Andrew P.M. Wright

Explore the beautifully unspoilt and varied countryside along the Purbeck Line.

Situated within the Dorset Area of Natural Beauty and providing a gateway to the eastern end of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage site, the line travels through rare heathland and rolling hills. All stations are served by public footpaths making it easy to explore further on foot. The line ends at Swanage station, at the heart of a bustling Victorian family seaside resort with an award winning sandy beach.

For details of Swanage Railway visit the heritage line's website here.

Highlights

Steam train rides available throughout the year between Swanage and Norden stations

Explore the picture postcard village of Corfe Castle with historic ancient ruins now owned by the National Trust

Find out more

Local line website

Getting there

Train/bus Car Plane

For Wareham use the A351 if travelling from the Poole\Bournemouth direction or A352 if travelling from Weymouth\Dorchester.

The A351 runs close to the railway between Wareham and Swanage.

If travelling to Swanage from Poole\Bournemouth an alternative is to use the chain link ferry which operates between Sandbanks and Studland.

The South West Trains service between London Waterloo and Weymouth stops every 30 minutes. Look up times.

BY BUS

Wareham and Swanage are served by the no. 40 service from Poole.

Swanage is also served by the no. 50 service from Bournemouth.

See www.purbeckbreezer.co.uk for more details.

Route

Wareham - Swanage

Cost

Journey time

45min

Distance

10 miles | 16 km

Time from London

2:15 hours (see itinerary)

Plan your trip

Suggested itinerary

Take the train from London Waterloo to Wareham. Trains are regular and take approximately 2 hours 25 minutes. Look up times.

Steam trains are an everyday sight – with one locomotive being over 100 years old. Stream trains operate most weekends and daily between March and October.

Explore the idyllic stone-roofed and thatched village of Corfe Castle dominated by the impressive ruins of Corfe Castle – dating from the 11th Century and largely demolished by Parliamentary forces in 1645 during the English Civil War.

The ancient ruins of Corfe Castle overlook Corfe Castle station which has been restored as a Southern 1950s country station.

Norden station – adjacent Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum celebrating the history of narrow gauge railways in the Isle of Purbeck which supported the clay industry until the 1960s.

Swanage station – popular Victorian seaside resort with a safe sandy beach a few minutes walk from the station. Restored pier with boat trips along the Jurassic Coast and to Poole.

Wareham is served by South West Trains every 30 minutes and is the recommended way to travel as car parking is limited at Wareham station.

Swanage is particularly well served by small hotels and bed & breakfasts. Places to stay are also available in Wareham and Corfe Castle.

In the summer several campsites also operate close the line.