Out & about
Purbeck has a wealth of outdoor activities and sports on offer: sailing, windsurfing, scuba diving, rock climbing, hiking, off-road cycling and horse riding are just some. And because The Auberge is situated right in the centre of Swanage, you can enjoy some of the town’s pubs, bars and restaurants.
IN THE HEART OF PURBECK
SWANAGE IS A BEAUTIFUL coastal town, lying at the gateway to the Jurassic Coast World Heritage site, which stretches all the way to West Dorset. Oozing with ‘olde worlde’ charm (with its stone-built cottages, Victorian pier and busy stone quay) and its own unique friendliness, the town has plenty of places to eat, lots of ‘real’ pubs serving real beers and ciders, a bar or two and even a nightclub. As you might expect, the town has scores of galleries and art studios, surf wear shops and shops selling vintage curios.
There’s always something going on throughout the year: The Swanage Jazz Festival, the Swanage Folk Festival, Purbeck Valley Folk Festival, The Folkish Festival, no less than two Blues Festivals, a Reggae Festival, Purbeck Arts Weeks, Purbeck Pirate Festival, a Fish Festival, the Walking Festival, and of course, Swanage Carnival Week.
The town is the perfect base to explore the varied Purbeck landscape: sandy beaches, sheltered bays, harbours and marinas, soaring clifftops, abandoned quarries, rolling downs, coastal paths, woods and forests, heath and grassland, rivers and streams: it’s a veritable playground for all lovers of the great outdoors!
The Auberge is very central, right on the High Street, opposite the Anchor Inn. Parking is at the rear (turn first-left after The Auberge into Mount Pleasant Lane and then first-left again). There are also plenty of car parks in and around the centre of town and, out of season, you can always find on-street parking not too far away.
THE GREAT OUTDOORS!
The list of sports and activities available in Swanage and Purbeck is certainly too extensive to feature here, but here are some of the outdoor pursuits worth ticking off your bucket list.
| Climbing | The sea-cliffs & quarries provide a range of traditional & sports routes. | MORE INFOMORE INFO |
| Diving | It's just five minutes walk to the Pier, with its kit hire, air & boat charters. | MORE INFOMORE INFO |
| Boat Trips | Jurassic Coast or mackerel... or both! | MORE INFO |
| Sea Fishing | Let your skipper find the best spots. | MORE INFO |
| Sailing | Safe sailing in Swanage Bay. | MORE INFO |
| Sea Rowing | Out with a couple of oars... | MORE INFO |
| Watersports | Pedalo & kayak hire from the beach. | MORE INFO |
| Kite Surfing | A prescription for your wind... | MORE INFO |
| Walking | Walking's so popular in and around Swanage, there's even a Walking Festival in September... | MORE INFO |
| Cycling | Road & track: a cyclist's dream. | MORE INFO |
| Horseriding | Bridleway or beach: saddle up! | MORE INFO |
| Photography | Workshops with the UK's top photographers | MORE INFO |
| Birdwatching | Twitching in Durlston Country Park. | MORE INFO |
| More hostels | Plan your adventure around cheap & cheerful hostels. | MORE INFOMORE INFO |
WINING & DINING
As you might expect from a seaside town, Swanage has plenty of places to eat and drink. We’ve listed a few of our favourite places below but we’re always happy to advise on what places might suit you and your party.
| Restaurants | Pubs & Bars |
|---|---|
| The Canteen | The Black Swan |
| Tawny's Wine Bar | The Ship Inn |
| The Corner Restaurant | The Red Lion |
| The Cauldron Bistro | The Anchor Inn |
| The Old Brick Pizza Company | The White Swan |
| Lai Ho Oriental Restaurant | The White Horse |
| Gee White's (The Stone Quay) | The Crow's Nest |
| Chilled Red | The East Bar |
| The Fisherman's Catch | The Royal Oak |
| Masala Indian | The Scott Arms |
| The Square & Compass |