A HISTORIC and scenic Dorset location has been voted as having one of the best winter walks in the UK.
A study carried out by Holiday Cottages sought to find the five best winter walks across the UK, comparing its scenery, views and areas to explore.
Corfe Castle, which is a thousand-year-old site, came second on the list and joined other popular sites including The South Loch Ness Trail in Scotland, Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire and Blakeney Freshes in Norfolk.
Managed by National Trust, the historic castle is currently closed during the second national lockdown but its car park, takeaway café and toilets at Castle View will remain open.
Government guidance states that outdoor parks and spaces remain open for daily exercise but people must adhere to social distancing measures and respect the local environment and safety of local residents.
In normal times, families and tourists would flock to the Dorset beauty spot to enjoy its walks, learn about its history and take in the views of the Dorset coast.
Corfe Castle ruins are one of Britain's most iconic and evocative survivors of the English Civil War, partially demolished in 1646 by the Parliamentarians, and sit upon a hill of the beautiful village with the same name.
Shannon Keary, campaigns manager at Holiday Cottages said: “The National Trust’s Corfe Castle is one of Britain’s most iconic landmarks and survivors of the English Civil War and is one of the UK’s most photographed sites.
“The beauty of this walk is that it can be adapted depending on how short, or long, you want your walk to be.
“If you want a short walk, walk around the village and up to the castle, but if you’re after something a little longer, walk from Corfe Castle Square to Kimmeridge Bay on the South West Coast Path.
"Either way, this is a special walk to enjoy.”
The gardens feature a model village, which shows what the Castle and village would have looked like before its destruction by Cromwell’s troops in 1646.
Other attractions in the gardens include giant games, a croquet lawn, fossil corner, an enchanted fairy garden, wildlife garden, and a terrace for refreshments with sweeping views of the surrounding hills and castle.
Got a Dorset story you would like me to share or investigate? Contact me at email michael.taylor@newsquest.co.uk.
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