The weekend has wonderful for new pictures and video. Here are two in Purbeck in Dorset which were filmed yesterday. The first one is of Corfe Castle and shows the Viking and Saxon re-enactments. The second is of Swanage Bay and Old Harry’s Rocks.
You can find more videos at our YouTube Channel - www.youtube.com/user/islandcottageholiday/
We took these photos at the end of last week and they come from all over the Isle of Wight and Purbeck. They include photos from Alverstone, Yarmouth, Brook, Alum Bay and Kingston.
Castleview Cottage in Kingston is a new self catering cottage in the pretty hilltop village of Kingston on the Isle of Purbeck. This attractive stone built cottage has views of Corfe Castle and over to the Purbeck hills.
Kingston in Dorset is an attractive holiday destination in Purbeck and is within a pleasant walk of the sea at Chapmans Pool and Kimmeridge Bay. Footpaths also lead to the neighbouring villages of Worth Matravers and Corfe Castle where there are good public houses and evening entertainment.
Find out more about Castleview Cottage in Kingston, Dorset
Swift Cottage in Langton Matravers is a new self catering holiday cottage in Purbeck Dorset. This traditional stone built cottage has been beautifully converted and decorated to make a very comfortable holiday cottage in the heart of Purbeck.
Swift Cottage is ideally placed for exploring Purbeck and is within a pleasant walk of Dancing Ledge, the Priests Way (which leads to Worth Matravers) and the Coastal Path which leads to Durlston Country Park and on to Swanage in one direction and Kimmeridge in the other.
Swift Cottage is a short drive from Swanage beach and Studland beach which are renound for their long sandy beaches and bays ideal for swimming.
Read more about Swift Cottage.
The pretty little village of Worth Matravers in Dorset is a wonderful holiday destination for those looking for a peaceful coastal location along the world famous Jurassic Coast.
Worth Matravers is a traditional village centred around the village pond with a historic stone church and stone houses made from local Purbeck limestone. The local public house (Square and Compass) is a centre for village life and local music and poetry.
For those interested in walking there are a number of excellent options from Worth Matravers either along the coastline to Swanage or Kimmeridge or inland towards Corfe Castle and along the Purbeck hills.
The coastline below Worth Matravers is a dramatic seaside location with a number of bays which are popular swimmers and those keen to explore the natural formations and history of smuggling and stone working which occurred nearby.
The Priests Way from Worth Matravers to Swanage is a lovely (a fairly direct) route to Swanage and Durlston and is well signposted from Worth Matravers. Follow the Priests Way all the way into the centre of Swanage. From Swanage you can decide how much longer you wish to walk.
Option 1 : Take the bus back to Worth Matravers
Option 2 : Take the steam train to Corfe Castle and then follow the footpath up to Kingston. Here there is a lovely public house (Scott Arms Public House Kingston) to stop for a drink with a view of Corfe Castle before taking the path towards Chapman’s Pool (be careful if you choose to visit the Bay as the path can be slippery) and then back via Hill Bottom and into Worth Matravers.
Option 3 : Go back to Durlston and follow the coastal path back as far as Winspit and then walk inland along the footpath signposted for Worth Matravers.
Once back in Worth Matravers it is worth visiting the Square and Compass to seek refreshment and pass on this walk and your experience of it to those looking for a good route for themselves.
Compass Cottage Worth Matravers
Speedwell Cottage Worth Matravers
Worth Matravers Holiday Cottages
There is separate Worth Matravers Holiday Cottage site - www.worthmatraverscottage.co.uk
The hill top walk between Corfe Castle and purbeck/swanage/”title=”Swanage Cottage Dorset” >Swanage is a moderate walk but extremely rewarding. The views from the top of the Pubeck Hills are panoramic and full of natural beauty and for this reason many people make the effort.
The first of the great views comes from looking behind you as you climb up out of Corfe Castle and view the Castle and the village below. There is the illusion of flying over and looking down on the busy village centre, the steam railway and the people walking up to the castle.
Once at the very top of the hill you can look down the other side of the hill to where Studland and Poole are laid out before you. The bright blue harbour of Poole Harbour and the small Island of Brownsea Island are easily spotted. Studland with its long stretch of golden sand is to the right and beyond it is Bournemouth.
Windy?
A gently breeze is welcome when walking in summer but signs of the speeds the winds can reach is revealed by the trees which are angled as if pointing the direction of the prevailing force. They look as if they are continuously contending with a strong storm.
Burial Mound in Purbeck
As one reaches Swanage it is possible to see down the valley and across the town to the sea. There are some landmarks to look out for here including some ancient burial mounds and the obelisk. Both make good places of refection and a chance to lunch on which ever refreshments, pies, sandwiches and fruit you picked up in Corfe Castle of packed as a picnic.
The decent into Swanage along the loose chalky paths can be a little tricky because of the distracting views but you soon reach terra-more-firma as you descend.
The path brings you to the road and you must turn left to get to the centre of Swanage and paddle or swim on Swanage beach. You can catch the steam train back to Corfe Castle or enjoy the walk back the same way and enjoy the view in the other direction.
The village of Corfe Castle and the castle of Corfe Castle are often mixed up. The request to “Meet me in Corfe Castle” for instance might lead to a little bit of pacing about watch glancing.
Here however we have a view of Corfe Castle which shows both the village and the castle and can truely be called a view of Corfe Castle.
We have a selection of Dorset cottages in Corfe Castle you can view them at our Corfe Castle Cottages page.
Compass Cottage is a new cottage in Worth Matravers which enjoys wonderful views of the Purbeck coastline and the sea. Located on the southern side of the Isle of Purbeck, at the southern end of Dorset, this cottage looks out over the Jurassic Coast.
Compass Cottage
Compass Cottage sleeps 9 people in 5 bedrooms and has a spacious and comfortable feel. The large front room allows family or friends to come together in the evening and mull over a day out in Purbeck. Alterntively, there is a traditional local pub within a 5 minute walk where locals and holiday makers come together for an evening of traditional music or a quiet time around the fire with a local beer.
Worth Matravers is well positioned to explore the Isle of Purbeck and this southern part of Dorset. The seaside town of Swanage is a short drive away and can also be walked to via a direct foot path. The coastal path, which goes past the village, continues to Kimmeridge and Lulworth before going on towards Weymouth. A walk to Corfe Castle via the village of Kingston is another popular route and allows one to stop off for lunch at the Scott Arms in Kingston or try one of a number of public houses in Corfe Castle before returning.
For more information on Compass Cottage visit www.islandcottageholidays.com/purbeck/cottages/compass/ or see all of our Worth Matravers Cottages here.
Speedwell Cottage in Worth Matravers, Dorset has now become available for 2012 and also has new photographs.
Speedwell Worth Matravers
Speedwell is our latest Worth Matravers cottage and has a wonderful location with views of the sea and is within a short walk of the Square and Compass public house.
Worth Matravers has a lovely village pond with beautiful white ducks. From the village green there is a path running down to the coast and Winspit cove where one can swim or enjoy the number of natural sun traps overlooking the sea. From Winspit it is possible to walk along the coastal path to Swanage which passes Dancing Ledge and the light house at Durlston Country Park.
Find out more about Speedwell at www.islandcottageholidays.com/purbeck/cottages/speedwell/
01929 481555