Corfe Castle one of nation's favourite views

It finished fourth in a National Trust online poll to find the top 10 most memorable sights in the country, ahead of iconic views including the White Cliffs of Dover and St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall.

Topping the list was the Aberglaslyn Pass in Snowdonia where the river Glaslyn cuts through the mountains on its journey to the Bay of Cardigan.

North Yorkshire’s Brimham Rocks was voted into second place while Borrowdale in Cumbria made up the top three.

Besides Corfe Castle, Dorset’s nominations included Old Harry Rocks, Lambert’s Castle and Golden Cap.

Maurice Flynn, the National Trust’s Wessex spokesman, said: “It’s no surprise that so many of the nominations nationally were of Dorset’s natural assets and it really shows just how fortunate we are to have such wonderful open spaces, coastline and rare countryside on our doorstep.”

But Portland historian Stuart Morris said one part of the county seems to have been overlooked in the survey.

He said: “I would have thought that the view of Chesil Beach and West Bay from Portland Heights really does take some beating.

“We may be prejudiced but people who visit this area look at that view and say ‘wow’.

“A lot of other publications have chosen it as the best view.”

Mr Morris said the view is his favourite because it always changes.

“The sky is always changing and there are some lovely sunsets there.

“You never get the same view for two hours running. But I couldn’t argue against Corfe Castle or some of the other views in Dorset – I think the variety here is what makes it such an attractive county.”

UK TOP TEN

The Aberglaslyn Pass (Snowdonia, Wales)

Brimham Rocks (Harrogate, North Yorkshire)

Borrowdale (Keswick, Cumbria)

Corfe Castle (Wareham, Dorset)

St Michael's Mount (Penzance, Cornwall)

Holywell Bay (Cornwall)

The White Cliffs of Dover (Dover, Kent)

Kintail & Morvich (Ross-shire Scotland)

Hardcastle Crags (Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire)

Oxburgh Hall (Kings Lynn, Norfolk)