Corfe Castle

Corfe Castle dates back to about 1066 and the Norman invasion of England.  

It has plenty of history to enjoy, including arrow slits, oubliette dungeons and soaring walls,

medieval warfare equipment for children to try out 

and also a 1,000 year old murder mystery – who killed King Edward?

Swanage Railway

Corfe Castle sits next to the Swanage Railway line and you can see the trains steam past.

This full-size heritage railway operates a range of steam and diesel locomotives, as well as historic carriages.

Nearest Town: Corfe Castle, near Wareham
County: Dorset
Nearest Postcode: BH20 5EZ

Adult Cost Range: Free with National Trust membership. Various prices for non-members. Please see their website for details. 
Child Cost Range: Free with National Trust membership. Various prices for non-members. Please see their website for details. 
Free if: Under 5 years or with National Trust membership.

Opens: Various times throughout the year. Please see their website for details.

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic, try the cafe or one eat at one of the nearby pubs.
Facilities: Cafe, shop, snacks, ice cream, picnic area, toilets and accessible toilets. 

How Long We Spent There: 1 hour.
Buggies: Some of the castle is buggy-friendly but there are also slopes, steps and narrow walkways in some areas.  

Parking: There are a few car parks to choose from, including a National Trust car park, as well as a few parking spaces in the village.
Cost of Parking: Varies depending on the car park you choose. The National Trust car park is free for members.  

Information Written: June 2022

Our visit to Corfe Castle in Swanage is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

The Sidings Play Area

The play equipment is based on Swanage Railway and Corfe Castle.

It has equipment including: 

• a locomotive to climb on 
• a castle 
• a climbing wall 
• a slide
• climbing bars
• picnic tables.

Swanage Railway

Swanage Railway is a full-size heritage railway that operates a range of steam and diesel locomotives, as well as historic carriages

that huff and puff you through old stations 

to Swanage and the seafront and Corfe Castle. 

Nearest Town: Norden, near Swanage and Wareham
County: Dorset
Nearest Postcode: BH20 5DW

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic.
Facilities: Picnic tables, cafe, ice creams, snacks, accessible toilets and toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 30 minutes.
Buggies: Buggy-friendly

Parking: Large car park.
Cost of Parking: £4 per day. 

Information Written: June 2022

Our visit to The Sidings Play Area at Norden Station on the Swanage Railway in Dorset is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Swanage Railway

This full-size heritage railway operates a range of steam and diesel locomotives, as well as historic carriages

that huff and puff you through old stations 

and railway memorabilia 

to Swanage and the seafront and Corfe Castle. 

Devon Belle Observation Car

One of the historic carriages is the Devon Belle or Pullman Observation Car No. 14. 

This has been used as an ambulance to transport wounded WW1 soldiers, 

as a holiday observation car and also to tour the USA with the Flying Scotsman! 

The views from the Devon Belle are much better than the normal carriage. It currently costs an extra £3.50 per person.

The Railway Route

The steam trains puff along the 5.5 mile line between the stations at Norden 

Corfe Castle

Harmans Cross and Herston Halt

and Swanage. 

Corfe Castle

Corfe Castle sits next to the railway line. You can choose to steam on past or break your journey at Corfe Castle station, taking the short walk to the village and castle. 

Norden Station Play Area

The Sidings Play Area at Norden Station is themed on Swanage Railway and Corfe Castle and has equipment to climb on and explore. 

Nearest Town: Norden, Corfe Castle, Harmans Cross or Swanage, all near Wareham
County: Dorset
Nearest Postcode: BH20 5DW

Adult Cost Range: Various – please see their website for details. 
Child Cost Range: Various – please see their website for details. 
Free if: Under 5 years

Opens: Various times throughout the year. Please see their website for details.

Where to Eat: Norden station, Corfe Castle station and Swanage station have cafes or you can bring a picnic.
Facilities: Various, depending on which station you are at. Please see their website for details.

How Long We Spent There: 1 hour exploring Norden station and the play area.  Norden to Swanage is about a 25 minute train ride, one way.
Buggies: You can’t take buggies on the train but they can go into the Guard’s Van. 

Parking: Large car park.
Cost of Parking: £4 per day. 

