Walk 9 - Corfe Castle

In many ways the most satisfying walk of all: a steady climb to the long ridge of Nine Barrow Down is rewarded by a gentle descent along the downland turf to Corfe, with engaging vistas of the Corfe valley and the approaching castle ruins. Two hours if you walk all the way, but you can avoid the rather tedious and car-plagued approach to Nine Barrow Down by getting a lift to near the golf club: from there it is only about 70 minutes. Enjoy the newly-restored train journey back to Swanage, or take a bus; from there another bus takes you to Knoll House. A brisk walker can set off after breakfast and be back for lunch; alternatively, on a clear day, with a picnic lunch on Nine Barrow Down, it makes a wonderful family outing.

Local Walks
Agglestone
Old Harry Rocks
Ballard Down
Swanage
Little Sea
Fishing Barrow
Rempstone Forest
Ower Quay
Corfe Castle

The first part of this walk is irritating: ascent of the Fishing Barrow route, followed by three-quarters of a mile along a narrow winding road with no provision for pedestrians and frequented by happy motorists who may or may not notice that you are there. There is a lot to be said for arranging transport for the first stage instead of doing it on foot.

If you do decide to walk the whole thing, take the first section of the Fishing Barrow route (Walk 6), to the point where the path emerges on to the golf course; take the left turn to the road and then turn right and start walking along it. There are no walkways, so be alert and walk on the right so as to face oncoming traffic. It is best to walk quite far out into the road to help drivers see you, and force them to give you a wide berth: you can step to the right as they approach. On bends to the right it can be safer to walk on the left for greater visibility. Continue past the golf club and the turning off to the left, to Swanage. A few hundred yards further on is a prominent gate on the left: this is the start of the ascent of Nine Barrows Down, and the place to aim for if you decide to do the first section by car. Go through the gate, and along the edge of the field until you reach a gate straight ahead that leads into the King's Wood. The path turns right, then rises gently before opening out on to the down; carry on diagonally left to the ridge. Another possibility is to take the 150 bus to the gap just before Ulwell Farm; the beginning of this alternative route is clearly signposted on the right, and it leads steadily up to the ridge.

The walk along the ridge, on springy turf, is sheer delight. After half a mile the Nine Barrows appear on the right - a fine place for a picnic. From here there is a steady, gentle descent, as the ruins of Corfe Castle gradually come into view. Continue down, veering slightly to the left past the intriguing radio mast, and then take the rather steep and stony bridleway down to the village. When it meets the road, continue straight on, under the arch of the Swanage railway, then left when finally you come to the main road. A road to the left leads to the station, where you can enquire about trains back to Swanage. If they’re not convenient, buses for Swanage (142, 143 or 144) leave from a stop immediately outside the cemetery in East Street, on the left. Either way, you can then get the 150 back to Knoll House, from the Swanage station/bus-terminus.