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Home , Isle of Purbeck, Swanage, Swanage Pier

A DAY TRIP IS NEVER BEACH & BAY SHOPPING IN SWANAGE ACCOMMODATION ENOUGH The essential Gently shelving, golden With a mix of high street Whether you’re looking sand and clear unpolluted brands and small, Popular with all for a quaint cottage, farm water are just some of the independent shops selling visitor guide to generations and evoking stay, hostel, traditional great reasons that everything from sausages nostalgia from childhood B&B, posh hotel, lively Swanage Beach has been to souvenirs, you will be a holidays, Swanage is holiday park or a rustic awarded a Blue Flag and satisfied shopper in perfect for a family holiday. campsite, we have it Seaside Award. Swanage. covered in Swanage. Swanage’s award winning Experience some of the Take your time window beach is family-friendly Check availability and SWANAGE south coast’s best weather shopping and browsing book online on our with large stretches of while strolling along the the interesting and eclectic golden sand – great for website promenade or why not vintage, retro and antique sandcastle building. www.visit-.com or hire one of the colourful shops. contact our Tourist Family fun can be enjoyed by “hiring a beach beach huts to make your “Punch and Judy Chat to friendly shop Information Centre for help taking boat trips, visiting quality “the shops are so holiday extra relaxing. keepers who will be finding your perfect getaway. “our hotel room local attractions, learning to hut makes our on the beach Paddling in the water, delighted to help you pick close to the sea, my kayak or playing mini golf or holiday even Can’t bear to leave your had an amazing collecting sea shells and makes for happy out a great new look for two favourite canine friend at home? We tennis together. seaview” more relaxing” building sandcastles is your wardrobe. have many places for you to Enjoy the simpler things in life memories” things!” something that children will Wander around quality art stay, eat and visit which like having a picnic in Prince Albert Gardens, crab fishing remember for years to and craft galleries for the welcome dogs. from Swanage’s Stone Quay and visiting the Country Park come. special purchase to remind you of a wonderful time and Castle at . If camping is more your in Swanage. style, pitch your tent in one Arrive in style on the by steam train or After you’ve worked up an appetite, take a coffee of the family friendly catch the open top bus from , both with break or enjoy lunch in one of the street side cafes or campsites in and around Welcome to amazing views of the surrounding landscape. restaurants over looking the sea. Swanage or hire a camping Extend your stay for a relaxing short break. pod or shepherd hut. Most Look out for the Beach Hut pop-up shops at sites also cater for caravans SWANAGE Christmas time. The perfect getaway destination and motorhomes. for all seasons. Swanage is located on the in Dorset and is the Eastern Gateway for exploring the Coast World Heritage Site. This family-friendly resort is ideal for relaxing breaks, walking, cycling, activity groups and educational holidays.

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VISITING SWANAGE ARTS BY THE SEA erry ILLUSTRATED MAP OF le via F th and Poo 7 mou Drop in or contact the teams at our Tourist Information rn17e ou SWANAGE Many Artisans live and work in the town selling their B Centres to make the most of your trip. To creations in the studios, galleries and workshops. Art lovers 18 will find quality sculpture, photography, paintings, pottery, 1 Swanage Tourist Information Centre Swanage Tourist Information glass jewellery and more. Immerse yourself in a range of 15 Town Hall creative festivals including the open studios of Purbeck and le 2 Centre Poo and Dorset Arts Weeks. ter 9 The White House, Shore Road, Swanage, hes SWANAGE orc , D 3 Dorset. BH19 1LB. Tel: 01929 422885 The town has a central Theatre and Cinema offering a am eh variety of plays, shows and pantomimes throughout the ar email: [email protected] W year. Don’t miss the autumn Purbeck Film Festival. To 4 Bus and Train (Swanage Railway Follow us on: 15 Follow the Swanage Seen Art Trail and learn about artists Interchange) @SwanageTIC Visit-Dorset.com who were inspired by their surroundings. There are nine facebook.com/SwanageTouristInformation locations to visit, each showing a painting from the Isle of 16 5 Swanage Hospital Purbeck by a different artist. 15 6 to Ferry Discover Purbeck Information Centre 1 4 South Street, Wareham, Dorset. BH20 4LR Tel: 01929 552740 7 14 8 Museum HOW TO GET HERE 5 Bus 2 9 Sports Park (Golf, Tennis, Bowls) Purbeck Breezer Bus Routes 30* from Dorchester, 40 11 from and 50 from Bournemouth 10 Lifeboat Station www.purbeckbreezer.co.uk Swanage Bus Station to Durlston* www.morebus.co.uk 8 11 Train Train services on South West Trains to Wareham Prince Albert Gardens www.southwesttrains.co.uk with connections by bus or 12 Swanage Railway (starting 2017*) 13 Coast Watch Station at www.swanagerailway.co.uk 12 Coach 10 National Express coaches run daily from Victoria 14 Cinema & Theatre to Swanage www.nationalexpress.com (* peak season only) 3 13 15 Playground

