Durlston Country Park facts for kids
Durlston Country Park is a huge 320-acre park and nature reserve. It stretches along the coast near Swanage in Dorset, England. This amazing park is a super popular spot for visitors. You can enjoy walks, incredible views, and see lots of wildlife. It's also home to cool places like Durlston Castle and the giant Great Globe. Durlston is part of the famous Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site. It's also on the South West Coast Path, which is 630 miles long! Dorset Council owns and looks after this special place.
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Discover Durlston's Wildlife and Rocks
Durlston Country Park has many different types of natural areas. These include sea-cliffs, grassy hills, old meadows, and woodlands. Each area is home to its own special plants and animals.
Amazing Animals and Plants
You can find 33 types of butterflies that breed here. Over 250 kinds of birds have been seen, and 500 different wildflowers grow in the park. There are also 500 types of moths and thousands of other tiny creatures. Durlston is a very important stop for birds flying long distances in spring and autumn. The sea-cliffs are home to many seabirds. This includes a colony of 400 guillemots. This is the second largest group on the south coast of England! Park rangers write a wildlife diary every morning. You can read it on their website to see what's new: www.durlston.co.uk.
What Rocks Are Underneath?
The main rock under the park is limestone. This means most of the park has "calcareous grassland." This special type of grassland probably grew about 1000 years ago. It formed after oak forests were cleared away. This grassland is perfect for many kinds of wildflowers and animals like butterflies. The sea-cliffs at Durlston are also popular for rock climbing. Some famous climbing spots are Subliminal, Boulder Ruckle, and Cattle Troughs.
Durlston's Interesting History
In the 1800s and 1900s, the Purbeck area was famous for its high-quality limestone. This stone was dug out of the ground in quarries. There were not many open-air quarries in Durlston itself. But you can find many old mine shafts hidden across the landscape. A famous example is the Tilly Whim Caves. These caves are in a valley formed by melting ice long ago.
George Burt's Dream Castle
In 1887, a man named George Burt built a small castle. It sits on a hill called Durlston Head, overlooking Swanage. Durlston Castle was never a real castle for kings or queens. Instead, George Burt built it as a restaurant for his Durlston estate. He also ordered a giant Great Globe made of limestone. It weighs 40 tons and is three metres wide! The globe has an 1880s map of the world carved onto it.
Unique Decorations
The paths around the Castle and Globe have special decorations. You'll see cast iron bollards from London. These were left in Swanage after being used to balance ships. The ships were carrying stone to London. Other cool things to spot include plaques with quotes. Some are from William Shakespeare and others from the Bible. There are also maps showing the English Channel and the United Kingdom. Plus, you can find interesting facts about nature!
Fun Activities and Facilities
Durlston Castle is more than just a historic building. It's now a busy Visitor Centre!
What Can You Find at the Castle?
Inside, you'll find toilets, a shop, and a cafe. There's also a gallery, a cinema room, and a fossil room. The Visitor Centre is open every day, except Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Events and Learning
Durlston hosts many exciting events. You can check their website for details: www.durlston.co.uk. Events include guided walks with rangers. There are also family activity trails and boat trips to see seabirds. You can even go stargazing! They also have arts and crafts and other fun events for kids. The Visitor Centre has a Belvedere and a Fine Foundation Gallery. These spaces often host art shows, performances, and even weddings. The Learning Centre has a classroom for hire. Schools, businesses, and community groups can use it. Rangers also lead "Discovery Sessions." These are great for teachers and students to learn outdoors.
Durlston for Everyone: Accessibility
Durlston Country Park works hard to be welcoming to everyone. In 2020, they won a Gold award from VisitEngland. This was for being excellent in "Accessible and Inclusive Tourism."
The park has spent a lot of money improving its footpaths. This makes them easier for everyone to use. You can walk along them or use off-road wheelchairs. Mobility scooters are also available to rent at the Visitor Centre. There's a special place called 'Everyone Needs a Shed'. It welcomes people of all ages and abilities. Here, you can meet new friends, learn new skills, and help out as a volunteer.
Awards and Special Designations
Durlston Country Park is a very special place. It has received many important awards and recognitions.
What Makes Durlston Special?
The park is listed as Grade II in the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. This means it's a historically important park. Most of the park is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Since 1997, it's been a Special Area of Conservation. This protects its important habitats and species. Most of the park is also a Site of Nature Conservation Importance.
In 1997, the Jurassic Coast (which Durlston is part of) became a World Heritage Site. This was because of its amazing geological importance. Durlston is also part of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It's also part of the Purbeck Heritage Coast. This area even has a Council of Europe Diploma for how well it's managed. In June 2008, Durlston became a National Nature Reserve. This was given by Natural England. It shows how important Durlston is for wildlife across the country. Durlston has also won the Green Flag Award. This award recognizes the high quality of its visitor facilities.
How to Get to Durlston
It's easy to visit Durlston Country Park!
Parking and Buses
The car parks have space for cars, motorbikes, coaches, and bicycles. If you're coming by bus, you can take the No. 40 from Poole or the No. 50 from Bournemouth. These buses arrive at Swanage Bus Station. From there, it's about a one-mile walk to Durlston Country Park.
Durlston Explorer Bus
The Durlston Explorer bus (D5) usually runs shuttle services. It goes from Swanage Bus Station every half hour. This service runs between May and September.
