The dramatic ruins of Corfe Castle overlook the village of the same name. It is situated halfway between Wareham and Swanage on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset. (It is not really an island but a peninsular).A great way to visit Corfe Castle is by the Swanage Railway. This heritage railway passes through some wonderful panoramas of the Jurassic coast and there is a museum on the station itself.
There is a model village and Courtyard cafe in the village square. We, however, chose to visit the National Trust tearoom as we are members. From the garden, you can have a great view of the magnicent castle ruins while tucking into your cream tea. Dating back to the 11th century it is one of the first stone castles in England. The village itself has lovely old buildings constructed with the same grey Isle of Purbeck stone. Because there are so many ancient sites in the area, going back to 6000BC, metal detectors are banned. Another claim to fame is the fact that Enid Blyton was inspired by Corfe Castle in her Famour Five books, which we loved in our childhood. These are, of course, sold in the National Trust gift shop in the centre of the village.
As you would expect, the village has a great choice of gift shops, galleries, cafes, restaurants, pubs and accommodation. For those who enjoy walking there are wonderful views in the surrounding area. No visit to Dorset is complete without a trip to the charming Corfe Castle village!
