Dorset - ruined castles and steam trains

Last weekend Aunty Jenny and Uncle Charles took us camping down in Dorset near a place called Corfe Castle.  The weather was fairly good and we even had a fair amount of sun with only interspersed rain and hail - pretty good going!

Headed down Southampton way and then to Sandbanks at the entrance to Poole Harbour.  Across the chain ferry and on to some white chalk cliffs and Old Harry's Rocks.  Scared the wits out of Uncle Charles taking jumping photos near the edge of the slightly overhanging chalk cliffs :)

Geoff at Old Harry's Rocks

White limestone (chalk) cliffs with "rocks" - the broken off pillars

Then on to the ruins of the once very impressive Corfe Castle.  The stone castle was built in the 11th Century by William the Conqueror and it stands on a little hill in the middle of a break in a ridge - very picturesque!  The castle must have been impressive when it was fully functional as there remains some beautiful stonework and it was at least 4 storeys high. Below the castle lies the town of Corfe - all made out of local Purbeck limestone with thick slabs of slate for roof tiles, and we retreated there for cream tea to get out of the rain for a bit.  Then on to Corfe station which has been restored and they run a steam and diesel train service for a couple of miles.  Was like stepping back in time to see the station as it would have been 100 years ago, complete with old suitcases and trunks piled on the luggage trolleys.  The the railway system is all run by volunteers (it was restored by volunteers too) and we chatted to a very passionate old chap in his 3 piece suit, watch chain and cap about the railways.  We managed to talk our way in to see the old (fully restored) signal box too and the signalman (also a volunteer) explained how the mechanical signals work and the key system that they use so that the don't have 2 trains on the same piece of line, etc.  It was really fascinating.

Corfe Castle

Looking down from Corfe Castle with the steam train and rape fields. 

Corfe Castle from the Station.  The signal man is exchanging "keys" with the driver in beautiful leather pouches

We "glamped" (glam-camped) on a little field near Corfe - once again glad for our down sleeping bags, down jackets and wet weather gear.

Swanage Station

Sunday morning we headed down to Norden to catch the first steam train and rode through to Swanage, a seaside town.  Swannage was quaint and we went for a wander along the cliffs to a castle ruin (a Victorian folly) where we found an exhibition called "The Crochet Garden" - use your own imagination! I'm still in two minds about it.....  The rain shortened our walk and we headed back to the train before heading back to Little Bookham.


What a fantastic weekend!