We recently drove an hour South to the Isle of Purbeck. I’m still amazed by the strong feeling I get when I’m en route to a new adventure. Its this that drives me and I want to share it all with you!

It’s not actually an island. It’s surrounded by sea on three sides. The RSPB, British army and the National Trust own most of the Isle of Perbeck.

Corfe Castle

Corfe Castle was built 1066 by William the Conqueror in 1650. It was blown up by the civil war from inside the castle. Whoever was in it let the Roundheads in and that was the end of that.

The Bankes family owned Corfe Castle for three and a half centuries, from the 17th century until 1982, when it was given to the National Trust. They also took over the whole of Studland and loads of land including countryside, coastline, farms, nature reserves and the mansion at Kingston Lacy.

The castle is made of local limestone, ‘beure,’ which is named after the French word for butter because it is a lovely, soft, and creamy buttery colour.

South Beach at Studland Bay

It is a Marine Protected Area (MPA) and home to lots of seagrass and important habitat for seahorses. The first pregnant male seahorse found here in 2005.

The sun is on our backs as I watch the millpond-calm water and listen to the soft late afternoon chatter. It’s quieter than Middle Beach, and you can hire paddleboards to discover the sheltered bay.

Middle Beach

You can hire paddle boards, kayaks, bathe in a beach hut.

Cafe with cakes

View of Isle of Wight and old Harry rocks

Sand seabed

Kayaking

Foraging trips

Banked Inn for outside beers and food in the best garden!

Rent from ‘forte’

Highs

South and Middle beach at Studland beach

Owls and young stags at dusk

Pub meet up with familiar faces

Swimming with Kiana at Studland

View of the castle from Radom Road

Lows

Putting the tent up alone after 1.5hr journey!

And 3 year old running around the campsite.

Itinerary

Absolutely, Kirsty — here’s a sample blog-style travel itinerary for the Isle of Purbeck, in the tone and rhythm of Island Spirit. Since I don’t currently have access to your photo library, you can easily drop the images in later using this layout as a base. If you’d like me to help you sort or caption the photos once uploaded, just say the word.

🌿 Salty Air & Wild Heartbeats: A Slow Adventure in the Isle of Purbeck

Here on the rugged, sun-brushed coast of Dorset, where chalk cliffs kiss the sea and heathland hums with life, lies the Isle of Purbeck. A place where time stretches out wide and warm like a picnic blanket. This is a week-long story of sea, fire, and foraging—an eco-adventure curated for those who crave connection: with the land, with the sea, and with the self.

🌊 

Day 1 – Arrival + Glamping Under the Stars

Arrive at your handpicked glamping site tucked between woodland and meadow. Think canvas bell tents, driftwood fire pits, and star-washed skies. You’ll be welcomed with a warm herbal tea and local produce basket—perfect for settling into your wild home.

Optional: Guided nature meditation at dusk beneath the hawthorn trees.

Stay: Camp Hartland or Burnbake Forest Lodges (eco pods)

Evening Tipple: Sip a local cider as the sun melts into the hills.

🌿 

Day 2 – Marine Volunteering Along the Jurassic Coast

Today, give back to the sea that gives us so much. Join a local marine conservation group for a day of shoreline surveying or beach cleaning. You’ll learn about seagrass meadows, marine mammals, and microplastics—becoming part of a living, breathing movement for change.

Hosted by: Local conservation groups such as Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve

Bring: Refillable bottle, gloves, open heart

📸 [Insert image of hands holding seaweed or volunteers on the beach]

🏄‍♀️ 

Day 3 – Paddleboarding at Middle Beach

Glide through glassy waters with only the rhythm of your paddle and the cormorants for company. Middle Beach is a gentle, cradling cove—ideal for beginners or soulful solo paddles alike. At low tide, the underwater world shimmers just beneath your board.

Optional: Private SUP session or sunrise paddle

Refuel: Coffee and crab sandwich at Middle Beach Café

📸 [Insert SUP photos here]

🌺 

Day 4 – The Square and Compass + Coastal Hike

Follow the clifftop paths to Worth Matravers and make your way to the legendary Square and Compass pub—part time warp, part music hall. Fossils in the walls, local cider on tap, and maybe a poet or two by the fire.

Walk: Durlston Country Park to Dancing Ledge, then inland to Worth Matravers

Try: The steak pasty or curried lentil pie

📸 [Insert image of pub exterior or coastal trail]

🌾 

Day 5 – Foraging + Kayaking Adventure

Today’s a feast for the senses. Paddle through calm estuaries or shallow coastlines, guided by an expert forager who’ll help you spot edible seaweeds, salt marsh herbs, and shoreline treasures. We end with a fire-cooked meal made from the day’s wild harvest.

