Outdoor Activities in the Isle of Purbeck
- Quick Links
- Beaches
- Canoeing/Kayaking
- Climbing
- Cycling/Mountain Biking
- Fishing
- Golf/Pitch & Putt/Crazy Golf
- Hiking/Walking
- Horse Riding
- Kite Sports/Power Kiting
- Power Boating
- Rock Pooling/Tide Pooling
- Sailing
- Snorkelling/Scuba Diving
- Windsurfing
Beaches
The Purbeck beaches consisting of Durdle Door, Kimmeridge, Lulworth, Studland and Swanage, are perhaps some of the best beaches in the UK, and are certainly the best in Dorset. The Studland beaches, owned by the National Trust and made up of Knoll Beach, Middle Beach, Shell Bay, and South Beach are particularly popular due to their fine sand and lack of pollution.To learn more about the Purbeck Beaches visit our Guide to Purbeck Beaches.
Canoeing/Kayaking
One only has to look at the number of canoeing and kayaking clubs throughout the Dorset area, both by the rivers and along the coastline, to appreciate how popular this watersport is in the Dorset area. Taking to the open water in a kayak is a wonderful way of exploring Purbeck's famous Jurassic Coastline. Both hire and tuition are available from local clubs and centres in the area including Jurassic Kayak Tours. Details of further clubs and educational facilities offering canoeing/kayaking courses are available from BournemouthCanoes.co.uk.Climbing
There are plenty of climbing opportunities in the Purbeck area, particularly around Swanage. However, the nearest specialist shop is in Portland, near Weymouth, and with 90% of the climbing routes requiring equipment, it is advisable to either bring your own climbing gear or hire it from the group/club you are climbing with. Be aware that many of the established climbs become quite busy during the summer months, particularly Dancing Ledge and Subluminal.For more information about the climbing routes available in the Purbeck area go to Rockfax.com.
Cycling/Mountain Biking
The Purbecks has everything to offer cyclists regardless of whether you prefer solid tarmac under your wheels or the bumpier, and often muddier, feel of grass, scree and dirt tracks. It is a good idea to plan your routes and to take advice from local cyclists and bike hire venues, particularly if your fitness levels are not up to steep hills. The Purbeck area does offer some flat rides, but not many, so be prepared for some lung bursting climbs if you want to see the best views and truly experience everything the Isle of Purbeck has to offer the biking enthusiast.More information about cycling in and around Dorset generally can be obtained from the Dorset Cyclists Network, and the Purbeck District Council offer 6 downloadable mountain bike routes from their Purbeck Cycle Rides page. Alternatively you could try some of the recommended books below.
If you are seeking to hire bikes during your stay in the Purbeck area, we recommend giving Wareham and Purbeck Cycle Hire a try.
Fishing
If you like to fish then Purbeck can offer you some great locations regardless of whether you prefer pier fishing, cliff top fishing, shoreline fishing or boat fishing. Bass, mullet, rass and conger eels are all there to be caught along the Purbeck coastline, and boats can be hired from Swanage near the pier.Golf/Pitch & Putt/Crazy Golf
Whether you are a serious golfer, an amateur or just somone who likes to hit a ball with a stick when on holiday, the Purbecks can offer you a golf experience to suit your taste.Swanage has a crazy golf course near the childrens park on the seafront, in addition to an 18 hole pitch and putt course at Kirkwood Park. For the more serious golfer the Isle of Purbeck Golf Club boasts one of the top 50 golf courses in the world (ref. top100golfcourses), and there are also golf clubs at nearby Wareham, Bere Regis and Bulbury Woods.
Hiking/Walking
The beautiful rolling countryside of the Isle of Purbeck provides an excellent setting for hiking, walking and nordic walking. There are many books available featuring specific routes which encompass some of Purbecks more famous locations and sights. However, with much of the Purbecks open year round for public access it is also very suitable for those who just like to pack a backpack and go off exploring.