Information Written: June 2022

Our visit to Swanage Railway in Dorset is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Mudeford Quay Play Area

The play equipment includes:

• a swing
• a toddler swing 
• a wooden ship climbing frame with a slide, nets, a rope bridge and a climbing wall
• a spinning cup
• a seesaw 
• a roundabout 
• two wooden springers 
• a little zip wire 
• a sand play area with chutes
• seats and 
• a picnic table.

Nearest Town: Christchurch, near Bournemouth
County: Dorset
Nearest Postcode: BH23 4AB

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or try one of the cafes. 
Facilities: Ice creams, snacks, cafe, picnic table, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: Full day.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: Large pay and display car park
Cost of Parking: From £1.70 per hour.

Wildlife You Might See: Seabirds, crabs and other sealife.

Information Written: July 2022

 

 Our visit to Mudeford Quay in Christchurch is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Boats

There are boat trips from the quay, including the Mudeford Ferry, which will take you across Chichester Harbour and to the beach opposite the quay on Mudeford Sandbank and Hengistbury Head Nature Reserve.  

The ferry only takes cash and sails at various times during the year so be sure to check their website before you go. 

Crabbing

People fish for crabs from the quayside using lines and bait bags, which can be bought on the quayside.  You are asked not to use hooks.

Places to Eat

Along the quay there are a couple of places to eat and also to buy crabbing supplies.

Mudeford Quay Beach

Mudeford Quay Beach is next to the car park and is a small stretch of sandy beach that overlooks Christchurch harbour. 

This beach is a good place to launch a boat, kayak, paddle board etc or to play in the sand.  It’s not really somewhere suitable to paddle or play in the water as it is muddy.

Avon Beach

Avon Beach starts next to the car park, where it is a mixture of sand and shingle. Further along the beach it becomes sandier.  

There is a track running alongside the beach that you can use to find the Avon Beach facilities, which include a shop, cafe and toilets.  

Mudeford Quay Play Area

Next to the quay and car park is Mudeford Quay Play Area, a small adventure play area dominated by a huge ship to plunder. 

The play equipment includes:

• a swing
• a toddler swing 
• a wooden ship climbing frame with a slide, nets, a rope bridge and a climbing wall
• a spinning cup
• a seesaw 
• a roundabout 
• two wooden springers 
• a little zip wire 
• a sand play area with chutes
• seats and 
• a picnic table.

Nearest Town: Christchurch, near Bournemouth
County: Dorset
Nearest Postcode: BH23 4AB

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or try one of the cafes. 
Facilities: Ice creams, snacks, cafe, picnic table, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: Full day.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: Large pay and display car park
Cost of Parking: From £1.70 per hour.

Wildlife You Might See: Seabirds, crabs and other sealife.

Information Written: July 2022

Our visit to Mudeford Quay in Christchurch is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Mudeford Quay Beach

This is a good place to launch a boat, kayak etc or to play in the sand.  It’s not really somewhere suitable to paddle or play in the water though as it is muddy. 

Instead, take the ferry to the beach opposite the quay on Mudeford Sandbank or walk down to Avon Beach. 

Mudeford Quay 

Mudeford Quay is a working fishing harbour at the mouth of Christchurch Harbour. You can ride a ferry, try crabbing or simply relax on the beach.

Crabbing 

People fish for crabs from the quayside using lines and bait bags, which can be bought on the quayside. You are asked not to use hooks.

Mudeford Quay Play Area

Next to the quay and car park is Mudeford Quay Play Area, a small adventure play area dominated by a huge ship to plunder. 

The play equipment includes:

• a swing
• a toddler swing 
• a wooden ship climbing frame with a slide, nets, a rope bridge and a climbing wall
• a spinning cup
• a seesaw 
• a roundabout 
• two wooden springers 
• a little zip wire 
• a sand play area with chutes
• seats 
• a picnic table.

Nearest Town: Christchurch, near Bournemouth
County: Dorset
Nearest Postcode: BH23 4AB

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or try one of the cafes. 
Facilities: Ice creams, snacks, cafe, picnic table, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: Full day.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: Large pay and display car park
Cost of Parking: From £1.70 per hour.

Wildlife You Might See: Seabirds, crabs and other sealife.

