are a spectacular part of the country. The area is full of beautiful hikes, towering cliffs, lovely beaches and unique attractions. For those of you thinking of exploring the region around the wedding venue, here are some of our favourite things to do.

Beaches

The local town, Swanage has a large sandy beach, with an extensive promenade, ice cream places, fish and chips, arcades, an historic pier and even a hireable sauna. There are also numerous boat, diving and fishing trips available, as well as places to hire watersports equipment. Perfect for sunbathing, swimming, sandcastles, snorkelling (particularly by the pier), paddleboarding or just wandering the seafront.

With four miles of sandy beaches lining the sheltered waters Studland Bay is backed by sand dunes and features views over Old Harry Rocks and Poole Harbour, it’s an amazing area for sunbathing, swimming, sandcastles and watersports. Divided into four sections, Shell Bay, Knoll Beach, South Beach and Middle Beach, you can find more info on what’s in each section here.

Kimmeridge Bay is a rocky gravel beach, with spectacular cliffs and rock formations, popular with scuba divers. It’s great for snorkelling amongst the dramatic underwater rock ridges as well as paddleboarding, kayaking and fossil hunting. There is a small takeaway restaurant, basic facilities and a slipway for launching boats. The local villiage features an excellent museum of locally found fossils, the Etches Collection.

Lulworth Cove is a beautiful nearly perfectly circular cove amongst white cliffs with a pebble beach, it’s great for snorkelling, swimming, paddleboarding or kayaking. It has a small village with cafes and shops. A one mile walk further west is Durdle Door, a dramatic rock arch, next to another pebbly beach. It has it’s own carpark at the top of the cliff, which shares its tickets with Lulworths (so you only need to pay for one, if you drive between the two). The beach is great for swimming, paddleboarding and kayaking, although the steep walk up and down may limit what you want to carry. In very calm conditions it’s possible to Kayak or Paddleboard from Lulworth Cove to Durdle Door, and boat trips are available at other times from the later to allow you to see the arch from the other side. Warning: both places get very busy in nice weather, especially at the weekends, arrive early if you want to get parking.

Cliffs, Headlands and other Walks

The Purbeck coastline is defined by dramatic cliffs and striking rock formations, shaped by both nature and human history. In theory, the entire stretch from Poole Harbour to Durdle Door can be walked, around 30 miles in total, and far more strenuous than the distance suggests, but many shorter sections make excellent short walks or full-day hikes. Highlights include Old Harry Rocks, a dramatic headland crowned with towering white chalk stacks; Durlston Head, home to its distinctive 19th-century castle within Durlston Country Park; Dancing Ledges, an abandoned cliff-side quarry with a sea-filled swimming pool; and Houns-tout, a 150-metre-high cliff offering spectacular views and accessible via a short, relatively level walk from Kingston village. Further west lie Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door (see beaches section for more details).

Set back from the cliff edge, the Priest’s Way is a 3-mile historic track linking Worth Matravers, Langton Matravers, and Swanage. It follows an ancient route once used by medieval priests travelling between churches and chapels. The easy-going path offers wide views over the coastline and former limestone quarries, without the steep climbs and descents of the coastal path. It also features a remarkable set of Dinosaur footprints at Spyway.

A little further inland, the Purbeck Way runs from the historic town of Wareham to Corfe Castle, before splitting to follow the Purbeck Ridgeway, the line of hills that separates Purbeck from the mainland. From here, the route continues either south to Chapman’s Pool near Kingston, or north towards Old Harry Rocks and Swanag

Castles and other Attractions

It’s not just the landscape that makes Purbeck special; the area is also home to a number of unique attractions, including several world-famous sites and museums.

Corfe Castle is an iconic 11th-century fortress that dominates the Purbeck landscape. Ruined during the English Civil War, its dramatic hilltop setting offers superb views and a real sense of medieval history. Recent conservation efforts have reopened parts of the keep and tower for visitors to explore. If you fancy a snack and drink afterwards, avoid the expensive National Trust cafe and head to the Corfe Castle Model Village a dozen meters or so from the castle entrance. It’s a charming model village and gardens with a working mill and excellent, and reasonably priced, tearoom/cafe. Please note, you don’t need to pay to visit the model village to use the tearoom.

The Swanage Railway runs from Norden, just outside Corfe, through the village past the castle and then down to Swanage. Hop aboard a heritage steam or diesel train for a scenic 6-mile journey through Purbeck countryside. Tickets allow you to hop on and off at any of the beautifully restored stations, so this is a great way to explore the area.

One of Dorset’s most popular attractions, the Tank Museum is a world-class military museum that tells the story of armoured warfare and the development of tanks from the First World War to today. With almost 300 vehicles on display, including rare historic pieces like the world’s only working German Tiger I tank and early British Mark I tanks, it’s fascinating for all ages and interests. The exhibitions are immersive, covering major conflicts through compelling narratives and personal stories from the crews who served. It’s a massive site with a café and shop on-site making it a great choice for a longer day out.

Not a zoo but a rescue and rehabilitation centre for primates, Monkey World is home to over 250 rescued monkeys and apes, from orangutans and chimpanzees to gibbons and lemurs. Set across 65 acres of woodland, the attraction focuses on conservation, education and animal welfare. Visitors can enjoy daily keeper talks, learn about the centre’s global rescue work, and see playful youngsters in the orangutan crèche. There are cafés and picnic spots dotted throughout the grounds, as well as adventure playgrounds making it a fantastic choice for families.

Set in the middle of Poole Harbour, Brownsea Island is a peaceful haven managed by the National Trust, known for its wildlife, woodlands, and open heathland. The site of the worlds first Scout Camp, the island is also one of the few places in southern England where you might spot red squirrels, and it also has beaches, birdlife and historic sites, including a 16th Century castle. If coming from Purbeck you’ll need to catch the Sandbanks chain ferry across to Poole, where another ferry ride will bring you to the island. Once ashore you can explore at your own pace, enjoy picnics, or take part in guided walks and nature activities.

Tyneham was once a small rural community, it was evacuated in December 1943 during the Second World War so the military could use the land and surrounding hills for training ahead of D-Day. What remains today is a time capsule. Many of the old cottages and buildings stand as roofless shells, their crumbling walls slowly being reclaimed by nature, while St Mary’s Church and the old schoolhouse have been preserved and now house exhibitions about village life and local history. A walk of about a mile brings you to Worbarrow Bay on unspoilt pebble beach with less crowds due to it’s isolated location.

Pubs, Cafes, Shops and Other Recomendations

Whilst the area is full of amazing pubs, restaurants and cafes, here are our selections of the best ones:

Best Pub: The Square & Compass, Worth Matravers.
Best Cafe: Chococo, Swanage.
Best Fish and Chips: The Fish Plaice, Swanage.
Best Ice Cream: Baboo Gelato, Swanage.
Best Indian Restaurant: The 29029, Sandford.
Best Pizza: Coastal Crust Pizza, Swanage.
Best Penny Arcade: Funworld Amusements, Swanage.