Isle of Purbeck

The small village of Wool (pop. 4,300) lies west of Wareham. Its 15th century bridge spans the River Frome. Next to the bridge stands the Woolbridge, called Wellbridge House by Thomas Hardy.Wool is noted for the 17th century Manor House and the remains of Bindon Abbey.

Lulworth (5mi/8km south of Wool), with its castle ruins, lies on an almost circular bay called Lulworth Cove. It is worth visiting the 0.6mi/1km-large petrified forest.Lulworth is a UNESCO World Heritage site with rock formations from the Jurassic period to the the Cretaceous period.

The Tank Museum is located on the British army's armored training grounds. It contains an outstanding collection of 20th century armored fighting vehicles.There is a small amusement park with junior assault course and radio-controlled racing track. Lawrence of Arabia's country residence can be visited 1mi/1.6km north of Bovington Camp.

The enormous Norman ruins of the 12th/13th C Corfe Castle are visible from afar. It was here that King Edward the Martyr was murdered in 987 at the instigation of his mother-in-law Elfrieda. Lady Bankes defended Corfe Castle against Parliament in both 1643 and 1645 until betrayal allowed it to be forcibly invaded by parliamentary decree. The village, older than the castle, is very charming.Corfe Castle is a National Trust property. A visitor route now leads from the visitor center to the castle entrance.

A detour to the seaside resort of Swanage (pop. 8,200) proves worthwhile. This small town is situated in a sandy bay surrounded by low hills. The approximately 40 tons stone globe to be seen here is amazing, as are the stone pillars, facades and towers. Burt, the administrative head of the area, collected much of what was being torn down in London and rebuilt it, if somewhat out of place, in Swanage. This mainly modern resort has a good yacht harbor and attractive old houses, particularly around the millpond.Swanage has a 19th century wooden pier that was refurbished in 1999 and is popular for sightseeing and fishing.

From Swanage the scenic route returns via Studtland with lovely bays and a Norman church past Corfe Castle to Wareham (10mi/16km northwest, pop. 27,000), a small town near the mouth of the Frome. All around there are earth walls dating from pre-Roman times. The small restored Anglo-Saxon St Martin's Church contains a statue by Eric Kennington of the legendary T. E. Lawrence dressed as an Arab. In St Mary's Church there is a hexagonal lead font (1100) and the marble sarcophagus of Edward the Martyr.There are 200 historic buildings of architectural interest in Wareham and it is an ideal base for tourists interested in touring the Purbeck World Heritage Coast and surrounding countryside.

Chesil Beach, an almost 10mi/16km-long gravel barrier leading from the north end of the Isle of Portland across to Abbotsbury, forms the protective border of "The Fleet" lagoon, a waterfowl sanctuary with one of Europe's largest variety of species.

The remains of an 11th C Benedictine monastery can be found in Abbotsbury (9mi/14km west of Weymouth).Abbotsbury is a popular tourist stop as a gateway village to the Jurassic Coast. It is also a notable destination for bird watchers. The Abbotsbury bird sanctuary is over 600 years old, and a nesting and breeding ground for swans.

Lyme Regis (pop. 4,500) lies in the middle of the large bay of the same name at the mouth of the Lyme and is surrounded by magnificent cliffs. This small town was the favorite holiday resort of the writer Jane Austen (1775-1817), who made it famous through her novels, such as "Persuasion", published in 1818. The old stone causeway, called the Cobb, is of historic interest. James Scott, Duke of Monmouth, landed here in 1685. He disputed claims to the English throne with his uncle, the later James II, but without success. Lyme Regis has charming little alleys and notable Georgian houses, such as Belmont House in Pound Street and the Royal George Hotel in Broad Street.

Exbury Gardens was planted by Edmond de Rothschild (d. 1942). Among other species it features world-renowned displays of rhododendron, azaleas, heather and irises. More than one million rhododendron plants grow on the grounds of this 200-acre spring garden.