Information Written: July 2022

Our visit to Mudeford Quay Beach in Christchurch is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Highcliffe Recreation Ground

The play equipment includes:

• a multiplay with a big slide and a small slide, nets, a tunnel, bridges and a fireman’s pole
• an obstacle course
• swings
• toddler swings 
• a basket swing
• a wooden climbing frame with nets
• a spinner 

• a seesaw 
• a roundabout 
• a music area
• a duck and a horse springer 
• a zip wire 
• a climbing frame for older children 
• a climbing wall
• seats.

Next to the play area is a basketball net and a field with a football pitch. There are also public toilets.

Highcliffe Beach

Highcliffe Beach is very nearby and you can enjoy spectacular views, playing on the beach finding fossils or eating at the child-friendly Cliffhanger Cafe.

Nearest Town: Highcliffe, near Christchurch and Bournemouth
County: Dorset
Nearest Postcode: BH23 5ET

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or try one of the local cafes. 
Facilities: Toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 1 hour.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: Large car park
Cost of Parking: Various depending on the season.

Information Written: July 2022

Our visit to Highcliffe Play Area in Highcliffe near Christchurch is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Highcliffe Beach

The views from the clifftop are spectacular. You can see along the coast for miles in both directions and out to the Isle of Wight and The Needles.

Cliffhanger Cafe

The Cliffhanger Cafe is a child-friendly cafe next to the car park. On arrival the staff gave us a highchair, a colouring book and some crayons.

Double High Waters…

At low tide, the beach is an expanse of sand and shingle. 

At high tide the beach all but disappears.

Be sure to check the tides when planning your trip – I have been caught out on a number of occasions by the unusual ‘Double High Waters’ here. 

Finding Fossils

Along the beach we noticed some lumps of clay lying on the beach that were full of small, grey shells and tubes. Some were visible on the outside of the clay and some were hidden inside. 

In about fifteen minutes we managed to collect 7 fossils. 

They were whole and quite small – most were less than 2cm long.

The Cliffs

The cliffs can be unstable so we do not look for fossils on or near the cliffs. They are also made of clay so you can get very muddy when you visit.

To Reach the Beach

The are two routes from the car park down to Highcliffe beach. 

There is a path down the cliffs, which has a sea view but is steep with some stairs. 

There is an easier route that can be accessed through a green gate on Waterford Road (by Cliffhanger Cafe) at the entrance to the car park. It doesn’t have any stairs and has a smooth and less steep surface (at the bottom left of this photo).

Highcliffe Play Area

If you find yourself waiting for the tide to change, or just fancy a play, then have a look at the nearby Highcliffe Play Area.

Nearest Town: Highcliffe, near Christchurch and Bournemouth
County: Dorset
Nearest Postcode: BH23 5DG

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or try the Cliffhanger Cafe. 
Facilities: Ice creams, snacks, picnic tables, cafe, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: Full day.
Buggies: Buggy friendly if you use the easier route to the beach (detailed above).

Parking: Large car park
Cost of Parking: Various depending on the season.

Wildlife You Might See: Sealife and seabirds.

Information Written: November 2016
Information Checked: July 2022

Our visit to Highcliffe Beach in Highcliffe near Christchurch is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

The Dinosaur Museum

The Dinosaur Museum brings dinosaurs to life with life-sized models

skeletons

information about the scientists who discovered dinosaurs

interactive displays

fossil excavation 

and activity sheets with a medal reward at the end.

Nearest Town: Dorchester
County: Dorset
Nearest Postcode: DT1 1EW

Opens: Daily

Adult Cost Range: £10 to £14.99
Child Cost Range: £5 to £9.99 
Free if: Under 3 years old

Where to Eat: There are lots of places to eat in Dorchester.
Facilities: Toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 1 hour
Buggies: Buggy friendly ground floor but there is a second floor at the top of a flight of stairs. 

Parking: There are several car parks in Dorchester. I have used the pay and display car park at Durngate Street (DT1 1NA), which is a few minutes walk from the Museum, and also Trinity Street (DT1 1TU), which is about a five to ten minutes walk.  
Cost of Parking: Varies.

Information Written: July 2022

Our visit to the Dinosaur Museum in Dorchester is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Tout Quarries

This area was once a Portland stone quarry that has now been turned into an open-air sculpture park and workshop with spectacular views across Chesil Beach and Portland Harbour. 

