Southern England Isle of Purbeck, Dorset

Distance: 13km/8 miles
Time: 4-5hrs
Type: Downland and coast
Where: Linear walk from Corfe Castle to Swanage along the Purbeck ridge, with a return on the award-winning heritage steam railway.
Start/End: Corfe Castle car park (SY958817). Swanage railway station
(SZ029789).
Terrain: Grassy ridge-top chalk downland (easy-going once on top and very suitable for children) and coastal path.
Maps: OS Explorer OL15; Landranger 195.

The Isle of Purbeck – which forms the eastern end of Dorset – isn’t an island as such, though it is largely bounded by water: the English Channel to the south and east and the River Frome and Poole harbour to the north. It’s a delightful area for walkers. Apart from the superb coastline (part of the Jurassic Coast), there are the inland Purbeck Hills, forming an east-west ridge that can be linked to the coast to provide a variety of linear or circular routes. This family-friendly walk follows a fine stretch of the Purbeck ridge from Corfe Castle to the coast and continues along the coast path to finish at the resort town of Swanage. A ride on the popular Swanage Railway, an awardwinning heritage steam railway, is always a hit with the children and returns you to the start.

Click here to download a route card