All the best walks in the countryside aren’t fully complete without a pub stop (or two) along the way. Perhaps we’re a little biased, but we think that some of the best pub walks are the ones right on our doorstep! Read on to discover our top pub walks in Swanage.
The Village Inn
Our pub restaurant, The Village Inn, is ideally placed beside our holiday park in Swanage, which provides both holidaymakers and locals with easy walking access to the local area! The Village Inn serves a selection of delicious home-cooked meals at regular times throughout the day. At our charming pub restaurant in Swanage, you can savour a delicious meal, such as a roast dinner or fish and chips, after a scenic walk near Ulwell! Our independent pub serves a wide range of meal options, including vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan and children’s meals. What’s more, The Village Inn also has a dedicated dog-friendly area, meaning that the whole family can enjoy a well-earned meal after a scenic pub walk in Swanage.
Ulwell to The Obelisk – The Village Inn
You may have seen the Obelisk whilst driving down to Ulwell Holiday Park and wondered what is was exactly. Well, this iconic landmark was erected in 1883 to memorialise the new drinking water supply in Swanage. The Obelisk was then removed in 1941 as the locals were concerned that it could potentially provide a helpful target or landmark for German aircrafts! Nowadays, the Obelisk stands proudly as an iconic landmark for those exploring the beautiful countryside of Swanage.
This easy pub walk takes roughly an hour and a half to complete – making it the perfect pub walk to enjoy whilst on holiday in Swanage!
- Start your journey on Ulwell Road near the bus stop, you then want to turn left into the lay-by and onto the righthand side of the road (beside a small stream).
- Keep walking until you see a gate up ahead. Then you want to pass through the gate and continue to follow the trail up the hill. Keep walking straight ahead until you come to the Obelisk at the top of the path.
- The Obelisk offers an excellent vantage point to admire the local scenery and coastline in Swanage! If you do happen to take a few snaps, don’t hesitate to tag us on any of our socials! Follow Ulwell Holiday Park on Facebook and Instagram.
- After you have taken in the view at the Obelisk, turn right and follow the path until you reach another gate. Pass through the wooden gate and continue along the Purbeck Hills!
- When you come to the end of the track, you should see a third gate with large earth mounds to the right. At this point, you need to turn right and follow the narrow track back down the hill until you reach a stile. Climb over the stile and continue following the path until you reach the stone steps.
- Once you’ve reached the stone steps, you want to continue up the second set of steps and walk through Swanage and back towards The Village Inn pub restaurant!
Flickr – Image credit: Odd Wellies
Ulwell to Old Harry Rock – The Village Inn
If you are looking for a longer pub walk in Swanage, we’d suggest walking from Ulwell Holiday Park to Old Harry Rocks! Old Harry Rocks are one of the most iconic landmarks on the Jurassic Coast. The chalk sea stacks date back thousands of years and were once thought to be connected to The Needles in the Isle of Wight! This walk will roughly take just under three hours to complete, so remember to bring a water bottle and suitable clothing for either cold or hot weather.
- Start your journey on Ulwell Road near the bus stop. Then turn left into the lay-by and onto the righthand side of the road (you should see a small stream beside you).
- Keep walking until you see a gate up ahead. Then you want to pass through the gate and continue to follow the trail up the hill. You’re in the right direction if a see a few milestones that read ‘The Obelisk’! Keep walking straight ahead until you come to the Obelisk at the top of the path.
- Once you reach the Obelisk, turn right and follow the track and signposts that point in the direction of Old Harry Rocks. You’ll continue through a couple of gates until you turn left.
- Turn left at Old Harry Rocks and you should reach the public toilets at Studland. At this point Studland Bay should be to the right of you. Turn down the road on the left of you and continue to walk towards the memorial cross.
- Then you want to turn left at the memorial cross to walk through a few farm buildings. You should then be walking on a public footpath that is on the left to ‘Glebe Estate’.
- Pass through the gate and follow the track until you reach a stone bench. Walk straight on the path and you should cross over the route you walked on earlier.
- Continue to walk down the hill and you will see Swanage Bay on your left. Turn right at the milestone and walk down the Purbeck Way path towards Ulwell Holiday Park.
- Walk towards the lay-by / bus stop where your journey began and then head to The Village Inn for a refreshing pint or pub meal!
Walks From Ulwell Holiday Park
For more scenic pub walks from Ulwell, please download our walks directory. Our caravan and camping park in Swanage is ideally placed in the beautiful countryside – making it the perfect place to stay if you wish to explore the local walks and beaches in Dorset. Ulwell Holiday Park offers a wide range of accommodation options including holiday homes, caravan and motorhome pitches, camping pitches and even a rustic glamping pod! To secure your holiday in Swanage, book your accommodation online or call our friendly reception team at 01929 422823.
