Ower Quay
Cottage

Set in a beautiful manor house above Studland Bay. The signature "25-mile menu" celebrates hyper-local produce — herbs from the kitchen garden, fish from local boats. Exceptional brunch, lunch and dinner.

A much-loved Wareham institution — charcuterie and deli by day, relaxed restaurant by evening. Outstanding sharing boards and the finest Dorset cheeseboards in the county.

One of the best seafood restaurants on the Dorset coast, right at the water's edge at the mouth of Poole Harbour. Whole lobster, Dorset crab, oysters and shellfish platters. Book well in advance in summer.

A fantastic waterside smokehouse and grill on Wareham Quay. Low-and-slow BBQ brisket, slow-smoked ribs, pulled pork alongside craft beers. Worth booking ahead at weekends.

A wonderful farm-to-fork restaurant in Kimmeridge. Run by a family who have farmed the Purbeck hills since 1958 — every lamb, pork and beef dish comes from their own farm. Open for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea.

Sitting right beneath the ruins of Corfe Castle. Seasonal locally sourced food, real ales from Dorset breweries. Dog friendly and full of atmosphere.

A hidden gem tucked in the Purbeck hills. Originally a 16th-century farm with inglenook fireplaces and Purbeck stone walls. Celebrated for outstanding fresh fish — the fish pie and grilled mackerel are legendary.

A beautifully preserved 16th-century thatched pub with wattle-and-daub walls and log fires. Seasonal home-cooked food and legendary Sunday roasts. Families and dogs always welcome.

Perched high on the Purbeck hills with what many consider the finest pub view in Dorset — sweeping panorama to Corfe Castle. Three open fires in winter; spectacular garden terrace in summer.

Welcoming patrons since 1747, right on the riverfront overlooking the Frome. One of the finest waterside pub settings in Dorset. Great local ales and the popular Black Rock grill.

One of Dorset's finest hotels and restaurants in a beautiful 16th-century priory on the Frome. Elegant dining with views over riverside gardens. Advance booking essential.

Consistently rated the best chippy in Wareham — a short walk from the Quay. Proper chips, crisp batter, great vegetarian options including battered halloumi and pea fritters.

The go-to chippy in Swanage, right on the quayside. Sustainably sourced fish, fresh daily specials from local boats. Their homemade fishcakes are legendary.

The closest farm shop to Ower Quay, open seven days a week. Fresh fruit, veg, local meat, eggs, dairy, bread and bakery items daily. Local jams, chutneys, ciders, wines and spirits — perfect for stocking up on arrival.

One of the finest delis and butchers in the region. All meat from within a seven-mile radius of Purbeck. Dorset charcuterie, local cheeses, pies, scotch eggs, fresh fish and crab from local day boats.

A lovely independent village shop known for its impressive range of over 400 artisan gins, including Dorset's own Cromwell Ruin and Gloriette Gin. Great for local preserves, snacks and gifts.

Step straight out of the cottage onto ancient footpaths winding through Rempstone Forest and along the southern shore of Poole Harbour.

One of the finest wildlife walks in southern England, across rare lowland heathland on the shores of Poole Harbour.

The coastal path from Studland to Old Harry Rocks is one of the great short walks of the Jurassic Coast.

Quiet farm tracks connect directly from Ower Quay to country lanes running through Corfe Castle, Church Knowle, Kingston and Kimmeridge.

Just 3 miles from the cottage. Adults, children's and e-bikes available.

With a private beach right on Poole Harbour, Ower Quay is an exceptional base for kayaking and paddleboarding.

Door-to-door delivery of kayaks and paddleboards directly to the cottage.

The private beach offers sheltered harbour swimming in clean, calm water. Studland Bay and Lulworth Cove are also within easy reach.

Outdoor water park set around two lakes near Corfe Castle. Large inflatables, great for families.

Excellent shore fishing directly from the property. Bass, mullet, flounder and eel in the sheltered harbour waters.

Fishing charters out of Swanage Pier. Half-day and full-day trips targeting bass, bream, pollack and mackerel.