16 Safe Bathing Area

17 Studland Village

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, stored, or manipulated without prior written permission from Council 18 and the copyright holders. Swanage Town Council would like to thank all contributors to this publication. Map not to scale ©Tony Kerins HERITAGE ATTRACTIONS THE FLAVOUR OF SWANAGE MARKETS & LOCAL PRODUCE SWANAGE HISTORY - FROM STONE PORT TO SEASIDE RESORT Swanage Railway - catch the picture postcard branch No visit to Swanage is Sample the local fare in the There’s no need to stock up The stone trade was once the main industry of Swanage. first major hotel in Swanage, the Manor House Hotel. line to the seaside. Steam trains run through the complete without quality bistros, seaview before arriving as Swanage was shipped to London in vast quantities Following a visit by Princess Victoria in 1833 they were beautiful Purbeck countryside and past Corfe Castle to walking a stretch of the restaurants, traditional pubs has independent butchers, from the 18th century and used mostly for street paving permitted to rename it the Royal Victoria Hotel. the sandy beach of Swanage. Jurassic Coast. and tearooms. You’ll find bakers, fishmongers and and harbour defences. The two founding fathers of The opening of the railway in 1885 saw the Victorians and Country Park is a countryside Recognised by UNESCO something for every taste. farm shops and well known Swanage, John and his nephew George Burt, arriving in Swanage to enjoy the clean air and the new paradise just 30 minutes walk from Swanage Town supermarkets. were at the centre of this trade with London. for its outstanding A firm favourite for visitors fashion of ‘sea bathing’. Known as one of the sunniest Centre, with coastal walking, stunning views and geology, our coastline is is our scrumptious There is always a local Burt rescued many old London relics and brought them towns on the south coast, Swanage soon changed from a amazing wildlife. Don’t miss Durlston Castle Visitor part of ’s only traditional fish and chips. convenience store or to Swanage. When exploring Swanage you can still see stone port to a flourishing seaside resort. Centre for events and exhibitions. natural World Heritage the facade of the Town Hall, from the Mercers’ Hall in If you are self catering or campsite shop just round is an integral part of the character of Site. Cheapside dating from 1670, and the Wellington Clock day visiting, Swanage offers a the corner but remember Swanage, reflecting its Victorian splendour and rich Tower, originally erected at the approach to London See spectacular geological range of take away to try some of the locally heritage. Enjoy a stroll with the finest views of Swanage Bridge in 1854. features like nearby Old establishments from around produced food including: or catch a boat for a scenic boat trip along the coast. Harry Rocks. “Follow in the the world. “the local ice chocolate, ice cream, beer “don’t miss the Dorset MP William Morton Pitt had seen how King Swanage and cider and cheese. Look George III’s enjoyment of sea bathing popularised the Durlston Country Park has Make sure you try our freshly Museum - out for Dorset Food and Swanage Fish nearby town of Weymouth, and was convinced that spectacular cliff top walks and footsteps of caught seafood, our cream is not to uncover the story Drink and Purbeck Produce Swanage could become a fashionable health resort a Castle Visitor Centre to handmade fresh chocolate Festival” of Swanage from dinosaurs” be missed” and “watering place”. In the 1820’s he created the help you discover the and a scoop or two of ice Swanage Markets: Dinosaurs and the geology of 185 million years cream for dessert. • Town Market - Jurassic Coast to of Earth’s history. It can be Every Friday (April to seaside resort, enjoyed 365 days of the October) stone trade and year and highlights the Second World include wild flowers, • Purbeck Produce War. migrating birds and a Market - 2nd Saturday breath-taking walk to the of the month lighthouse

