Tank Museum Bovington Tel: 01929 405096
The Tank Museum houses the world's finest collection of tanks. Excellent facilities are provided at the museum including: ample free parking ~ large picnic area and children's playground ~ full disabled access and extensive gift shop.
Corfe Castle Museum
Housed in the smallest Town Hall in England the Museum has images and artifacts taken from Corfe's past with the clay, stone and Purbeck Marble industries and snapshots of how the village became the place it is today.
Langton Matravers & Purbeck Stone Industry
The Langton Matravers Local History and Preservation Society has been amassing a collection of over 19,000 items from the parish which illustrates the local history and life of the village. These are all properly documented and stored, but owing to limited accommodation, have been seen only at occasional short exhibitions, generally in the Village Hall. In 2002 it was decided to install display cases and arrange Special Exhibitions each year at the Museum. These will show a range of our collection throughout the season. Car parking is free.
Tel: 01929 432168 or 422218 for opening times.
The Lulworth Estate
Lulworth is most famous for its Cove, a natural horseshoe shaped harbour. Nearby, the Lulworth Estate also has much to offer. Whether you're here for a day, a week or longer, there are attractions to visit, stunning walks on the coast and in the countryside, and an annual programme of events.
Wareham Town Museum tells the story of the Wareham area from prehistoric times to the present day. It has a special section on Lawrence of Arabia.
Wareham Town was visited regularly by T E Lawrence during his latter years when he was living at Clouds Hill, his retreat near Bovington, and Wareham Town museum has devoted a special section to Lawrence with important documents and other exhibits connected with his full and fascinating life.
There are also many Exhibits within Wareham Museum ranging from a collection of pottery made in Wareham during the Roman period, to samples of rocks and fossils from the varied rock types of Purbeck, including the cast of a footprint of a dinosaur Iguanodon estimated to be about 150 million years old.
Sports Centre
Purbeck Sports Centre is a modern, accessible leisure centre featuring some of the finest facilities on the south coast. It is situated half a mile north of Wareham town centre, in the heart of rural Dorset. Everyone is welcome, either a a regular or for a 'one-off' visit. There is ample free parking including designated bays for disabled customers.
The centre is run by Purbeck District Council in conjunction with Dorset County Council as a multi-use facility - this means that as well as serving the local school during the day in term time, it is also available to the general public on a 'pay and play' basis, guaranteeing access to everyone. No membership is required.
Theatres and Entertainment
The Rex Cinema, Wareham
The cinema is a Grade II listed building which still uses the original gas lighting and has been a cinema for over 80 years. Tel: 01929 550855.
The Mowlem Theatre and Cinema, Swanage
Fantastic views over Swanage Bay. Tel: 01919 422239
The Mowlem Theatre was opened in 1967 and replaced the smaller original Victorian building which had stood for over 100 years. It can seat up to 400 patrons in the stalls and circle and is situated on the sea front at Swanage at the junction of two of the main shopping streets, It has a combined programme of, typically, over 200 film performances each year in addition to 60-100 nights of live theatre. There are two bars, a licensed restaurant, a function room and four shops within the complex. The present Theatre was opened in 1967 and replaced the smaller original Victorian building which had stood for over 100 years. Telephone on: 01929 556454.
Splashdown
Splashdown is the South's Ultimate Waterpark. In winter there is a choice of 8 fantastic rides. Each one with its own twists and turns generating a real buzz for the rider and loads of laughs, thrills and spills for all. The Spacebowl, Red River Roller and have you met The Dragon?
Later in the year the outside comes alive, first the Mississippi Drifter makes its way outside and into the Grand Canyon.
In high season we also have Buccaneer Beach Lagoon and Landings play area for the younger ones.
Places to Eat and Food & Drink Festivals
These are just some of the excellent 'Places to eat' in the area:
Bankes Arms - 01929 480206 - Corfe castle - Excellent food and friendly atmosphere...child friendly with garden
The Greyhound Bistro Pub - 01929 480205 - Corfe Castle - Excellent Food and Friendly Atmosphere.
The Fish Plaice - 01929 423668 - Swanage - Great Fish and chips close to the seafront - what could be better!
Square and Compass - 01929 439229 - Worth Matravers
The Cauldron Bistro - 01929 426066 - 5 High Street, Swanage - Superb Reputation.
Chilled Red - 01929 426066 - Modern Restaurant with excellent food and great desserts!
Ocean Bay Restaurant - 01929 422222 - Al Fresco dining in season.
Tawny's Wine Bar - 01929 422781 - Very reasonable prices - great atmosphere.
The Corner Restaurant - 01929 424969 - A Great Reputation.
The Fisherman's Catch - 01929 426222 - Local seafood
The Ship Inn - 07932 819609 - Pub atmosphere, serving traditional and local Dorset fayre.
The Anchor Inn - 01929 432020 - Swanage' oldest pub. Live music at weekends and through the season.
The Crows Nest Inn - 01929 422651
Model village tea room - Corfe Castle - fantastic cakes & cream teas!
Corfe Castle
Studland Bay
Durdle Door |
Outdoor Activities
Lulworth Estate
Enjoy hours of fun in the Children's Animal Farm where you can get close to the friendly residents. Meet the rare Portland sheep, pot bellied pigs, pygmy goats and our four newest guests the Alpacas. There are Indian Runner ducks to see their comical upright waddle, you can stroke the Shetland ponies, meet the rabbits and even help out at feeding time as geese and proud peacocks strut by.
