About Swanage

The gently sloping sands of Swanage form an excellent family beach with a promenade backed by colourful gardens. The bay is sheltered and the sea is particularly safe for swimming, with all the amenities close at hand including several cafes and restaurants on the beachfront.

Swanage is the gateway to the Jurassic Coast. This is a World Heritage Site that starts at Old Harry Rocks just east of Swanage, and continues west for about 90 miles down the southern coast of England to Orcombe Point near Exmouth in East Devon. Swanage is a popular base for people walking along the coast and exploring the fossil beds found in the coves around.

There are plenty of other attractions around the bay, such as Durlston Country Park and The Award Winning Swanage Railway, which runs through the beautiful Isle of Purbeck passing the magnificent ruins of Corfe Castle.

One of the landmarks is Swanage Pier, which dates from the 1800’s and was refurbished in 1999. Swanage beach is home to many water sports. The town has a long association with scuba diving, the shallow bay and clear waters offer excellent training grounds for this sport. Other water sports include sailing, water-skiing and wind surfing, also canoe and pedalo hire.

Here are some suggestions for places to try in the local area.