The best road cycling routes in Durlston National Nature Reserve

The Parish Church of St Edward the Martyr sits prominently in the square at the heart of Corfe Castle village, Dorset. Granted Grade II* listed status, this historic Anglican church is named after the teenage Saxon King, Edward the Martyr, who was murdered nearby in 978 AD on the orders of his stepmother, Queen Alfthryth. Local folklore asserts that the church stands directly on the site of a blind woman's hovel where the king's body was initially concealed, miraculously restoring her sight upon its discovery. While the first stone church on the site was constructed during the 12th century and later expanded in the 13th century, the building has survived immense turmoil. During the English Civil War (1642–1646), Parliamentary troops besieged the nearby royal fortress and used the church to billet men and stable horses. The soldiers caused severe damage, using the masonry for target practice, burning parish records, and stripping lead from the roof to melt into musket balls. Musket shot marks are still visible on the stone walls today. Between 1859 and 1860, architect T.H. Wyatt oversaw a major Victorian reconstruction because the medieval walls were bulging severely. Apart from the majestic 15th-century West Tower built by the Beaufort family, the entire church was pulled down and rebuilt. Notable surviving interior treasures include a 15th-century font carved from local Purbeck Marble and ten intricately carved medieval roof bosses preserved over the sanctuary.

Corfe Castle railway station is a beautifully preserved, Grade II listed station on the heritage Swanage Railway in Dorset. Opened in 1885 and restored by volunteers, its traditional Purbeck stone buildings, vintage signage, and steam locomotives transport visitors back to the 1950s, directly beneath the castle ruins.

From here you get the sense of of the historical beauty that surrounds Corfe.

The Old Town Hall in Corfe Castle, Dorset, is famous as the smallest town hall in England. Rebuilt around 1774 following a fire, its ground floor utilizes stone salvaged from the historic castle ruins. The tiny building features a 350-square-foot former council chamber on the first floor. Today, it is managed by the Corfe Castle Town Trust and houses a free local history museum on its ground floor.

reward time coffee tea and treats

Looking down from Grange Hill, Kimmeridge Bay looks like a stunning, prehistoric masterpiece. From up there, the fossil-rich waters look less like a geological marvel and more like a massive, glittering puddle left behind by a very confused, very ancient dinosaur.

Things must have improved! Great cycling on quiet lanes in April 2026

lovely cafe in the RSPB nature reserve. Wonderful walks from here around the reserve down to Poole Harbour