by Torquil

Created on: December 01, 2008

Swanage

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Swanage, known as the Gem of the Dorset coast, is probably the most beautiful town in the Isle of Purbeck. Its atmosphere is immediately restful and the lapping of the gentle sea alongside the caw of seagulls evokes a state of inner peace. Swanage is an oasis of calm on the Jurassic Coast and lies on a hill next to its white, curved, sandy beach and summery seafront. In the summer it is busy but does not seem so. Popular with families who fill its many guest-houses and who frequent the Punch and Judy shows on the promenade, tan themselves on the warm sand and float without a care in the turquoise-emerald water. Ideal for children, the beach is very clean (it has won Blue Flag and Tidy Britain awards recently), wide and there are no dangers from currents or unpredictable waves. It is a perfect place to learn to swim, as I remember doing in my youth It is also a great place for ice cream. The famous

Forte family parlour was established by Italian, Alfonso Forte in 1906 and now run by his grandson, delivering some of the best flavours in the area. Dorset Cream Butterscotch is one of my personal favourites followed closely by Toffee and Honeycomb.

For lunch or afternoon tea be sure to visit the Mowlem, which is a superb upstairs restaurant next to the theatre and cinema, that has huge glass windows overlooking the sea. The food is delicious; freshly-caught local fish being one of its specialities. Its a favourite haunt of local authors, like K Merle Chacksfield who has spent the happiest times of her life in Swanage, having written much about the area, its history and smuggling past and who was instrumental in the town's twinning with the German town of Rothenbourg ob der Tauber. The local shops commence below the Mowlem building and run along the main road, which if you continue along it leads you to the restored Victorian pier. A great time to be here is during the Carnival and Regatta Week which runs annually at the beginning of August and features boat races, carnival processions, music and ends with a spectacular firework display.

The sea front has its lively aspects, such as the buzzing arcade where many a teenager spends loose change, and in the evening are a variety of traditional and modern pubs with live music and other events. Up the hill is the local steam railway, the Purbeck Line. This is great fun for families as kids can watch the puffs of steam emerge from whistling engines as their greasy wheels move smoothly along the line, charred drivers signalling in the old fashioned way as the trains shunt in and out of the station. There is a restaurant in an old carriage on the line and regular trips in the holiday season up the line to Norden, which is just past the historic Corfe Castle.

If you plan to visit the Dorset coast, then do include a trip to Swanage, it will definitely be worth it. If you want to spend a couple of weeks there on holiday there is plenty to do, beach huts to rent, boat trips to be had and a wonderful, traditional English seaside experience.. and of course dont forget the ice cream!

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