Dramatically positioned on the Purbeck Hills above Studland Bay with sweeping views. 18-hole course open to visitors.

A well-regarded 9-hole heathland course. Relaxed and welcoming for visitors.

Beach and heathland treks for all abilities on the stunning Studland peninsula.

Hacking across open Purbeck heathland and woodland trails. Beginners welcome.

Tucked away in the shadow of Corfe Castle. Farm tastings open most of the year.

Award-winning farm-made dairy ice cream. Multiple Great Taste Award winner.

Fresh vegetables, artisan bread, local cheeses, smoked meats, honey and preserves from across Purbeck.

NT car park on the A351 — free for National Trust members, pay and display for non-members. West Street car park in the village (max 4 hours). It's a 10–15 minute walk from the car park to the castle entrance. The Swanage Railway stops at Corfe Castle station — a wonderful way to arrive.

Open every day except Christmas Day — no advance booking required. Free for National Trust members. Non-members: adults approximately £14–16, children approximately £7–8 (check NT website for latest prices). A 20% discount applies after 2:30pm during peak season (late July–August).

Explore over a thousand years of history across the outer walls and inner bailey. In 2024, following a £2 million conservation project, the Keep was opened to the public for the first time since its destruction in 1646 — a new viewing platform in the King's Tower offers sweeping views across the Purbeck landscape. Allow 1–2 hours to explore fully.

The village of Corfe Castle is a destination in its own right — beautiful Purbeck stone cottages, independent shops, a tiny museum and the famous model village showing Corfe as it looked before the Civil War. A free audio tour lets you walk in the footsteps of eight historical figures.

Quieter crowds and 20% off entry during peak season. The castle looks magnificent in late afternoon light and the village is far more relaxed after the coach parties leave.

Park at Norden Farm (BH20 5DW) and take the Swanage Railway one stop into Corfe Castle. The view of the ruins from the train as you pull in is one of the great Dorset moments.

After the castle, settle in at The Greyhound in The Square — sitting outside with a local ale and the ruins directly above you is hard to beat. For walkers, the ridge path towards Kingston offers one of the finest views in Dorset.

Signposted from Stoborough village, approximately 3 miles from Ower Quay. The main car park is open daily from 8:30am to dusk.

Free for RSPB members. Non-members: adults £7, children 5–17 £3.50, under 5s free, first child per family free. Entry includes parking. Cyclists arrive free. Welcome Hut, shop and café open daily.

Eight colour-coded trails of varying lengths take you through heathland, ancient oak woodland, salt marsh and to Shipstal Beach — a quiet harbour beach with views to Brownsea Island. Two bird hides and two viewing screens are positioned around the reserve.

Arne is one of only a handful of places in the UK where all six native reptile species can be found. Bird highlights include Dartford Warblers, Nightjars, Woodlarks, Marsh Harriers, Ospreys on migration, White-tailed Eagles. Sika deer roam the heath and harbour seals occasionally appear from Shipstal Beach.

The walk through ancient oak woodland to Shipstal Point is one of the finest short walks in Dorset, ending at a quiet harbour beach with views across to Brownsea Island. Take a picnic and allow about 45 minutes each way.

Nightjars are best heard and seen at dusk in June and July. The RSPB runs guided Nightjar walks in summer — well worth booking.

The island is reached by a short ferry crossing from Poole Quay — approximately 20 minutes. All visitors must purchase ferry tickets separately. The island is open from mid-March to early November. First ferry departs at 10am.

National Trust members enter free but still pay the ferry fare. Non-members pay both the ferry fare and an island admission fee. Check the NT website for current prices.

Brownsea is one of the last strongholds of the native red squirrel in southern England — around 250 live on the island. They are most active and visible in autumn. The area around St Mary's Church is a particularly reliable spot.

The brackish lagoon on the northern side is internationally important for overwintering and nesting birds. Look for avocets, spoonbills, black-tailed godwits, common and sandwich terns, oystercatchers, shelduck and kingfishers.

