Durlston Country Park

I feel others would get more from this place than I could but it was a lovely place with a great attention to detail. There’s not a whole lot here but enough for an hour or two.

Fab location, mostly accessible and fabulous/accommodating staff. I reserved a mobility scooter in advance and everything was ready upon arrival at site. They very helpfully allow blue badge owners to drive down a short hill to the main building entrance to be dropped off by a carer - that's well signposted in the car park.

Durlston was easy to find with signs through Swanage. Access is probably only by car, but apparently there is a car share scheme for anyone local and there are regular buses in the Summer. My aunty and her guide dog had a wonderful time as paths are flat and easy to follow, though being on the coast does mean some parts are quite steep - there are trampers available to hire for those who don't feel comfortable on foot. There were some lovely braille bird information plaques outside the café which was great for my aunt, it would be great to see more like this as its so hard to share the amazing views with someone who cannot see them. Durlston is full of stimulation, but there are some quiet spaces and it is super relaxing. The castle adds a lot of interest, it can be easy to get lost but there's always someone around to help. The food in the café us well worth a visit - I love the locally sourced menu and variety of eco-friendly take-away containers and you can refill your water bottle here.