ACTIVE SWANAGE WEDDINGS & CELEBRATIONS A TOWN OF FESTIVALS FESTIVALS & EVENTS BEACH HUTS Swanage has become a popular destination for sporting Swanage has a year-round calendar of events to keep you January August Opportunities to enjoy activities in Swanage are endless. Swanage is the perfect Hire a Swanage Beach events entertained in all weathers. Many of the local attractions New Year celebrations (fancy Swanage Classic Triathlon The numerous local walking trails are celebrated during location for your dress) Hut, ideal for family organise events during school holidays to keep the whole Purbeck Folk Festival the annual Swanage and Purbeck Walking Festival. But if Forgotten your bike? Don’t worry you can hire one to celebration or get-togethers or a cosy family entertained and there are lots of events within easy February Swanage Lifeboat Week out-of-season base to relax you can’t wait until Festival time, you can join a guided follow the cycle trails. wedding. Purbeck Literary Festival reach of Swanage Purbeck Valley Folk Fest by the sea. walk or let one of our experts plan a walking holiday for Take a day cruise from Swanage Pier to Poole Quay for a Whether you are March you at any time of year. For music lovers, the town has a fantastic range of festivals September Beach huts are let on a scenic tour of the Jurassic Coast along the way. Or go on a looking for a small and Swanage Blues Festival Swanage Railway Transport which everyone can enjoy, including Blues, Jazz and Folk. Whatever the weather, Swanage Beach Gardens Sports real adventure on a classic cutter sail boat. intimate wedding or an Purbeck Strings Festival Rally daily or weekly basis and are provided with a table, Park is great fun and value with putting green, tennis and extravagant day, The Regatta and Carnival Week offers the lively April Swanage Folk Festival Why not join one of our outdoor adventure specialists and four chairs and an outdoor bowls. Equipment is available to hire. have a go at coasteering, abseiling, climbing, paddle- Swanage meets all your atmosphere of a Caribbean-style carnival plus spectacular Swanage Railway Spring Steam Purbeck Outdoor Weekend wishes. fireworks, music and dancing. Gala electricity power point. Swanage Bay is a popular dive site for all standards of boarding or kayaking? Dorset Architectural Heritage Week Different sizes and styles diver and has several diving schools and boat charter Choose from an The Fish Festival and Walking Festival are also popular with May Swanage Railway Diesel Gala Purbeck Chamber Music Festival are available to suit your companies for both diving and seafishing. extensive range of “a perfect venue locals and visitors alike. family or group size and wedding venues, many Purbeck/ Dorset Art Weeks Swanage and Purbeck Walking Festival location preference. “A book and a flask with outdoor licenced and a perfect June structures to help you day” European Paddleboard October Pre-booking is normally of coffee is all I create a day to Championships Swanage Blues and Roots required for school holidays, Festival remember and Swanage Bay Triathlon however the huts can be needed” Swanage Railway Autumn Swanage Fish Festival accommodation on site Steam Gala booked throughout the year. or nearby to suit all budgets. Purbeck Plod Walking Challenge Purbeck Film Festival Beach hut hire makes the Swanage Rowing Regatta You will be spoilt for choice with photo opportunities Dorset Food Week perfect gift, book one as an with beautiful backdrops. July unusual present and create Swanage Jazz Festival November Beach hut pop-up craft shops lasting, happy memories. Quirky or traditional, religions or civil, indoors or out Swanage Regatta and Carnival – you choose. Week December Contact Swanage Tourist Purbeck Pirate festival Christmas Lights and street Information Centre for Licensed civil wedding venues in Swanage include: market availability and to make a Swanage Town Hall Chambers, Durlston Castle,The Swanage Railway Santa Specials booking. Grand Hotel, Purbeck House Hotel, California Barn and The Royal Oak. Plus many more...