The best family-friendly hikes and walks around Corfe Castle

The Parish Church of St Edward the Martyr sits prominently in the square at the heart of Corfe Castle village, Dorset. Granted Grade II* listed status, this historic Anglican church is named after the teenage Saxon King, Edward the Martyr, who was murdered nearby in 978 AD on the orders of his stepmother, Queen Alfthryth. Local folklore asserts that the church stands directly on the site of a blind woman's hovel where the king's body was initially concealed, miraculously restoring her sight upon its discovery. While the first stone church on the site was constructed during the 12th century and later expanded in the 13th century, the building has survived immense turmoil. During the English Civil War (1642–1646), Parliamentary troops besieged the nearby royal fortress and used the church to billet men and stable horses. The soldiers caused severe damage, using the masonry for target practice, burning parish records, and stripping lead from the roof to melt into musket balls. Musket shot marks are still visible on the stone walls today. Between 1859 and 1860, architect T.H. Wyatt oversaw a major Victorian reconstruction because the medieval walls were bulging severely. Apart from the majestic 15th-century West Tower built by the Beaufort family, the entire church was pulled down and rebuilt. Notable surviving interior treasures include a 15th-century font carved from local Purbeck Marble and ten intricately carved medieval roof bosses preserved over the sanctuary.

The Mary Baxter Memorial sits on the crest of Knowle Hill along the Purbeck Way. Erected by the Ramblers' Association, this unique hexagonal monument honors a dedicated Dorset conservationist (1919–1988). Its six foundational stones uniquely align with the six public footpaths that converge at this panoramic viewpoint.

The Old Town Hall in Corfe Castle, Dorset, is famous as the smallest town hall in England. Rebuilt around 1774 following a fire, its ground floor utilizes stone salvaged from the historic castle ruins. The tiny building features a 350-square-foot former council chamber on the first floor. Today, it is managed by the Corfe Castle Town Trust and houses a free local history museum on its ground floor.

The "Why" Behind the Hill Burt didn't just put it there because it looked nice. He dedicated it to his uncle and mentor, John Mowlem (another massive figure in Swanage history). But there was a practical side, too: A Landmark: It served as a waypoint for ships navigating the tricky waters around Old Harry Rocks. The View: Burt was obsessed with showing off the beauty of his hometown. By placing it on the ridge, he essentially gave people a reason to climb the hill and look down at the town he was helping to build. The Great Disappearing Act (WWII) If you look closely at the obelisk today, it looks remarkably "clean." That’s because the one you see now is a reconstruction. During World War II, the original stone obelisk was considered a "navigational hazard." The British military was worried that German pilots would use the tall, white stone pillar as a landmark to help them find their bearings for bombing raids on nearby Bournemouth or Poole. So, in 1941, they knocked it down. For decades, it lay in pieces in the grass. It wasn't until 1973 that the Encombe Estate and local residents gathered the resources to rebuild it (using a mix of the original stone and some fresh Purbeck masonry) to celebrate "Plant a Tree in '73"—though ironic, as there isn't a tree in sight on that windy ridge!

If you’ve been hiking those ridges, that lone stone pillar standing guard over Swanage has likely caught your eye. It’s officially known as the Ballard Down Obelisk (or the Burt Memorial), and the story behind it is a classic tale of Victorian pride, a bit of eccentricity, and some very literal "re-gifting." The "Stolen" Monument The obelisk wasn't originally built for the Purbeck Hills. It actually started its life in London. In the mid-1800s, it served as a monument to a man named James Thompson, standing near the entrance to the Vauxhall Bridge. However, when the bridge was being rebuilt in the late 19th century, the obelisk became an "obstruction" and was destined for the scrap heap. Enter George Burt: The Man Who Moved London Swanage looks the way it does today largely because of George Burt, a local businessman who ran a massive masonry firm in London. He had a habit of taking "architectural leftovers" from London and shipping them back to Swanage as ballast on his empty stone boats. When he saw the obelisk was going to be demolished in 1892, he stepped in. He didn't just save it; he dismantled it, shipped it down the coast, and hauled it all the way to the top of Ballard Down.

If the view from Studland Hill is a grand "reveal," the view from Rollington Hill is more of a slow, scenic immersion into the Purbeck countryside. While Studland Hill (part of the Nine Barrow Down ridge) looks at Swanage from the north/northeast, Rollington Hill sits a bit further west, closer to Corfe Castle. From here, you’re looking down the "barrel" of the valley toward the sea.

On June 15, 1945. A RAF Liberator JT985 flying to India crashed into a ridge in the Purbeck Hills shortly after takeoff from RAF Holmsley South, killing all 27 occupants (24 passengers, 3 crew) on board. The cause was likely the pilot flying too low in poor visibility.

- Built in **1830** as a folly by Reverend John Clavell, likely as an observatory or romantic coastal landmark. - Moved **25 meters inland** in 2008 to save it from cliff erosion—an engineering feat involving dismantling and rebuilding stone-by-stone. - Inspired writer **Thomas Hardy**, who featured it in his novel *The Well-Beloved*. - Now a unique **holiday rental** managed by the Landmark Trust, offering panoramic views of Kimmeridge Bay and the Jurassic Coast. - Its Tuscan-style design and mysterious history (no clear original purpose) add to its allure as a coastal curiosity.