With: Local forager & kayak guide

Bonus: Stories about ancient plant uses and wild medicine

📸 [Insert close-up foraging shots or kayak views]

☀️ 

Day 6 – South Beach Slow Day + Pub Afternoon

South Beach in Studland is a gentle crescent of golden sand and clear water—perfect for a beach day. Swim, nap, read, repeat. Then wander up to The Bankes Arms, a stone-built pub with views across the bay and a mighty local ale selection.

Lunch: Local seafood and a pint in the garden

Evening: Optional sunset dip or short coastal walk

📸 [Insert photos of South Beach and pub garden]

💚 

Day 7 – Reflection + Departure

Slow morning. Brew a pot of wild nettle tea. Journal. Breathe deep. Maybe a final walk under the whispering pines or a last paddle if tides are kind. You leave not just with sand in your shoes, but a pocketful of stories.

💼 Packing Tips:

• Reusable everything (bottle, cutlery, bag)
• Quick-dry swimwear and wetsuit
• Journal or sketchpad
• Beach shoes + waterproof dry bag
• Curiosity, reverence, and lightness

🌍 Travel Gently

This itinerary is crafted in partnership with nature. All experiences support local, independent businesses or conservation projects. Please tread lightly, buy mindfully, and carry out what you carry in.

Let me know if you’d like me to prepare this as a downloadable PDF or branded handout for Island Spirit guests. I can also help integrate your own photos into the design and layout.

29th May 2025
Kiana 3 yrs 2 weeks
Me 46.5

How many MPA’s are there?
Salt pig adventure farm
Newly surfaced roads
How many loop walks?
How many cycle boots
How many cycle boots without traffic?

Hi fellow intrepid curious and crazy travellers! I thought I’d share another of our fun weekend get aways to insure a thought, offer tips and get those discovery and risk taking juices flowing!

I’m addicted to the lightness, fulfilment and gratitude that comes with exploring with Kiana. She’s no doubt about it now a funny little travel companion! She’s just three years old and is finding herself in so many ways. She’s telling me she needs to go to the loo when in the car now as she’s in pants. That’s new as she still in a nappy on long journeys. She’ll take off to do her own thing. No far but still I found myself calling her name every 30 seconds as o out the tent up! What a racket! I found her hanging the pegs on a branch all in a row saying “that’s a good idea!” Then in the tent she took a fluffy tennis ball out of her toy bag and put it under her head to lean on just like Tony did last weekend on the beach! A delight.

1.5 hours drive from Frome including petrol and pees!
Camping at Corfe Castle
£35 per night!
Thursday, Friday and Saturday night
Three nights
Electric bike and trailer
Two man tent with eating area
Potty
Dry and fresh foids
Cool box
Private hedged camp pitch
Shop onsite
Cows behind the hedge!

Car full
Roads clear
Blue skies in Frome
Must in Purbeck
Drove through the weather front
14 degrees
Kiana excited and all over the place
Nervous she’s too the boiling pasta
Tent would go up first time
Should injured and achy
Eating by 8pm
Sleep by 10pm!
Kiana head on ball!
————-
30th
Waking to the birds
Slowly and
Kiana full of joy and excitement
Come outside mummy it’s soo beautiful
Deer grazing on the lawn

Chat with lisa and Mark
Chatted about small business
Competition £11 per might on pop up farm campsites
They can’t compete
Their facilities are better though and insurance.
They pay business rates and bills
Hard to continue
I’m unique weather system fast clouds

Corfe castle
built 1066 by William the Conqueror in 1650. It was blown up by the civil war from inside the castle. Whoever was in it let the roundheads in and that was the end of that .
The National Trust took over in 1982 and it was the biggest acquisition. They also took over the whole of Studland and loads of land with the castle.

After 3 1/2 centuries of ownership by the BankSP family, the castle was given to the National trust this incredibly generous gift included countryside coastline farms, nature reserves and the mansion at Kingston Lacy. Okay.

The Isle of Purbeck
is because it’s surrounded by sea on three sides . The RSPB army and the National Trust owned most of the Isle of Perbeck.

The castle is made of local the limestone which is named after the French for butter because it has a lovely soft and creamy colour battery colour .

South Beach at Studland Bay
Sun on our back
Quieter than middle beach Hire paddle
Sheltered
Marine protected area
Millpond calm
5 pm soft chatter
First male pregnancy seahorse found here in 2005

Middle beach
Hire paddle boards kayaks, bath in a beach hut.
Cafe with cakes
View of Isle of Wight and old Harry rocks
Sand seabed
Kayaking
Foraging trips
Banked Inn for outside beers and food in the best garden!
Rent from ‘forte’

Highs
South and middle beach at Studland beach
Owls and young stags at dusk
Pub meet up with familiar faces
Swimming with Kiana at Studland
View of the castle from Radom Road
Lows
Putting the tent up alone after 1.5hr journey
And 3 year old running around the campsite.

Comments about Kiana
I don’t change much in my life for her she does what I. We have adventures together as I would be if I were alone and I suppose that has allowed her lots of experiences to chat and grey confident in the outdoor world.