🏰 (Beginners) Hiking Corfe Castle, Studland Bay & Old Harry Rocks

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We’ve created a list of FAQs to help you.

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Come and join us on a hike to Corfe Castle – one of England's most majestic ruins! The first stone of Corfe Castle was laid more than 1,000 years ago and since then it has been at the centre of battles, plots and mysteries. It has been a treasury, military garrison, royal residence and family home. On this one-day hike, we'll discover this iconic medieval skyscraper standing 21 metres tall, on the top of a 55-metre-high hill. Corfe Castle dominates the skyline of the Purbecks for miles around and the views are simply breathtaking.

Our route will follow the Purbeck Way, taking in England’s first natural UNESCO World Heritage Site – the Jurassic Coast. Throughout the walk, we'll enjoy awe-inspiring panoramic views of the Purbeck Hills and the Dorset coast.

This hike is suitable for BEGINNERS – a great way to experience hiking before joining our more difficult trips! 🤩

HIKE HIGHLIGHTS

• The golden sands of Studland Bay and Knoll Beach – one of the most prominent nudist beaches in the UK
• One of the most famous landmarks on the South Coast – chalk formations, known as Old Harry Rocks. According to legend, the 65 million-year-old chalk outcrops were named Old Harry as a euphemism for the devil, who allegedly used to nap on the rocks. Another story tells of the pirate and smuggler, Harry Paye, who attacked many merchant ships as they left Poole Harbour, storing his spoils nearby.
• Wonderful panoramic views of the Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Coastline, the seaside towns of Poole and Swanage, and the Isle of Wight
• Ruins of the thousand-year-old Corfe Castle

DISTANCE & DIFFICULTY

Distance: 9 miles (14km).
Ascent: 350m.
Difficulty: Easy.

ITINERARY

07:45 meet outside Hotel Novotel London West, 1 Shortlands, W6 8DR (a five-minute walk from Hammersmith Station); 08:00 sharp departure; 11:00-16:00 hike from Studland Bay to Corfe Castle, past Old Harry Rocks; 16:00-17:00 drinks and refreshments in the picturesque village of Corfe Castle, free time to visit Corfe Castle (free for National Trust members); 17:00 departure; 20:00 London, Hammersmith.

TRANSPORT

As on most of our trips, we'll travel in a comfortable 16-seater minibus with air conditioning and Wi-Fi.

FOOD

We'll stop for a snack lunch halfway through the hike. Please bring a packed lunch with you.

SAFETY

This hike is led by an experienced, Outdoor First Aid qualified hike leader.

BOOKING

Please RSVP and pay by bank transfer to the account below, leaving your Meetup name and the name of the trip as a reference (e.g. John Corfe Castle):

Business Account Name: London Social Hiking
Sort Code: 20-17-20
Account Number: 63116514

We'll let you know by changing your status to ‘Paid’ as soon as the payment is cleared. You can check your status next to your name in the attendees list of the event. Please allow up to 48 hours for the payment to arrive.

THE PRICE INCLUDES

• Transport throughout the trip
• Experienced IAM/RoSPA qualified driver
• Professional event organisation
• Guiding by an experienced Hill and Moorland Leader
• Group first aid kit with qualified first aiders
• Admin fee
• 20% VAT

HOW TO CONTACT US

For all enquiries, please PM our admin (one of the hosts of the event) via Meetup. If you have any difficulties locating the starting point, or need help during the trip, please call Alexey on 07414020396. Please DO NOT contact our hike leaders during the week.

JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

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Facebook group link and Instagram

WHAT TO BRING

• Suitable hiking shoes with ankle support
• Waterproof and windproof jacket and trousers
• Gloves/hat/cap
• Packed lunch
• Water (min 1L)
• Walking poles (optional)
• Gaiters (optional)

That’s it – we'll take care of the rest, so just turn up and have a great day hiking! 🙂

You can check the refund policy here.