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Places to stay in Purbeck
Tucked away in the south eastern corner of Dorset, Purbeck is some 60
sq. miles of land that is bounded on almost all sides by water and although
not an island in the strict meaning of the word, it does convey a feeling
that is particularly apt. Purbeck offers Swanage to those who want a traditional
family seaside resort; they don't come much better. It has a sometimes
award winning beach (European Blue Flag and Tidy Britain Group's Seaside
Award), the bathing is relatively safe with a gently shelving beach where
there are various boats including pedloes for hire, and a Punch-and-Judy.
You can of course just lounge in a deckchair. Ice-cream and food is a
few footsteps away, with a wider choice of food within a few hundred yards.
You can choose from traditional fish-and-chips, seafood specialities,
continental, or just a simple cream tea. There are many pubs serving food,
bistros, and take-aways to cater for most tastes.
Above the sea-front are a number of recreations for both adults and children,
including open-air band concerts, folk festivals, a jazz weekend, Rotary
Club and Round Table events, and of course the fireworks at each end of
the Swanage Carnival Week in July/August. Swanage offers an abundance
of watersports and scuba-diving, great fishing and the opportunity to
take many sea excursions. Why not take a boat trip to Brownsea Island
or Poole. Swanage is privileged in the early tourist season to have the
Motor Vessel Balmoral, and in the late tourist season the now famous Waverley
Paddle Steamer visit, and run trips eastward to Bournemouth, The Isle
of Wight, The Solent and westwards as far as Weymouth. For the middle-aged,
and older perhaps, who have been fortunate enough to read "The Famous
Five" by Enid Blyton, Purbeck is to some degree an inspiration for
some of her books. Corfe Castle (Kirrin Castle) and Brownsea Island (Whispering
Island) to name just two features in those adventures.
