Durlston

Part of the Swanage Coastguard patch includes Durlston County Park. We have a lot of incidents up there ...not because it’s inherently dangerous, far from it, it’s just a lot of people visit.

Rightly so as it’s a lovely place to go walking.

“Durlston Country Park and National Nature Reserve, situated 1 mile from Swanage in Dorset, is a fabulous 280 acre countryside paradise, consisting of sea-cliffs, coastal limestone downland, haymeadows, hedgerows and woodland. With stunning views, walking trails, the historic Great Globe, superb geology and fascinating wildlife there is always something different to see."

An amazing variety of wildlife, dolphins, puffins and peregrine falcons. It has cows too; big hairy brown ones with horns. (I may do a special feature on these cows tomorrow, if Ian can have Slipwatch, then I can have Cow-watch)

Durlston Country Park looking east towards Anvil Point Lighthouse

It’s free to visit and parking is a reasonable £1 for 2 hours weekdays or £2 for 2 hours weekends. There is a cracking walk down to the Anvil Point Lighthouse which opens its doors so you can have a look inside.

Meanwhile Durlston Castle is coming on a treat. It’s part of a Dorset County Council project to refurbish the premises to become the gateway to the Jurassic Coast. The project has been running for a number of years and I reckon that this year this place will become even more special and hopefully will receive the national recognition it deserves.

Well worth a look.