Durlston Country Park near Swanage, with its spectacular coastal views, is perfect for our guests. Whether you want to enjoy a gentle stroll or a day of hiking, then this is the place for you.
We have visited here numerous times. What we like about it as a family is the convenience of the car park being so close to the café with the beautiful coastal views.
When our guest house is busy during high season, after all the jobs are done we like to hop in the car and head to Durlston Country Park near Swanage for a cuppa to admire the wonderful view and even take a short gentle stroll along their easily accessible pathways. In other words, we can admire the views without too much effort!
There is seating inside and outside at the café.
Getting There
You can simply get to Durlston by car. When you drive to the super seaside town of Swanage, you’ll see the brown signposts leading to the castle, follow these and it’s only a short 5-minute drive away.
The way to the castle is down a path at the bottom of the car park. The first building you come to is the castle. This is the centre of Durlston Country Park and where you will find the visitor reception, toilets, café and gallery.
Entry is free and is open all year round, except for Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Payment for the parking is straight forward. Your registration is automatically logged when you drive in, but you don’t have to pay until you leave. It is a simple, large touch screen device to pay.
Walking Trails
Four way marked trails start and finish at the castle, where you can pick up a trail pack to help you explore.
The longest trail, 5km in length, called The Victorian Trail, links Durlston to Swanage. We have only part walked this but the trail from the castle is down a treelined path with views of the sea on your right, which I’d imagine would be superb on a Summer’s day, or any season for that matter!
Is Durlston Castle Real?
It is not a real castle. It is a folly built by George Burt between 1887 and 1891. It was purpose built as a restaurant for the Durlston Estate. Dorset County Council have owned it since 1973 when the country park and its nature reserve were developed.
At the base of the castle, which you must see, is an extraordinary Victorian globe set in a beautiful spot overlooking the sea.
It is three metres in diameter and it was carved from Portland stone in 1887 in Greenwich, London. It weighed an incredible 40 tonnes and was apparently transported by sea in 15 segments. It is inscribed with a map of the world.
The Gallery
Throughout the year exhibitions change every few weeks. These exhibitions may include drawings, paintings, sculptures, ceramics or textiles by artists and makers from Purbeck and around the county, or may include other interesting historical or scientific displays.
Accessibility
For people with limited mobility there are all – terrain scooters available for hire. It is recommended that you book before arrival by phoning or emailing Durlston Country Park.
Whilst researching the Durlston Country Park near Swanage for this blog, I came upon a You Tube video by a gentleman called Dave Ford (Dave’s Countryside Walks). He walked from Swanage to Durlston. It’s a useful video to watch. Click on the link here: Walks in Dorset at Swanage and Durlston Head (The Jurassic Coast)
Dave Ford, and Logan the whippet, have also captured other local Dorset walks too, so it’s worth watching a few before visiting!
If you are interested in visiting local castles, you may be interested in reading our two blogs on our website: The Fairy Tale Lulworth Castle and Corfe Castle near our Dorset B&B
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