Walking holidays in the Purbecks
Ulwell Holiday Park is set within beautiful surroundings, with far reaching views over the Purbeck Hills. Our fantastic location affords visitors easy access to a number of scenic walks, ideal for exploring the Dorset countryside and coast.
Many of our guests choose to leave their car at the holiday park during their stay and discover the local area by foot. To help you make the most of your time at Ulwell and see all of the best sites, we’ve compiled a list of just some of our favourites walks from the park.
Ulwell to Corfe Castle
Seasoned hikers will enjoy the long walk to Corfe Castle, which can be accessed from the top of Ulwell Holiday Park. This challenging 3-4 hour route follows the Purbeck Way, which offers walkers commanding views across Poole Harbour and towards the Isle of Wight.
For the post part, the route is flat underfoot thanks to a wide chalk and grass path, which makes for relatively easy walking. You will descend into the village of Corfe via Rempstone Estate, where you will get your first glimpse of the magnificent ruins of Corfe Castle, perched high upon the hillside.
After the long walk stop at the Corfe Castle tearooms reward yourself with a cup of tea and a delicious slice of cake, before returning to the park. If you’re feeling a little tired after the hike, you can rest your legs and take a steam train home along the historic Swanage Railway.
Ulwell to The Obelisk
A walk to Swanage’s Obelisk offers wonderful views and can be completed in 30-40 minutes. From the parks entrance you can follow the footpath up a steep set of steps to the top of the ridgeline, where you will be rewarded with fantastic views across the town and towards Swanage Bay.
You will notice that one section of the Obelisk sits to the side of the main structure. This section was damaged when it was taken down during the war in 1941, to prevent it being used as a landmark by enemy aircraft.
Ulwell to Swanage via Ballard Down and Old Harry’s Rocks
Take the scenic walk to Swanage and explore one of Dorset’s most iconic landmarks on the way. This extended route through the Dorset countryside and along the coast incorporates the famed Old Harry’s Rocks, two magnificent chalk sea stacks that emerge from the sea. Old Harry’s Rocks and Headfast Point are popular amongst landscape photographers, particularly at dusk and dawn when the sky often turns a wonderful shade of pink and orange.
In the summer months be sure to take some time to try and spot some of the wildlife that calls this route home. If you’re lucky you may see the beautiful Adonis Blue butterfly as well as a number of species of orchids.
During the walk you will pick up signs for the South West Coast Path, which will take you into the town through the residential streets. You will quickly emerge onto the Swanage Seafront, which you can follow into the town centre. The beach is a great place to relax and unwind and take a dip to cool off after your long walk.
The walk takes between 1.5 and 3.5 hours depending on whether you incorporate Old Harry’s Rock into the walk. There is a more direct walk home (approximately 30 minutes) if you’re feeling tiered or you can take a bus back to the park entrance.
Ulwell to Studland and Agglestone Rock
Like most of the routes from the Park, the walk begins with a trek up the steep hill to The Obelisk. You will then pick up the footpath, which takes you through the Glebe Estate and into Studland Village. From here you can walk to one of Studland’s beaches. Knoll beach is the perfect place to enjoy a picnic in the dunes or if you’re feeling a little more adventurous, hire a kayak or go on a banana boat ride!
From Studland you can continue to Agglestone Rock, a large rock that appears to be precariously balanced. The sandstone rock is surrounded by myths and legends. The circular route is about 3 miles long and passes through the heathland past some lovely streams and rivers. The Isle of Purbeck is famed for its reptiles, so be sure to look out for slow worms and lizards!
Ulwell to Dancing Ledge
Discover the tidal swimming pool carved into the rock at Dancing ledge. Built over 100 years ago for the local school to use, it is the perfect place for a dip to off after a walk from the park. The walk takes you through the very best of the Purbeck countryside.
Ulwell Holiday Park is a family friendly holiday park, located on the outskirts of Swanage. It is perfectly placed to enjoy a walking holiday in Dorset and boasts a range of accommodation options including camping, touring and caravan holiday homes.
Download our walks from Ulwell Holiday Park
When walking in the Dorset countryside we kindly ask guests to follow the Countryside Code. It’s really important that we work together to keep our beautiful landscape clean and tidy for everyone to enjoy.