Ancient oak woodland, heathland, quiet beaches and cliff-top paths with views across Poole Harbour back towards Ower Quay. The Visitor Centre tells the island's fascinating story — from its eccentric Victorian owner to Lord Baden-Powell's famous 1907 Scout camp.

The island feels crowded mid-morning. Take a later crossing — the light over the harbour on the return journey in late afternoon is extraordinary, and the island empties after 2pm.

There is a small café near the landing stage but it gets busy. The island has wonderful spots for a picnic — the beach near the Visitor Centre, the woodland clearings, and the south shore.

Four National Trust car parks serve different sections of the beach. All are free for NT members. The Sandbanks chain ferry links Poole with Studland Bay — runs every 20 minutes.

Shell Bay is the quietest, with views across to Brownsea Island. Knoll Beach is the most family-friendly with a café, shop, toilets and beach wheelchair hire. Middle Beach and South Beach are popular with watersports enthusiasts.

The coastal path from Middle Beach to Old Harry Rocks is one of the great short walks of the Jurassic Coast — approximately 2 miles each way, with spectacular views across Poole Bay to Bournemouth and the Isle of Wight. Allow 1.5 hours for the round trip.

Knoll Beach gets very busy in summer — Shell Bay car park tends to be much quieter, and the beach there is wilder and more beautiful.

A 15-minute walk from Knoll Beach, the Bankes Arms has a wonderful beer garden with sea views. It's a much calmer alternative to the beach cafés on a busy summer day.

Drive to Sandbanks and take the chain ferry across to Studland for a memorable arrival. On clear days you can see all the way back to Ower Quay.

Swanage is 10 miles from Ower Quay via the A351 through Corfe Castle. The main beach car park (BH19 1AP) is the most convenient for the town centre and beach — pay and display, charged 24 hours. A second car park near the pier (BH19 1BB) is ideal for Durlston Country Park walks. Alternatively, park at Norden (free, BH20 5DW) and take the steam railway in — a far more memorable arrival.

Swanage beach is one of the finest in Dorset — a sweeping arc of golden sand in a sheltered bay with clean water that has won the European Blue Flag award for over 20 years. The beach is backed by elegant Victorian seafront buildings and the iconic Swanage Pier, which offers 360° views of the bay, Old Harry Rocks and the Isle of Wight on clear days. Entry to the pier is £1.50 for adults, children free. Dogs are welcome on the beach outside of 1 May–30 September.

Swanage has a lively high street with independent shops, galleries, antique stores and a Friday market (8am–1pm at the beach car park). The Swanage Museum and Heritage Centre on The Square is free to enter and tells the story of the town and surrounding geology. The Mowlem is Swanage's independent beachfront theatre and cinema with a Showbar boasting unrivalled bay views. Durlston Country Park on the clifftops above town offers spectacular coastal walks, 33 species of breeding butterfly, regular dolphin sightings and the famous Great Globe — a 40-ton Portland stone sphere built in 1887. Entry to the park and castle visitor centre is free.

Swanage has excellent fish and chips — The Fish Plaice on The Square, right at the water's edge, is the local favourite and comes highly recommended. The seafront has a good selection of cafés, gelato bars and restaurants. The Pier Head Restaurant and the 1859 Café & Bistro both offer great food with bay views. Several good pubs in the town, and the Cornish Bakery for pasties and coffee on the go.

One of the finest preserved steam railways in England — five and a half miles of heritage line running from Swanage through Corfe Castle to Norden. The ride takes approximately 25 minutes each way. The approach to Corfe Castle station — ruins looming dramatically above the village — is one of the most memorable railway arrivals in England. Steam and diesel trains run daily from April to October and most weekends year-round. Freedom of the Line tickets allow unlimited hop-on hop-off travel all day. Book online to save around 10% on the day price. Dogs welcome on board (£2 single / £3 return).

The finest way to arrive in Swanage is by steam train from Norden — free parking, a 25-minute journey through Purbeck countryside with Corfe Castle dramatically visible as you pass through, and a proper Victorian station arrival in the town centre. It transforms the day entirely.

