Why visit Corfe Castle?
A peaceful Purbeck location
Handsome hilltop ruins, a peaceful stream and the splendid backdrop of the Purbeck hills – just a few of the reasons why the small village of Corfe Castle features on so many holiday bucket lists. If you’ve ever seen a photo of the place, you’ll likely agree that this Dorset spot punches well above its weight in terms of scenery…
The village is in a truly excellent location for exploring the varied countryside of the Isle of Purbeck and Poole Harbour, or for seeking out fossils along Dorset’s Jurassic Coast. The surrounding area is mostly rural and dotted with tiny villages; the nearest sizeable spots are Wareham (10 minutes' drive), home to a mainline railway station, and Swanage (15 minutes), a traditional resort with spectacular sandy beaches.
Tumbledown towers and Civil War heritage
Visible on its hilly outcrop for miles around, Corfe Castle projects pure power. The fortress was built by William the Conqueror in a bid to increase his control over southern England shortly after the Battle of Hastings, and even in its current tumbledown form it’s still a formidable sight to behold.
Although largely destroyed by the Roundheads in the English Civil War, Corfe Castle still makes a fascinating day out. The property, now owned by the National Trust, also hosts a range of special events, with falconry, spring nature walks and historical reenactments all available at various times throughout the year.
Old-fashioned family fun
Even away from its timeworn castle and cute cottages, Corfe has an old-fashioned feel. Visiting here will help you step back in time to simpler days when time passed at a more leisurely pace…
For simple pleasures and family-friendly vintage vibes, you could head to Corfe Castle Model Village or the railway station for steam train trips to Wareham and Swanage.
Corfe Castle’s best attractions
In the village
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Dorset Adventure Park – take on a floating inflatable obstacle course in a rural setting behind the ruins of Corfe Castle.
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Brenscombe Outdoor Centre – get in touch with the experienced instructors at Brenscombe to organise family activities like kayaking, climbing, bushcraft or air rifle shooting.
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Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum – a community-run museum about the local clay industry. Free to enter (but donations appreciated).
The best things to do within 30 minutes’ drive of Corfe Castle
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The Blue Pool (10 minutes’ drive) – a small but spectacular nature reserve and café in the nearby village of Furzebrook.
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Tyneham village (15 minutes) – visit an abandoned Dorset village near Wareham, left exactly as it was when the MOD ordered its evacuation in 1943.
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Monkey World (15 minutes) – get up close and personal with monkeys, great apes and lemurs at England’s leading primate rescue centre.
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Lulworth Castle (15 minutes) – the well-preserved castle and manicured grounds at Lulworth make an interesting contrast with Corfe Castle’s more rugged ruins.
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Farmer Palmer's Farm Park (20 minutes) – drive around the Purbeck Peninsula (or take the chain ferry just for the fun of it) for farm-themed days out at this kid-friendly park in Poole.
Delve deeper
Corfe Castle’s best walks and bike trails
There’s no question that this is great walking country – but where can a newbie get started?
For a moderate stretch of the legs, head to the National Trust visitor centre in the village and embark on the nine-mile Purbeck Ridgeway walk down to the coast, taking in Poole Harbour, Swanage and the famous Old Harry Rocks along the way. The trail ends in Swanage town centre, making it easy to loop back to base in Corfe Castle by steam train or public transport.
Corfe Castle is also halfway along the Purbeck Way, a well-maintained long-distance trail that runs north to the river Frome, an important breeding ground for salmon, and south to Ballard Down’s coastal views and rare chalk downlands.
Looking to cover a bit more ground? Bike hire is available at Norden station, approximately a mile to the north of Corfe Castle village centre.
Fine foods
Given the village’s mix of pubs, tea rooms and cafés, visitors to Corfe Castle are unlikely to go hungry. Sweet treats are particularly easy to come by, with Dorset apple cake, West Country cream teas and locally-made Purbeck Ice Cream all readily available.
Corfe Castle is also in a prime position to get out and explore foodie events in the local area like the annual Swanage Fish Fair and Dorchester Cider Festival.
Purbeck stone
Purbeck stone has been mined in this area since at least the days of the Romans. All those centuries of small-scale industry have left a number of interesting marks on the landscape if you know where to look…
Perhaps the biggest example of local mining activity can be seen at Dancing Ledge, a spectacular shelf of flat rock that juts out into the sea near Langton Matravers. Unlike Durdle Door, Old Harry Rocks and other amazing geological features along the Jurassic Coast, Dancing Ledge is almost entirely artificial and was formed by years of continuous quarrying.
Slightly inland, the other-worldly caves at Winspit Quarry are also worth a look – Doctor Who and Star Wars have both been filmed here, and it’s easy to see why when you’re standing in the centre looking up at the towering cliffs…
Here’s how
Coming to Corfe Castle? Have a browse of the sites listed on this page if you’re not yet sure what kind of accommodation you have in mind. We have all sorts of Corfe Castle holidays, from luxury Dorset glamping to simple sites with the bare necessities. Some of our most popular options include:
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Corfe Castle campsites with facilities like showers, bars or indoor swimming pools.
Still looking for that site that ticks all the right boxes? Have a look elsewhere around Dorset, where there are plenty of small towns and villages with similar vibes to Corfe Castle like Shaftesbury, Lyme Regis and Blandford Forum.
If this is your first time sleeping under the stars, you might like to have a look at our camping guide – it’s full of great tips on how to camp, glamp and get the most out of your outdoor experience.
