Out of Car Experiences

Designed by Purbeck District Council

Swyre Head

Starting from Corfe Castle, Swanage, Wareham, West Lulworth, Worth Matravers and Kingston.

Car Free Days in South Purbeck by Foot, Bus,Train and Boat

Large print leaflets are available on request. Please call 01929 557237 for further information.Designed by Purbeck District Council 2009, printed on environmentally friendly paper.

Door to Dorset Services

Buses 103 and 103A are provided by Door to Dorset — the flexible bus service which offers friendly assistance with your journey — just call, book and ride.

How to use the service: You may join the bus (without booking) and alight at stops which have an allocated time given in the timetable.

If the place at which you wish to join or alight from the bus is marked with a telephone symbol then you must book in advance (details below).

Timetables and bus stop information will indicate which stops have allocated times and which stops require booking in advance — please note that these may change depending on which journey you wish to join.

Stops marked with an R on the timetable are served by on bus request to the driver. Please advise the driver when you join the bus.

Telephone booking and registration arrangements: You can book your journey up to one hour beforehand although it is best to book as early as possible to avoid disappointment. You may book up to two weeks ahead and you can book multiple journeys.

You must register before making any journey.

The booking and registration number is 0845 602 4547 which is available between 8.30am and 5pm Monday to Saturdays.

Train routes

South West Trains: London Waterloo to Weymouth, calling at Bournemouth, Poole, Holton Heath (for Sandford), Wareham, Wool (for Bovington and Lulworth), Moreton and Dorchester. tel: 0845 6000 650

Swanage Railway: Swanage to Norden calling at Corfe Castle, Harman’s Cross and Herston. tel: 01929 425800

Purbeck Cycle Rides

Pick up our ‘out of car experience’ cycle leaflets for routes of varying length and difficulty around the area, passing visitor attractions, farm shops and Nature Reserves.

Further Ideas

This leaflet contains only some of the places which can be visited without the use of a car. Contact the Information Centres detailed below, or pick up the Jurassic Coast: explore without your car or Poole Harbour Trail leaflets for further ideas for car free days.

Maps and Timetables

Most of these route ideas can be followed in reverse. Pick up bus, train and boat timetables plus walking and cycling leaflets (some of which incur a small charge) from the Purbeck Information and Heritage Centre in Wareham (tel: 01929 552740) or Swanage Tourist Information Centre (tel: 0870 442 0680).

Alternatively visit www.visitswanageandpurbeck.co.uk to download most of the leaflets for free or www.traveline.org.uk (tel: 0871 200 2233) to plan your journey and look up timetables.

Green hairstreak

butterfly on bluebells

Catch the 40 bus from East Street to Wareham. Alight at the Purbeck Information and Heritage Centre (South Bridge) and call in for ideas on what to see and do during your visit including exploring the historic market town by walking around the Saxon walls or visiting the Town Museum (limited opening). You could also wander along one of the Two Rivers Walks or hire a bike to cycle around Wareham Forest.Alternatively enjoy a peaceful boat trip up and down the beautiful River Frome or out into Poole Harbour.

Either catch the 40 back to Corfe, or follow the Purbeck Way from opposite Wareham Quay to Corfe Castle via Stoborough and Creech Heaths (approx 5 ¾ miles).

Idea 4: Swanage to Studland and

Shell Bay — Bus/Walk

Catch the 50 bus (from the Bus/Train Station) to Shell Bay which is the start of the 630 mile South West Coast Path. Then walk along the beautiful sandy, dune fringed beach to Studland village (approx 3 miles) with superb views of the Isle of Wight and Old Harry rocks (the eastern end of the 95 mile Jurassic Coast — England’s first natural World Heritage Site).

There are cafés at Knoll Beach and Middle Beach (bus stops for both), with the Bankes Arms located next to the South Beach car park (close to Studland village). Various watersports are for hire at Knoll Beach.

You can then either catch the 50 back to Swanage from Studland village or continue along the South West Coast Path past Old Harry rocks, up onto Ballard Down and then down into Swanage enjoying the superb views over the town and across to the Isle of Wight (approx 4 miles). Alternatively catch the 50 on to Bournemouth across the chain ferry and back again to Swanage.

From Corfe Castle From Swanage

Idea 5: Swanage to Langton Matravers and Dancing Ledge — Bus/Walk

Catch the 40 bus from the bus station to Langton Matravers alighting at Capston Fields. Walk into the village and turn right into Durnford Drove. At the end of the road there is a small walker’s car park, from here follow the signs to Dancing Ledge (1 mile). Turn right towards the caves and then follow a different footpath back towards Langton and the main road for the bus. Why not make a day of it and visit the village museum and Putlake Adventure Farm as well? Putlake is found on the edge of the village towards Swanage — there is a bus stop right outside the Farm.

Idea 1: Corfe Castle to Wareham — Bus/Boat/Walk

Middle Beach, Studland

Idea 3: Corfe Castle to Studland — Walk/Cycle/Train

Walk from Corfe Castle (approx ½ mile) or get the train to Norden Park & Ride. Hire a bike (booking essential) and follow the Rempstone Ride cycle route to the Studland beaches (cycle parking available). Have a picnic, hire a pedalo or walk along the Coast Path.

