Towering dramatically above the picturesque stone village at its foot, the imposing ruins of Corfe Castle stand at the very heart of Purbeck. Begun by the Normans around 1086, Corfe Castle later became one of England's greatest strongholds. During the English Civil War, under Royalist ownership, it was captured by Parliamentary troops in 1646 and destroyed. Visitors climbing its lofty ramparts today are rewarded with magnificent views of unspoilt Purbeck coast and countryside.
While the National Trust Castle View Visitor Centre colourfully introduces the Castle's history, the Model Village in West Street displays its former grandeur and takes you back in time to 1646. The Town Museum nearby is housed in the "smallest Town Hall building in England" and is well worth a visit.
Park easily at Norden Park & Ride and steam leisurely into Corfe on the Swanage Railway for an unforgettable experience. Discover interesting shops selling art and antiques, handcrafted jewellery, fossils and cuddly toy bears. Be tempted too, by cosy pubs, the village bakery and teashops serving cream teas and Dorset Apple Cake.
Nearby are more attractions including the fascinating Blue Pool, which is a haven for wildlife and visitors, with trees and heathland surrounding a pool of ever-changing colours. The Margaret Green Foundation Trust Animal Sanctuary in Church Knowle offers a home to (or finds a home for) unwanted, abandoned and injured animals of all shapes and sizes. Why not call in and become a sponsor?
Corfe Castle is a place where you can lose yourself in the history and atmosphere of a great Purbeck village. Where else could you sit back and enjoy the sounds, sights and smells of a steam engine puffing past beneath the backdrop of a great castle ruin…..? Population 1,500
Attraction
Camping
Woodland Caravan & Camping Park
Doctor
Pub and Bar
Bankes Arms Hotel
Castle Inn
Fox Inn
Greyhound Inn
School
Corfe Castle C of E First School
Self-Catering
Dream Cottages
Featherdown Farm
Kingston Country Courtyard
The Cheese House
Taxi
Shops
Cherry Heaven
Dragons Village Bakery
Ginger Pop
Cleall Stores
41
Activities
Brenscombe Outdoor Centre(Boat Trips and Cruises)
Places to Stay near Corfe Castle
Mortons House Hotel (0.18 miles)
Mortons House was built from Purbeck stone circa 1590 in the shape of an ‘E’ to honour Queen Elizabeth I and was formerly linked by underground tunnels to Corfe Castle. Traditional bedrooms make good ... More | visit website
Scott Arms Hotel (1.28 miles)
Kingston Country Courtyard (1.39 miles)
The Cheese House (1.47 miles)
4* rated. A lovely Grade II detached cottage, adjacent to the farmhouse, with its own private garden area, BBQ and seating. The Cheese House has just undergone a complete renovation and has been decorated in ... More | visit website
Kimmeridge Farmhouse (3.17 miles)
Springfield Hotel, Leisure Club & Spa (3.35 miles)
Family owned 67 bedroom hotel offering Standard, Superior and Executive Bedrooms. Ideally positioned for visiting Monkey World, Bovington Tank Museum, Corfe Castle & The World Heritage, Durasic Coastline.
The hotel ... More
Priory Hotel (4.23 miles)
The beautiful, historic, 16th century Priory Hotel with its riverside setting, is somewhere very special indeed. A perfect place to relax and unwind, where peace and tranquility prevail.
With open views of the abounding countryside, ... More
Worgret Manor Hotel (4.80 miles)
All rooms have en-suite bath or shower rooms ... More | visit website
Haven Hotel (5.77 miles)
The Haven is located literally on the waters edge, on the famous Sandbanks peninsula in Poole. The facilities at the 77-bedroom hotel include everything you would expect from a four-star hotel ... More
Kemps Country House (6.19 miles)
Kemps Country House is situated in unspoilt Dorset countryside. Facing south, the hotel overlooks the Valley of the Frome and has wonderful views of the Purbeck Hills. Once a Victorian Rectory built in 1874, the house ... More | visit website
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