Horse Riding
There are a number of stables in the area offering the opportunity to explore the area on horse back. Many run organised horse riding trails, while others have a more informal approach available to experienced riders. Studland Stables have a particularly good range of horse riding experiences, all based in the Purbeck area, covering beach rides, heath riding and pub rides! Why not arrange a riding holiday in the area for your group and stay at The Poole & Dorset Adventure Centre.Kite Sports/Power Kiting
Twenty years ago kite sports was pretty much restricted to going out on a windy Sunday afternoon with your dad, spending an hour untangling a piece of string and then the next couple of hours running until your lungs burst trying to get a diamond shaped bit of plastic to fly. It's safe to say that things have moved on a bit!The terms "kite sports" and "power kiting" now encompass a whole range of activities for the adrenaline junkies, each of which are growing sports in their own rights. "Buggying" has been around now for about 10 years and is perhaps the most accessibile of the power kiting activities. Essentially you sit in a buggy and get pulled along by a large kite or sail, often on beaches or in fields. "Land Boarding" is similar except that it takes place in a standing position on an oversized and specially adapted skateboard, or mountainboard. For those people who want the extra thrill of getting wet, "Kite Surfing" is particulaly popular and is a hybrid or windsurfing, surfing and flying!
The Purbeck area is particularly well suited to all of these sports with coastal winds providing the power and long flat beaches, plenty of fields and of course the sea, providing the location. For more information on power kiting in Purbeck, Dorset, contact PurbeckPowerKites.co.uk.
Power Boating
Power boating is a popular activity in the area amongst owners, spectators and people who simply wish to try their hand at it for the first time. Tuition and boat hire are both available locally, and there are some excellent vantage points along the coastal paths for spectators wishing to watch power boating events which are often staged in the area.Rock Pooling/Tide Pooling
As outdoor activities go this is one of the best for involving the entire family, especially children, and at no greater cost than perhaps a net and a bucket. The Jurassic coastline bordering the Isle of Purbeck is perfect for rock pooling or tide pooling as it is sometimes called. Kimmeridge in particular is recognised as being one of the best rock pool sites in Dorset and is well worth a visit if you enjoy the gentle side of exploring marine life and what the coastline has to offer.Sailing
The Purbeck coastline offers all sorts of sea terrain, from sheltered bays to open seas exposed to the full force of the weather and local tide patterns. This makes it ideally suited for people of all levels of experience in sailing. The Shell Bay Sailing Centre for example, located at Ferry Road, Studland (Tel. 0771 301 7581), is a small, friendly sailing school offering sailing tuition and dinghy hire for all ages from 7 years upwards. It is recognised by the Royal Yachting Association. They also run weekly childrens' courses during school holidays.Snorkelling/Scuba Diving
The Isle of Purbeck provides an excellent location for both scuba and snorkelling enthusiasts, be they experienced undersea explorers or first time "face-only" snorkellers! Of particular interest is the "snorkelling trail" created in 2006 at Kimmeridge Bay (only open in the summer months). The video below was taken at Kimmeridge.Further round the coast, the Swanage pier is a popular spot for children and beginners to snorkel with access from the steps at the side of the pier. The summer weather can improve visibility in this area to up to 10m, and the pier itself has created a low light area that encourages more unusual marine growth such as anemones and sponges.
Windsurfing
Windsurfing and kitesurfing are two of the most popular outdoor activities in the area, especially among watersports enthusiasts. When the weather is suitable both Swanage and Studland Bays are suitable for windsurfing, but Poole Harbour is perhaps the most popular location as the additional shelter provided by the harbour makes it a suitable venue for all conditions.
For the beginner, Whitley Lake at Sandbanks is ideal. It is very shallow and very safe with plenty of parking along the adjacent road. Be aware however, that it can dry out at low tide.
As you would expect in such a popular watersports area as Poole and the Purbecks there are plenty of shops in the nearby area dedicated to watersports and windsurfing.
