Access For All

Durlston Castle

Our visitor centre at Durlston Castle, is situated 75m from the first car park on the left and linked by 'The Timeline' a shallow zigzagging path and is an ideal place to begin your visit. Friendly staff and volunteers are always on hand to help you make the most of your visit.

Wide doorways, and platform lifts throughout make the Castle easy to navigate. An induction loop is available along with large print copies of our leaflets and guides.

The Castle also has an accessible roof terrace, accessible toilets, shop and café-restaurant. All dogs, including guide dogs, are welcome in the Castle, Park and cafe.

For detailed information, have a look at our accessibility guide.

Why not watch this youtube video about visiting the Castle.

Tramper Hire

Two 'Tramper' off road mobility buggies are available to help you explore the park along four different routes. 

They require the ability to twist your wrist and enough upper body strength to steer (similar to a bike!). They are very easy and safe to drive and will allow you to see most of the Park. 

Our Trampers are part of the Countryside Mobility scheme (which provides insurance cover and gives access to Trampers across their network of 50+ beauty spots around the South West and Wales.

You can join on arrival for a small charge (choose from Annual (£15), 2 week ‘Taster’ (£5) or single use (£3) and to help cover the costs of providing this service donations are welcome.

After a 5 minute training session you are good to go!    

We recommend booking the Trampers before your visit and if you would have difficulty getting down to the Castle, do let us know as we can usually bring them up to the Car Park.

For more information on the scheme please follow the link above.

• Video: The Tramper

We also have a 'Trekinetic' off-road manual wheelchair, which can be used outside, especially suitable along the Woodland Trail. It is most suitable for wheelchair users with good upper body strength who want a more energetic experience!  

In addition we a have a Indoor Wheelchair available for use to help around the Castle

Exploring the Park 

There are many paths at Durlston, covering a wide range of terrain. The landscape of the Park means some routes can be more challenging than others; however we are confident there is a route available to suit all levels of ability.

We have 4 way-marked trails around the Park, each clearly signposted, with information leaflets and maps available from the Castle.  Not all the routes are suitable for mobility buggies, scooters or trampers.

The Clifftop Trail

This 1 km trail takes you along Durlston's cliff-tops past our seabird colonies, the Dolphin Watch hut and the Great Globe. The path is mainly compacted limestone chips and is uneven in places. Great for sea views, the trail is one of our more challenging routes with some hills and one very steep section of the path. There are plenty of places to sit and no gates or stiles on this trail.

The Woodland Trail

The Woodland Trail is one of Durlston's more accessible routes. Around 1 km in length it has both tarmac, woodchip and compacted limestone paths. This gently sloping trail, with plenty of benches takes in the wildflower-filled Long Meadow, the tranquil glades of the woodland and views of Durlston Bay. There is one bridle-gate on this trail. There are plenty of seats along the trail. This is an ideal short route for families. Explorers Rucksacks full of hands-on activities designed for this trail can be hired from the Castle.

The Wildlife Trail

This 2 km trail is our most cross-country route, taking you out across the downs and back through the beautiful wildflower meadows. The route is mainly along grassy paths, but takes in a section of tarmac road. Steep and uneven in places, the undulating path includes one steep hill. There are bridle gates, kissing gates and field gates along this trail.  There are no seats along this trail. This trail is ideal for spotting butterflies and wildflowers. (This route is not suitable for the Tramper)

The Lighthouse Walk

For those looking for a shorter route, this is a direct route to Anvil Point Lighthouse and back. This is an enjoyable tarmac path, ideal for a first foray on one of our Trampers, with a steady but long climb back up the hill to the Castle. Seating is limited. 

The Victorian Trail

Our longest route, 5 km in length, the Victorian Trail links Durlston to Swanage, taking you past many historic sights and monuments. We recommend travelling downhill from the Durlston end of the trail. There are a wide range of surfaces including pavements, tarmac path, compacted limestone chips and grass. There is one short, but steep section of uphill path when walking from the Durlston end of the trail and a long, steep downhill section over grassy paths. There is one bridle gate along this trail. (This route is not suitable for the Tramper)

South-west Coast Path

Following the South-west Coast Path from Durlston, westwards along the cliff tops, takes you out onto the Purbeck Wares. This is a beautiful section of coastline, boasting several sea quarries including the famous Dancing Ledge. Due to the nature of the terrain this is a very challenging walk including rocky and uneven paths, steps, steep inclines and several stiles. (From Tilly Whim westwards this route is not suitable for the Tramper)

Please note that weather conditions can make a big difference to the accessibility of some of the trails.