A Day Out at Corfe Castle Village, Swanage, England

I started my journey to the village on the open top deck of the number 50 Purbeck Breezer that runs from Bournemouth to Swanage via the chain ferry that links the Sandbanks sand spit to the Studland Peninsula. I had a great view from the top deck of the bus watching fisherman on the wall by the ferry. Everyone around me applauded when one of them succeeded in hooking a fish. I remembered an exceptional afternoon tea on the terrace in front of the Haven Hotel. As the ferry chugged across the water narrowly missing a yacht that chose to run the gap between us and the jetty ahead I watched some ponies galloping along the sandy beach that fringes the peninsula. I remembered walking the length of that beach a few months earlier. I had forgotten it was a nudist beach and had decided to walk as close to the sea as possible - eyes averted. I was not lacking in company the whole way and could only wonder why it was only men of a certain age that suddenly decided to run towards the sea as I came into view.

We drove along the peninsula with great views of heathland on either side until we reached Studland Village and then it was up and down hill until we reached Swanage. On arrival at Swanage station I had a choice of transport to get to Corfe Castle Village - bus or the steam train operated by the Swanage Railway Company. I chose the latter and arrived at Corfe Castle station in style. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).