Towns and Villages near Studland

Corfe Castle

23 January 2009

Home to some of the country's most significant ruins, the village of Corfe Castle is surrounded by the beautiful countryside of the Isle of Purbeck, a peninsula that stretches across a large part of Dorset. History lovers will find the castle itself fascinating – a dramatic hilltop ruin over 1,000 years old. Corfe Castle has a lot more to offer, though; good shopping, some great places to eat, fantastic walking in every direction and even a model village complete with a reconstruction of the castle as it would have looked before it was destroyed.

Swanage

This small Victorian seaside town lives up to the reputation of the World Heritage area in which it is situated. A traditional atmosphere with plenty of shops, but not too many to spoil the small town aesthetic. Swanage is a great base from which to visit attractions around the Isle of Purbeck, and ideal for popping over Poole harbour on the car ferry. Corfe Castle is a short drive and there are plenty of quiet little beaches to explore along the Jurassic Coast. You can even travel between historic sites on the Swanage steam railway.