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Durlston Head, St Aldhelm's Head & Corfe Castle loop from Swanage — Isle of Purbeck

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Durlston Head, St Aldhelm's Head & Corfe Castle loop from Swanage — Isle of Purbeck

Hard

5.0

(9)

hikers

Durlston Head, St Aldhelm's Head & Corfe Castle loop from Swanage — Isle of Purbeck

08:26

30.5km

530m

Hiking

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: June 8, 2024

Tips

Temporary access restrictions

Includes segments with temporary access restrictions. Check ahead to confirm restricted segments are open to the public.

After 20.8 km for 505 m

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

1.38 km

Peveril Point Coastwatch Station

Highlight • Viewpoint

Peveril Point at the southern edge of Swanage Bay is made from a resistant shale and limestone rather than the clay to the north. The promontory formed is a good …

Tip by

4.21 km

Anvil Point Lighthouse

Highlight • Viewpoint

Anvil Point Lighthouse, situated within Durlston Country Park, was completed in 1881 to warn ships of the hazardous seas nearby. These days, the lighthouse is open for guided tours and can be rented as holiday accommodation.

Tip by

7.65 km

Dancing Ledge

Highlight • Natural

Sea quarries
Sea quarries like Dancing Ledge, Seacombe and Winspit once played a major role in the Purbeck stone industry. Stone quarried from the cliffs was loaded directly onto ships …

Tip by

9.28 km

Seacombe Cliff

Highlight • Viewpoint

The sea-cliff quarries at Seacombe are a popular spot along this stretch of coastline. The low-level platform left behind from quarrying has created a unique bathing spot.

Tip by

10.9 km

Winspit Quarry Caves

Highlight • Cave

Winspit quarry
Winspit is a disused quarry on the cliffs near Worth Matravers in the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, England that is no longer in use. To the west and …

Tip by

12.8 km

Radar Memorial and Coastal Viewpoint

Highlight • Viewpoint

As a curiosity, you'll notice that the two radar dishes also resemble a large fire basket. This was done as a reference to the practice of lighting beacons to warn of the Spanish Armada.

Tip by

13.0 km

St Aldhelm's Chapel

Highlight • Religious Site

St Aldhelm's Chapel is one of the oldest churches in England and is a Grade I-listed building. The Norman chapel, situated on the high outcrop of St Aldhelm's Head, was named after the Bishop of Sherbourne who died in 709AD.

Tip by

21.0 km

Corfe Castle

Highlight • Castle

This fantastic ruin dates back to the 11th century and was built by William the Conqueror. It occupies a gap in the chalk hills and dominates the landscape. It underwent …

Tip by

21.7 km

View of Corfe Castle

Highlight • Historical Site

Try and time it so the steam train is going past when you at the top of the hill.

Tip by

26.4 km

View of Swanage from Rollington Hill

Highlight • Natural Monument

From here, you can see for miles to the east, across the sprawling town of Swanage. Purbeck landscape greets you in all other directions and if you follow this trail …

Tip by

30.5 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

13.2 km

7.73 km

4.26 km

4.04 km

595 m

438 m

197 m

Surfaces

18.3 km

3.65 km

2.63 km

2.38 km

2.30 km

1.20 km

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (180 m)

Lowest point (0 m)

Weather

Thursday 28 May

17°C

14°C

30 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 15.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

This route was planned by komoot.

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Durlston Head, St Aldhelm's Head & Corfe Castle loop from Swanage — Isle of Purbeck

Peveril Point Coastwatch Station

Anvil Point Lighthouse

Dancing Ledge

Seacombe Cliff

Winspit Quarry Caves

Radar Memorial and Coastal Viewpoint

St Aldhelm's Chapel

Corfe Castle

View of Corfe Castle

View of Swanage from Rollington Hill

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