Cycle back to Norden then walk or get the train back to Corfe Castle.

½

Idea 6: Swanage to the Blue Pool and Corfe Castle — Bus/Walk/Train

Catch the 275 bus from Gilbert Road at 9.25am. Get off at the Furzebrook stop for the Blue Pool then walk along the main drive (¼ mile) to the main entrance. The Pool is set in a deep clay bowl with steps leading down to the waters edge or up to views of the Purbeck Hills. It is surrounded by 25 acres of heath woodland and gorse interlaced with sandy paths. There is also tea rooms, a museum, gift shop and plant nursery.

Get back on the bus at 1.30pm to Corfe Castle. Take time to explore the Castle and village, then return to Swanage by the Swanage Railway steam train.

Please note that this bus only runs on Thursdays and the Blue Pool is open from March to November.

Either catch the 40 bus from East Street or steam train straight to Swanage, or if feeling energetic, walk along the Ridge on the Purbeck Way (approx 8 ¾ miles). Visit the Tourist Information Centre on the sea front for ideas on what to see and do during your visit.

The Victorian Trail (approx 3 miles roundtrip) calling in at the Museum and Heritage Centre, follows a route up to Durlston Country Park to see the Castle, Globe and Lighthouse, and enjoy the stunning views along the Jurassic Coast and across to the Isle of Wight.

Alternatively catch a taxi to the Country Park for around £1 per person.

After visiting the Country Park, which is also a National Nature Reserve, you could hop on a boat at the old Victorian Pier and enjoy the stunning Jurassic Coast from a totally different angle, or alternatively visit Brownsea Island. Return to Corfe (from the Bus/Train Station) either on the No 40 or the steam train.

Idea 2: Corfe Castle to Swanage and Durlston Country Park

— Bus/Train/Walk/Boat

River Frome

Swanage pier

Idea 7: Wareham to Lulworth — Bus/Train

Catch the 103A bus (Door to Dorset) to East Lulworth for Lulworth Castle and Park. Explore the 17th Century castle, lake, chapel and animal farm. Have lunch at the Stable Café or the Weld Arms pub around the corner from the Castle (there is an internet café/gift shop next door to the pub).

To return to Wareham catch the 103 bus to Wool then the train to Wareham.

Idea 10: Worth Matravers to Swanage via the

Coast Path — Bus/Walk

Catch the 44 bus from the Post Office (opposite the village pond) to Swanage Bus Station (2 buses per day), and walk down towards the seafront. Follow the South West Coast Path signs from the promenade up to Durlston Country Park and it’s famous Globe. Why not call in at the Visitor Centre or pick up a picnic at the Lookout Café? Follow the path onwards along the coast (approx 7 miles). Pass by Tilly Whim Caves, Anvil Point, Blackers Hole, Dancing Ledge, Seacombe Cliff and Winspit, then follow the footpath north towards Worth Matravers. The path brings you back to the Post Office and village pond.

Pick up the Smugglers’ Ways leaflet for information about the history of Seacombe Cliffs and Winspit Quarry.

From Wareham From Worth Matravers

Idea 9: West Lulworth to Dorchester- Bus/Train

Catch the 103 bus (Door to Dorset) from the War Memorial to Dorchester. Explore the County town and its many museums and shops. To return to West Lulworth either return directly by the 103 or alternatively catch the train from Dorchester South to Wool then switch onto the 103 bus.

From West Lulworth

Lulworth Castle

Lulworth Cove

Kimmeridge

From Kingston

Worth Matravers

Idea 11: Kingston to Swyre Head — Bus/Walk

Catch the 40 bus to Kingston alighting at the Scott Arms. Follow the narrow road past the pub entrance and through the village (away from the main road) to the second car park (approx 1 mile). Go through the car park to join a bridleway up to Swyre Head (1 mile). On the left is the ‘Encombe Bowl’, in which nestles the impressive Encombe House and lake. In the distance on the cliff top to the left you will see St Aldhelm’s/St Albans Head. Ahead of you the land falls away steeply to the coast and so turn right following the bridleway along the ridge. At the wall go through the gate and follow the path to the next called ‘Heavens Gate’ (1/3 mile). Turn right here and follow the track and road back to the Scott Arms. Why not stop for lunch and enjoy the view of Corfe Castle from the garden?

Idea 8: Wareham to Kimmeridge and Corfe Castle

— Bus/Walk

Catch the 40 bus from South Bridge (opposite the library) to East Street, Corfe Castle. Switch onto the 275 bus at 9.38am for Kimmeridge. Walk ¾ miles down to Kimmeridge Bay and the Fine Foundation Marine Centre. Kimmeridge Bay is part of the Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve and is a fantastic rockpooling area as well as popular with divers and snorkellers.

Catch the 275 bus at 1.50pm back to Corfe Castle. Spend a while exploring the unique shops in the village, then hop back on the 40 bus to Wareham. Please note that the 275 bus only runs on Thursdays.

CourtyardCraft Centre

Upton Country Park

Margaret Green Animal Rescue

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Some bus services are reduced on Sundays, Public holidays and in winter.

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