And if you are really lucky, you may even see a sculptor at work! 

The Sculptures 

There are over 60 sculptures around the quarry. Some are enormous and others are much smaller and harder to spot.

There is a map of the sculptures on the information board in the car park. 

We took a photo of it and used it to play Find the Sculpture. 

Quarry Remnants

Tout Quarry was worked as a limestone quarry from about the 1750s to the 1980s. You can look for signs of these quarry workings as you walk around. There are: 

old tramways

tunnel entrances and hidden shelters

dry stone walls and archways.

Nearest Town: Portland, Weymouth 
County: Dorset
Nearest Postcode: DT5 2LN

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic and blanket.
Facilities: None

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: You can use a buggy on the main paths but most of the side paths are narrow and uneven in places and some also have steps.  

Parking: There is a small car park.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Butterflies and insects.

Information Written: April 2021

Our visit to Tout Quarries in Weymouth is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Priest’s Way

The walk to Keates Quarry and the dinosaur footprints is an easy 3/4 of a mile along paths with sea views. 

When you leave the Spyway car park head towards the sea and then turn right onto Priest’s Way in the direction of Worth Matravers. 

Keate’s Quarry

Along Priest’s Way you walk past a working quarry that is surrounded by stacks of stone. This is limestone from the local area, which has been quarried for centuries, building places like Corfe Castle and Westminster Abbey. 

“Dinosaur Tracks” This Way

A little way after the quarry you come to a gate on the right with a picture of a dinosaur and “Dinosaur tracks” written on it.

Keates Quarry is then just a short walk across the field.

Be sure to bring wellies! It was very muddy when we visited and we had to make stepping stones to reach the gate.

Dinosaur Footprints

The fossilised dinosaur tracks are believed to have originally been made by Brachiosauruses walking on a lagoon’s beach. 

Brachiosauruses were enormous plant eating dinosaurs that could grow to 30m long. They lived 145 million years ago at a time when Dorset was a tropical area covered in swamps, lagoons and forests. 

The footprints are enormous! 

We think we spotted baby dinosaur footprints too.  

Dancing Ledge and the Cliffs

From the Spyway car park you can also walk towards the sea and cliffs and then either walk down the coastal paths or just enjoy the beautiful views. 

I understand you can also see Dancing Ledge, which is an area of cliff that has been quarried into a flat ledge and has a rock pool that was created for local school children. 

Scratched Arse Ware?

Sadly, we didn’t have time to explore the rest of Spyway and discover what Scratched Arse Ware is or see Dancing Ledge but I will update this post after our next visit.

Instead we drove for 20 minutes to Dorchester to see the Dinosaur Museum.

The Paths

When we visited, the paths ranged from smooth to muddy and bumpy. I used an all terrain buggy and think you might struggle with a normal buggy. 

Nearest Town: Swanage
County: Dorset
Nearest Postcode: BH19 3HG

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic. 
Facilities: None

How Long We Spent There: 2.5 hours
Buggies: I used an all terrain buggy without any problems, although I could not push it over the muddy fields. I think some of the paths might be too bumpy for a normal buggy.

Parking: There is medium sized car park.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Seabirds like puffins, shags, guillemots and sea gulls, cows and insects.

Information Written: February 2020

Our visit to the dinosaur footprints at Spyway in Swanage is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

The Etches Collection Museum of Jurassic Life

The brilliance of this museum is that it displays the fossils and then brings them to life in multiple ways…

drawing the animals around them to illustrate which body part the fossil came from

providing specimens you can touch

showing you the workroom where fossils are removed from rocks

using CGI to show you what the creatures could have looked millions of years ago

providing hands-on, child-friendly activities like fossil excavation, puzzles, colouring and painting

posing a Mesozoic Murder Mystery for you to solve – can you use fossils to work out who ate the plesiosaur?

Find Fossils For Yourself

It also encourages you to go down to Kimmeridge Bay beach and find fossils yourself.

Great Value

The Etches Collection is interactive, modern, fun and informative. It is also great value, as one ticket gives you free entry for a year, and compact, so there are no problems with short attention spans. 

6 Out of 5!

I asked my children how they would rate The Etches Collection and Kimmeridge Bay out of 5 and they said, “6”, which sums it up perfectly – we love coming here.

