Date: 1st – 4th May 2026
Base Location: Swanage, Dorset
Price: £60
Overview: A weekend of walking and community in May, based in the Victorian seaside town of Swanage, the county of Dorset and the Jurassic Coast. Picture above; approaching Lulworth Cove.
This trip features a steam train ride to Corfe Castle to start one of the walks, across stunning panoramic view scenery to reach Lulworth Cove for our ‘middle day’ walk.
The first day’s linear walk is from Worth Matravers, along the coastal path back to Swanage, via Anvil Point Lighthouse, Durlston Head and Peveril Point.
And Monday’s circular walk is from our base in Swanage to Old Harry Rocks, where seals and dolphins are often spotted, then refreshments in Studland before returning to Swanage via an inland cross country path which retains the views over the coast.
There’s also no reason why more modest walkers shouldn’t skip the middle days’ walk and do tourism instead. With three walks in three days, some participants may be wise to have a rest day in the middle of the three days. …or take the shorter, 5 mile option (see below).
Please Note: As Dorset’s most spectacular walks are its coastal paths, two of the three days’ walks are linear routes, rather than circular routes, for which we will need to get taxis either there or back. We will arrange taxi sharing in groups of four, if not seven, to share the cost. Taxi prices in the area are pretty reasonable.
You’ll need to arrange your own accommodation for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
Friday 1st May
It doesn’t really matter what time you arrive in Swanage on the Friday night, but if you’re arriving early enough you can rendezvous to dine and socialize with those from the group who have already arrived, should you wish to.
I’ll be around from 6:00 pm until at least 9:00 pm.
Saturday 2nd May: Worth Matravers to Swanage Coastal Walk
Start Time: 10:30 am
Meet Point: Swanage Railway, Swanage BH19 1HB. (Meeting one lady at Worth Matravers, Swanage BH19 3LE)
Distance: 6.5 miles
Parking: We’ll be getting shared taxis from the centre of Swanage to Worth Matravers.
Our first walk is a linear coastal path from the village of Worth Matravers back into Swanage.
Worth Matravers.
Priest’s Way.
Anvil Point Lighthouse.
Durlston Head.
Peveril Point.
Sunday 3rd May: Steam Train to Corfe Castle, then Walk to Lulworth Cove (5 mile or 10 mile walk option), then Shared Taxi Back
Start Time: 9:45 am
Meet Point: Swanage Railway, Swanage BH19 1HB
Distance: 5 miles or 10 miles
Parking: As we’ll be meeting in Swanage you’ll already be parked. 🙂
Please note that this is a linear walk. We will need to get taxis back from Lulworth Cove to Swanage, so we will arrange taxi sharing in groups of four, if not seven, to share the cost.
For this walk we’ll meet at Swanage Railway Station, a heritage railway with diesel and steam locomotives, and travel together to the start point for the walk at Corfe Castle. The train journey is £14. If you would rather drive to Corfe Castle you can, and park at Castle View Visitor Centre, meeting the group at 10:25 am. (If you do this, after the walk instead of getting a taxi back to Swanage from Lulworth Cove, you’ll get a taxi back from Lulworth Cove to Corfe Castle to collect your car).
You Choose: I’m giving you the option of doing this walk as a five mile walk, and getting transportation to the end point at Lulworth Cove, because the full walk to Lulworth Cove is ten miles and has a steep 41% incline hill at the end. Some stronger walkers won’t be bothered by this, but for those who would rather stop after five miles you can stop at Whiteway Car Park, also known as Lulworth Range Car Park, where we’ll have a taxi arranged to take you to Lulworth Cove (you might have to wait a short while).
For those who do choose the 5 mile option, while you’re in Lulworth Cove waiting for the remainder of the group to finish the walk, you could walk to Durdle Door and back. It’s just over a mile each way, and the coastal path is clearly marked and very obvious, with tourists walking in both directions marking it out.
As we start our walk we can turn and look back on Corfe Castle.
Lulworth Cove.
West Lulworth Village.
Monday 4th May: Swanage to Old Harry Rocks and Studland Circular Walk
Start Time: 10:30am
Meet Point: Swanage Railway, Swanage BH19 1HB
Distance: 6 miles
Parking: As this walk starts in Swanage you’ll already be parked! 🙂
For this walk we’ll also start by meeting outside the Swanage Railway Station, as we did on day two, and this walk then takes us along the beach front, up the coast and on to Old Harry Rocks.
Then we’ll continue to Studland and refreshments at The Bankes Arms, which has great views from it’s beer garden across Studland Bay.
Finally, we’ll take our last leg of the last walk back across country to Swanage, on a route which, whilst inland, still allows us to see the coast view.
Old Harry Rocks.
The Bankes Arms pub at Studland has tremendous views across the bay.
Videos
This video shows Lulworth Cove, the ‘finishing line’ of our middle day walk.
This video shows the resort charm of Swanage, where we’ll be based.
Refunds
Refunds cannot be given except on a first come basis if the full capacity of the event is reached AND someone from the Waitlist pays for the event.
Group Ethos
This is an inclusive, boundaries respecting group. Participants must act in accordance with this at all times. Failure to do so will result in instant removal from the event and group without refund.
What to do next?
Don’t book any accommodation before you’ve confirmed your place with me.
- Speak to me or message me to let me know you’d like to go.
- I’ll let you have bank details to make a payment.
- Then you can set about arranging accommodation.
You can call me on 07758 351 527.
I look forward to seeing you there,
James
