Last week I had an exciting E.mail from a local coach company to say that they would be starting day trips again. We knew things would be different as we would be required to social distance on the bus and wear face coverings. However, it meant after months of lockdown we could look forward to exploring again. We have not dared to look at holiday brochures since March so it was fun to pick out a trip to the seaside. We chose Swanage in Dorset as neither of us had ever been there. The government has introduced an “eat out to help out” campaign in August which meant Bill and I would be able to enjoy a half price restaurant meal.

2020 has been a strange year. We have had lots of warm sunny weather and Tuesday was unusually hot and sunny. I must admit I felt a bit travel sick in the coach possibly due to having to wear a face mask and one of our fellow passengers was actually sick. However, once we got to Swanage and saw the long sandy beach and the sea I felt an almost childish excitement. It was great to see people swimming in the sea. Children were fishing for crabs, collecting seashells, building sandcastles and eating icecream

Enid Blyton and Swanage

If it all felt a bit like stepping into a famous five adventure that is because Enid Blyton spent several weeks each year in Swanage with her family. For twenty years she stayed there at least three times a year first at the Grand Hotel then in room 40 at Knoll House Studland.

She used local landmarks for scenes in her books. If you feel like packing corn beef sandwiches and ginger beer and going for a picnic you can catch the volunteer run steam railway from Swanage to Corfe Castle. The ruined Corfe castle is owned by the National Trust and at present tickets have to be prebooked. The pretty Corfe village is ideal for enjoying a cream tea. 

Enid Blyton used the nearby Brownsea island as a setting in one of her books. Now it is home to a colony of red squirrels and famous as the birthplace of the boy scout movement. Visitors can also explore a ruined castle.

 Brownsea Castle was originally a fort built by Henry VIII around 1545 to protect Poole Harbour. The island is now owned by the National trust.

More about Swanage.

Swanage is on the Isle of Purbeck between Weymouth and Poole and is at the western end of the Jurassic Coast. Purbeck is actually a peninsula rather than an island and is famous for its geology and fossils. In the 19th century Purbeck marble was shipped to London to provide building material.  An eccentric local landowner called George Burt bought architectural scrap in London to use as ballast for the return journey and Greek columns can still be seen in Swanage. The town hall in the High Street which was built in 1872 has a facade taken from Mercer’s hall in Cheapside in London.

The beach

Cars have been banned from part of the promenade and families can spend the day in one of the colourful beach huts. The long sandy beach has been awarded blue flag status for safety and cleanliness. Its sheltered location makes it ideal for swimming, scuba diving or sailing. I must admit I enjoyed paddling in the sea. We also had fish and chips at a restaurant on the promenade but drank coffee rather than ginger beer.

If you are unable to visit in person you can enjoy a view over the bay from the RNLI webcam. 

If you want to explore further afield nearby Bournemouth offers all the attractions you would expect to find in a big city.