Walking in England - Swanage to Corfe Castle

Over the Purbeck Hills

Its been a wet Winter

Swanage is a bit of an old fashioned seaside resort. It is a regular biking destination which normally means a ride over the Heath from the Sandbanks Ferry to Corfe and then a trip down Sandy Hill Lane to Swanage. Today the Sandbanks Ferry was closed for maintenance so I opted for the Number 50 bus from Bournemouth to Swanage, free with my bus pass, and then a walk to Corfe. The hilltop walk over the Purbeck Ridge is pretty special, wild, windswept and empty. To get there it is simply a matter of walking east along the beach until the steps near the end of the bay. From there you hug the coast to Ballard Point and then cut back North and follow the markers. On your right is Studland Bay and Poole Harbour, on your left Swanage Bay. Ahead is wonderful Dorset countryside and, even on a dull day, you can see for miles. A bit strange being back in UK after our recent travels, still feel bit of a tourist. Had lunch in my favourite bakery in Swanage before I set out, £4.20 for a pastie and a coffee. This is a walk that works both ways, if you walk from Corfe to Swanage in Summer you can have a paddle in the sea and get a Steam Train back to where you started.