The clifftop walk from Swanage seafront up to Durlston Country Park takes around 20–30 minutes and is one of the best short walks in Dorset. The views from the castle terrace café back across Swanage Bay are superb — on clear days you can see the Isle of Wight. Entry to the park is free.

Not every service is steam-hauled — diesel runs on quieter days. Check the website calendar if a steam locomotive matters to you. The Swanage Blues Festival (October), Folk Festival (September) and Carnival week (late July with fireworks) are all worth planning around.

Self-drive motor boats, kayaks, canoes, rowing boats and paddleboards all available by the hour. No previous experience required. Open March to September seven days a week.

Wareham River Cruises runs 40-minute trips along the Frome with commentary. Greenslade Pleasure Boats also offer return cruises from Wareham to Poole Quay.

Wareham is one of the best-preserved Saxon towns in England. Excellent independent shops, a monthly farmers' market, the wonderful Salt Pig deli, and a lively quayside. St Martin's Church contains a marble effigy of Lawrence of Arabia.

The River Frome runs from Wareham out towards Poole Harbour — on a self-drive motor boat you can putter downstream through the marshes, watching herons and egrets.

The Salt Pig on North Street is one of the finest delis and restaurants in Dorset — incredible charcuterie, local cheeses and excellent coffee by day. Book ahead for dinner.

The large Lulworth Estate car park is a five-minute walk from the cove. Pay and display — charged 24 hours. Tickets valid at both Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door car parks. Arrive early in summer.

Lulworth Cove is a near-perfect circular bay carved by the sea through Portland limestone. Stair Hole shows the same process at an earlier stage with dramatic folded rock formations. The Fossil Forest to the east features 145-million-year-old fossilised tree bases.

Durdle Door — arguably the most famous coastal landmark in England — is a 30-minute walk along the South West Coast Path from Lulworth Cove. The final descent to the beach involves 143 steps. Sturdy shoes essential.

Park at Lulworth Cove (cheaper and more facilities) and walk the coastal path — roughly 3 miles round trip with spectacular views throughout.

Both sites can be extremely crowded from mid-morning in summer. Go before 9am or after 4pm for a far more peaceful experience. The light on the limestone arch in the evening is extraordinary.

Tyneham is part of the MOD Lulworth Ranges and is open every weekend throughout the year, plus school holidays and bank holidays. Always call the recorded information line before travelling.

Free car park with a suggested donation of £2–4. Entry to buildings and exhibitions is free. The road is narrow — not suitable for coaches or caravans. Dogs welcome.

The church of St Mary and the old schoolroom have been preserved as museums — inside the school, coat hooks still bear the names of the children who once used them. Exhibitions tell the story of the community that lived here.

A beautiful one-mile walk leads to Worbarrow Bay — a wild, unspoilt horseshoe of beach on the Jurassic Coast accessible only on foot or by sea. The views from Worbarrow Tout headland are among the finest on the Dorset coast.

Access is genuinely subject to last-minute military activity. The recorded information line (01929 404714) is updated regularly — always check before driving out.

A perfect Dorset day combines Lulworth and Durdle Door in the morning, Tyneham for the village and Worbarrow Bay, then Kimmeridge for rockpooling.

Open Sunday to Friday, 10:30am–5pm (closed Saturdays). Parking is £3 per vehicle all day, covering access to parkland, woodland walks and children's playground.

English Heritage and Historic Houses Association members enter free. Book in advance online or purchase on the day. Children under 4 free. Tearoom serves hot drinks, cakes and cream teas.

The castle interior tells the story of the Weld family through memorabilia and period rooms. The tower offers panoramic views across Purbeck and towards the Jurassic Coast. Children can hunt for 10 hidden bats. St Mary's Chapel is included in the ticket.

Even without a castle ticket, the parkland, woodland walks, children's adventure playground and picnic areas are worth the £3 parking fee alone. The Weld Arms pub in East Lulworth is a perfect stop.

