THE LOCAL AREA

Swanage is situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty, with breathtaking coastal scenery. It is ideal for a relaxing, traditional seaside holiday. Or is an excellent base for touring the picturesque village and un spoilt countryside.

The clean, safe, award winning sandy beach, leisure activities and the many festivals and events taking place throughout the year makes Swanage the ideal place for the whole family.

Swanage town offers a wide variety of restaurants and public houses and there is an interesting array of shops to brouse around.

The Swanage railway offers a chance to ride on a steam train with trips to Corfe Castle.

Studland, Bournemouth, Poole and Lulworth Cove offer great days out and are all within easy reach.

Swanage in Purbeck is the perfect choice for a traditional seaside holiday and the perfect base from which to explore the eastern half of Dorset's newly designated World Heritage Coastline.

This compact, friendly resort, picturesquely set in a broad, gently curving bay, is the gem of the Purbeck coast. With its award-winning beach, safe bathing, lots of leisure activities , fascinating all-weather attractions and good all-round family entertainment Swanage offers a warm welcome for everyone! Swanage beach with its gently shelving, golden, sandy shore and clear, unpolluted water has won the prestigious European 'Blue Flag' award on many occasions as well as the Tidy Britain Group's 'Seaside Award'.

Here you can hire canoes and pedaloes, enjoy the timeless antics of Punch and Judy, or simply laze away sunny days. And when the sand castles have been built and ice creams eaten, children will find lots more to do in the beachside Recreation Ground where, on Sunday afternoons in summer, open-air band concerts also take place. Should lazing on the warm sandy beach prove just too tiring, within minutes' walk you will find a refreshing change of scene in the lively attractive town centre with its many interesting shops, boutiques and restaurants. Or maybe you could while away some time in the nearby parks and gardens. Spectacular floral displays adorn the gardens during spring and summer and the town is truly deserving of its 'Southern England in Bloom' award.

With so many places to eat and drink, you certainly won't go hungry! Choose from seafood specialities and traditional fish and chips to cosy tearooms serving Dorset cream teas. Traditional local pubs beckon with hearty pub-grub; stylish bistros offer continental cuisine and take-away restaurants cater for all tastes. You can be sure of a comfortable and relaxing stay too, with such a wide variety of quality accommodation available, ranging from small, family-run guest houses to luxury hotels providing every amenity. Many are conveniently located within a short walk of both the town and beach. There is also ample choice of self-catering properties and well specified camping and caravan sites.

On the clifftop lies Durlston Country Park, 263 acres of delightful countryside overlooking Purbeck's Marine Research Area. The Park is perfect for walking, picnics or just relaxing. At the Park Centre visitors of all ages can learn about the fascinating local ecology and wildlife; watch Durlston's nationally important Guillemot colony live on TV and listen to sounds from the seabed picked up by an underwater microphone. There truly is so much to discover in and around Swanage that after just one visit you're sure to want to return again.