The two aviaries house lots of birds from cockatiels and budgies to tiny zebra finches. Alternatively, watch the nuthatches and chaffinches in their natural habit from the wild bird hide by the pond.
Brownsea Island
This is the largest island in Poole Harbour. In terms of size it is just over 1.5 miles from west to east and nearly 1 mile north to south. (As seen on Autumn Watch 2008). For further information click HERE.
Boat Trips and Boat Hire
Blue Line Cruises Ltd. Tel. 01202 467882.
The Dorset Belles. Tel: 01202 558550.
Fairmile Classic Cruises, Tel: 07807 249649.
Lulworth Marine,Lulworth Cove. Boat hire and boat trips along the coast. Tel: 01929 400560.
Marsh's Pleasure Boats. Tel: 01929 427659.
Poole Harbour Wildlife Tours. Tel: 07809 72700.
Purbeck Leisure Charters. Tel: 07813 069283.
Wareham Boat Hire. Tel: 01929 550688
Water Therapy, Wareham Quay. 40 minute cruise up the River Frome. Contact David Gillett on 01202 557815.
Watershed Charters. Tel: 07748 980570.
Top of Page
Water Sports
Brenscombe Outdoor Centre, Studland Road, Nr. Corfe Castle. Provides powerboat driving, wake boarding, water skiing, canoeing, kayaking and dragon boating in Poole Harbour and along the Jurassic Coast. Group bookings only (minimum numbers of eight). Further details available on Tel: 01929 481222.
Jurassic Kayak Tours, 10 Bowleaze Coveway, Weymouth, DT6 3RY,. Marvel at amazing rock strata, formations and fossils. Enjoy marine life in its natural habitat. All under the supervision of experienced and qualified local kayaking instructors. Tours leave from Lulworth Cove March to December. Tel: 01305 835301.
Kimmeridge Bay. Toll road to ample parking overlooking the bay. Two slipways for small boats, windsurfers and divers (charge payable)
You could be lucky and find an ammonite or two!
Pierhead Watersports, The Pier, Swanage. RYA Powerboat courses all levels, watersking, tubing, half day charter groups, powerboat rides. Tel: 01929 422254, 01202 697326 or 07811 238171.
Shell Bay Water Sports, Ferry Road, Studland, Dorset, BH19 3BA. RYA Powerboat and Windsurfing School. Rib available for Skipper charter for up to 7 persons, to cruise along the Jurassic coast, go to the Solent and Isle of White, or around the islands of Poole harbour. Available by the day , half day or hours. Windsurfinf equipment to hire. Tel: 01902 450399 or 07832 258823.
Studland Water Sports, Knoll Beach, Ferry Road, Studland. Warer-ski, wakeboard, kneeboard, qualified instruction also available. Powerboat rides, banana rides and ringo rides. Dinghy, laser pico, vego, funboat and cat hire. Windsurfing, Ocean kayaks, pedaloes, waterbikes, katakanu's, deckchairs and sunbeds also available. Open April to early September. Tel: 01202 759087 or 07980 559143.
Swanage Sailing Club, Bucks Shore, The Pier, Swanage. Open all year. Tel: 01929 422987.
Fishing
Poole Sea Angling Centre, 5 High Street, Poole, BH15 1AB
Bait, tackle, boat trips, reef wrecking, shark, singles or full charters. Tel: 01202 676597 / 07970 901033
Top of Page
Diving
Divers Down Diving School, The Pier, High Street, Swanage. Tel: Sasha or Mike on 01929 423565.
Just U Dive Tel: 01202 620640
Swanage Diving. Contact Daniel Bennett on Tel: 07917 794075
Walking
There are numerous walks to explore including:
The Town Trail - Swanage
The Stone Trail - Swanage
The Victorian Trail - Swanage
Wareham - Wareham Town Walls were originally built in Saxon times to defend the town from attacks against the Vikings. The walls now form a delightful walk around the town.
The Wareham Two Rivers Walk - Purbeck's wetlands are fascinating yet relatively undiscovered. They support over 40,000 birds in the winter as well as water voles, otters, salmon and trout. There are various walks between the Rivers Frome and Piddle and are all short in length (longest walk just over 3 miles).
The Northport Greenway - This route runs just over 1.5 miles and provides a safe cycling or walking route from Wareham Quay through the quiet streets of the town, past the railway station, through Northmoor Park and onto Wareham Forest, where it then links with the Sika Trail. The route is waymarked with a G symbol and Dorset County Council have improved parts of the route by installing lighting, signage and crossings.
The Sika Trail
A circular walking route around Wareham Forest of 3.25 miles - shorter routes can be taken.
Top of Page
Cycle Hire
Bovington
Bovington Motor World
The Smith Centre,
King George V Road
Bovington, BH20 6JQ
Tel: 01929 463632
Adult Cycle Hire.
Swanage
Bikeabout
71-73 High Street
Swanage, BH19 2LY
Tel: 01929 425050
Cycle Hire
Corfe Castle
Cycle Experience - new for 2008
Norden Park and Ride
Nr Corfe Castle
Tel: 01590 623407 or 07804 653135
Cycle Hire - booking required.
Wareham (Wheelchair Hire)
LifewheelsMobility
St John's Hill
Wareham
Tel: 01929 552623
|
