Graeme's Guidebook
Food scene
Locally brewed beer and cider and delicious pasties and sausage rolls.
92 locals recommend
The Square and Compass
Worth MatraversLocally brewed beer and cider and delicious pasties and sausage rolls.
Lovely breakfast, lunch, coffee and cake. Downstairs area very cosy on a gloomy day.
38 locals recommend
Love Cake Etc
42 High StLovely breakfast, lunch, coffee and cake. Downstairs area very cosy on a gloomy day.
Shell Bay Seafood Restaurant
Ferry RoadStunning views, great food. Need to book...
The Salt Pig Too (the original is up the road in Wareham) is a cafe and deli that really cares about locally sourced food and drink. Highly recommended.
65 locals recommend
The Salt Pig
6 North StThe Salt Pig Too (the original is up the road in Wareham) is a cafe and deli that really cares about locally sourced food and drink. Highly recommended.
A new restaurant with good sea food options in a lovely part of Swanage. Take a stroll after lunch along Peveril Point to see the fishing boats. PS Do also note the building’s tapering stone screens. (It’s by the same architect that designed 6 Abbascombe)
12 locals recommend
Pier Head
A new restaurant with good sea food options in a lovely part of Swanage. Take a stroll after lunch along Peveril Point to see the fishing boats. PS Do also note the building’s tapering stone screens. (It’s by the same architect that designed 6 Abbascombe)
The 1859 Pier Cafe & Bistro
Swanage PierSightseeing
Drive to Renscombe car park (the end of the road west of Worth) or walk from the house then stroll across the field then down the zig zagging path to a lovely rugged, prehistoric bay with great swimming options. It’s a lot quieter than Lulworth Cove.
17 locals recommend
Chapman's Pool
Drive to Renscombe car park (the end of the road west of Worth) or walk from the house then stroll across the field then down the zig zagging path to a lovely rugged, prehistoric bay with great swimming options. It’s a lot quieter than Lulworth Cove.
Surprisingly good coffee, sandwiches and cake … and birds, woodland walks, and atmospheric little beaches on Poole Harbour.
35 locals recommend
RSPB Arne
Arne RoadSurprisingly good coffee, sandwiches and cake … and birds, woodland walks, and atmospheric little beaches on Poole Harbour.
You will pass through Corfe on the way to the house (unless you’re arriving by boat!) but the village is worth paying a visit in its own right - a nice way to arrive is by the steam train from Swanage - especially on high days and holidays where playful re-enactments of battles between Saxons and Vikings in the castle grounds add historical colour to an already atmospheric place.
425 locals recommend
Corfe Castle
You will pass through Corfe on the way to the house (unless you’re arriving by boat!) but the village is worth paying a visit in its own right - a nice way to arrive is by the steam train from Swanage - especially on high days and holidays where playful re-enactments of battles between Saxons and Vikings in the castle grounds add historical colour to an already atmospheric place.
Lovely blowy walking option especially nice to approach it through the gorgeous Victorian woodland trail up the coast from Swanage. Good birding options here as well and if you’re feeling energetic we can’t recommend the trek back to 6 Abbascombe through the many magical sea valleys highly enough.
81 locals recommend
Durlston Country Park and National Nature Reserve
Lighthouse RoadLovely blowy walking option especially nice to approach it through the gorgeous Victorian woodland trail up the coast from Swanage. Good birding options here as well and if you’re feeling energetic we can’t recommend the trek back to 6 Abbascombe through the many magical sea valleys highly enough.
Pubs with views
A pint with sea views in Studland. Park in the National Trust carpark and walk round the back of the Pig Hotel, or park at the pub itself.
36 locals recommend
Bankes Arms Inn Studland
Manor RoadA pint with sea views in Studland. Park in the National Trust carpark and walk round the back of the Pig Hotel, or park at the pub itself.
Scott Arms station
Fantastic views inland to Corfe Castle and good pub grub.
Coffee, cake and lunch
Off the beaten track, away from the bucket and spade crowd, great coffee, cake and lunch.
28 locals recommend
Java Independent Coffee House
Unit 3 Commercial RdOff the beaten track, away from the bucket and spade crowd, great coffee, cake and lunch.
Chococo
23A Commercial RdStunning chocolate emporia!
Sea swimming
If you're into sea swimming then this is a highly recommended spot within walking distance of the house. Walk down into the historic centre of the village, follow the path down Winspit valley until you reach the sea then jump in!
23 locals recommend
Winspit Quarry
If you're into sea swimming then this is a highly recommended spot within walking distance of the house. Walk down into the historic centre of the village, follow the path down Winspit valley until you reach the sea then jump in!
Our favourite walk is a simple one to our nearest sea valley – Seacombe Bottom. The swimming off the rocks is invigorating and if you’re into birding then in summer you will likely spot interesting visitors such as Redstarts and Spotted Flycatchers. But the thing we like the most about the valley is that you feel as if you could be walking there at any point in the last millennia as it has a certain timeless air to it.
Seacombe Cliff
South West Coast PathOur favourite walk is a simple one to our nearest sea valley – Seacombe Bottom. The swimming off the rocks is invigorating and if you’re into birding then in summer you will likely spot interesting visitors such as Redstarts and Spotted Flycatchers. But the thing we like the most about the valley is that you feel as if you could be walking there at any point in the last millennia as it has a certain timeless air to it.
Dancing Ledge
South West Coast PathLegendary sea swimming spot within walking distance of the house.
Beaches
Swanage Beach
Lovely Victorian beach fun for all the family.
Lovely option a ‘million miles away’ from Bournemouth beach
Reeser Str. 106, 46446 Emmerich am Rhein, Germany
Lovely option a ‘million miles away’ from Bournemouth beach
Weymouth Beach
EsplanadeA Georgian beach option further down the coast.
Ringstead Bay
A really lovely pebbly beach with atmospheric woodland walks.