Nearest Town: Kimmeridge, near Wareham
County: Dorset
Nearest Postcode: BH20 5PE

Adult Cost Range: £5 to £9.99
Child Cost Range: £0 to £4.99
Free if: Under 5 years or with a ticket bought in the last 12 months.

Opens: Daily

Where to Eat: Cafe, picnic area and a nearby restaurant. 
Facilities: Cafe, shop, picnic area, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 1 hour
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There is good sized car park.
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: November 2019

Our visit to The Etches Collection Museum of Jurassic Marine Life in Kimmeridge Bay, near Wareham, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Rock Pooling

Low tide reveals sandy areas and rock pools where we have spotted fish, crabs and anemones. The rocks can be slippery though so take care.

Be sure to plan your visit around the tides. At high tide there is hardly any beach and it would be easy to become cut off. 

The Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve and Snorkel Trail

The sea around Kimmeridge Bay is protected as the Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve. There is a 400m long snorkelling nature trail around the marine reserve that has good visibility. 

For details, drop into the Fine Foundation Marine Centre, which is run by the Dorset Wildlife Trust, and has exhibits with information on the bay’s wildlife as well as equipment to hire.

Fossil Hunting

It is easy to find fossils at Kimmeridge Bay. 

This photo shows one of two large fossilised ammonite shells that are visible as you walk along the beach. To find these, turn left at the bottom of the stairs that lead down from the car park and keep your eyes peeled. 

It is also possible to find fossils on or inside rocks lying on the beach (but note that you are not allowed to use hammers). 

If you are very lucky you may even find bones from marine reptiles.  

The Etches Collection Museum of Jurassic Marine Life 

The Etches Collection is a brilliant museum that displays and brings to life the fossils you find at Kimmeridge Bay. It is interactive, modern, fun and informative and a must visit if you are going fossil hunting. 

The museum is about a five minute drive from the beach. We visit  during high tide, whether that is before or after we go to the beach.

Accessibility

The beach is accessed by a steep flight of stairs. The beach itself is fairly flat but the rocks can be slippery when wet. 

There are warning signs that the cliffs are dangerous and can be unstable, so we never go near the cliffs.

Nearest Town: Kimmeridge, near Wareham
County: Dorset
Nearest Postcode: BH20 5PF

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic. 
Facilities: Portaloo toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 1 hour
Buggies: The beach is accessed by a steep flight of stairs that are hard to take a buggy down.

Parking: There is good sized car park.
Cost of Parking: Free but there is a toll road that operates in high season. 

Information Written: October 2019

Our visit to Kimmeridge Bay and The Etches Collection Museum of Jurassic Marine Life in Kimmeridge, near Wareham, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Bournemouth

The aquarium has a beautiful location, right next to Bournemouth beach and pier. 

Bournemouth Aquarium

Inside, it is divided into areas, including the Great Barrier Reef, Penguin Beach Encounter, Otter Oasis and the Abyss.

The Sea Life

We watched as an array of tropical and marine fish swam past (including sharks, rays, eels, catfish, piranha, clownfish and pufferfish) and gazed at jellyfish, small crocodiles, turtles, lizards, otters and penguins.

Things to See

As well as the animals, Oceanarium has an underwater tunnel running under the Great Barrier Reef area,

a café with a fantastic view of Bournemouth beach,

a virtual reality shark diving cage,

puzzles, trails and educational games throughout, 

and an underwater themed play area.

Nearest Town: Bournemouth
County: Dorset
Nearest Postcode: BH2 5AA

Opens: Daily

Adult Cost Range: From £13
Child Cost Range: From £9
Free if: Under 3 years

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat in the cafe. 
Facilities: Picnic tables, cafe, snacks, ice cream, drinks, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: About three hours.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: There are car parks around Bournemouth.
Cost of Parking: We use Pavillion Car Park, which is a short walk away and costs from £1 per hour. 

Animals You Might See: Tropical and marine fish, sharks, rays, penguins, moray eels, catfish, pacu, clownfish, pufferfish, lobster, jellyfish, nautilus, crocodile, turtles, lizards and otters.

Information Written: May 2016

Our visit to Oceanarium: The Bournemouth Aquarium in Bournemouth is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.