Lulworth Castle and Lulworth Cove share the same estate. A full Lulworth day combining the castle in the morning with the cove and Durdle Door walk in the afternoon is one of the great Dorset days out.

The castle closes on Saturdays and on a number of Fridays — particularly around Camp Bestival in late July. The parkland remains accessible most days.

Free on-site parking. Approximately 7 miles from Ower Quay via the A352. Well signposted from the main road. The museum is on the edge of Bovington Camp, the home of the Royal Armoured Corps.

Open daily 10am–5pm. Every ticket includes a free annual pass — so you can return as many times as you like for a full year. Book online in advance for the best prices. Children under 5 free. Café, gift shop and picnic areas on site.

Six enormous halls house everything from a World War One Mark I tank to modern Challenger 2s. Highlights include a genuine Tiger I — one of only six surviving examples in the world — and the original Lawrence of Arabia Rolls-Royce armoured car. Interactive displays, simulator experiences and personal stories bring the history to life.

Throughout the year the museum runs Tanks in Action displays where historic vehicles are driven in the arena — including Tiger Day, one of the most popular events in the museum calendar. Check the website for dates and book early as premium events sell out quickly.

There is far more here than most visitors expect — the average visit is 3–4 hours, but enthusiasts could easily spend a whole day. The annual pass means you can split it across two visits if you prefer.

T.E. Lawrence's cottage at Clouds Hill is just a mile up the road from the museum — a natural pairing and a beautiful contrast to the scale of the tanks.

Free on-site parking. Located off the A352 between Wareham and Wool, well signposted. Approximately 7 miles from Ower Quay.

Open daily year-round, 10am–5pm (last entry 4pm). Adults £19, children (3–15) £14. Book online to save approximately 5%. Under 3s free. The centre does not receive outside funding — your admission directly supports their rescue work worldwide.

Home to over 250 primates of more than 20 species — including a large group of rescued chimpanzees, orangutans, woolly monkeys, gibbons, capuchins, marmosets and ring-tailed lemurs. Many have been rescued from illegal smuggling, beach photography or the exotic pet trade. Keeper talks run throughout the day and offer fascinating insights into each group's story.

A beautiful 65-acre woodland park with a well-marked circular trail taking you past all the enclosures. Children's adventure playground, café and gift shop on site. The Great Ape Play Area is excellent for younger children. Allow 2–3 hours for a comfortable visit.

The keeper talks and feeding times are the highlight — check the daily schedule board when you arrive and plan your route around them. The chimpanzee and orangutan talks are especially popular.

Monkey World is genuinely enjoyable for adults as well as children — the rescue stories are moving and the conservation work is impressive. Combine with the Tank Museum or Clouds Hill for a full day in the Bovington area.

A small National Trust property on a quiet lane near Bovington Camp, approximately 7 miles from Ower Quay. Limited parking on site — arrive early in peak season. Just a mile from the Tank Museum.

Free for National Trust members — bring your membership card. Non-members must book and pay in advance via the NT website. The cottage is small and intimate, so timed entry slots are required for all visitors. Introductory tours run every half hour. Open April to October (closed November to March for conservation). Check the NT website for seasonal hours.

The cottage is deliberately spartan — Lawrence wanted "nothing that a fire would not cure." Four small rooms contain his gramophone, his books (including a signed first edition of Seven Pillars of Wisdom), his sleeping bag, photographs and personal effects. Above the door, a Greek inscription reads "Why worry?" — Lawrence's personal motto. The atmosphere is extraordinary — intensely private and deeply atmospheric.

The cottage sits in peaceful woodland — Lawrence chose this spot precisely for its seclusion. A short walk leads to a viewpoint over Bovington heath. The area is rich in birdlife and wildflowers, particularly in spring.

The cottage is tiny and timed entry is strictly limited. Book your slot via the National Trust website as soon as your dates are confirmed — popular weekends sell out well in advance.

Clouds Hill is just a mile from the Bovington Tank Museum — which itself houses the Lawrence of Arabia Rolls-Royce armoured car. The two make a perfect half-day pairing, with Monkey World also nearby for families.