The Isle of Purbeck covers an area of 60 square miles. It is not in fact an Island at all but ‘Islanders’ like to think that it should be and guard the description with fervour.

Tyneham 

Stating at the south west is the abandoned village of Tyneham, cleared of its occupants during the second world war to facilitate training for troops. To this day the military still have possession of the valley and surrounding area as a live firing range. The roads leading to the former village are open when live firing is not taking place and during the entire month of August.  

Some of the buildings still remain in various states of  dis-repair and the church is still used. The valley is very beautiful with some good walks all around. A path leads to Warbarrow Bay and the ‘Tout’ which has become quite popular with walkers and beachgoers alike. The beach is made up of large stones and pebbles leading steeply into the water. The water does tend to be a little cooler here and many bathers make use of wet suits. There is good snorkling and the anchorage is lovely. The shoreline can become cluttered with debris washed up and unfortunately from visitors who leave their litter. A volunteer group do however collect the litter at least once in the year.

 Local fishermen used to live right on the edge of the bay and the remains of their stone cottages can still be seen. The fishermen would land the catch and take it to Wareham by cart, an exhausting journey.   

Kimmeridge 

Rock pools are left at low water which will keep children occupied for many hours! The waters are clear and great for snorkling. Nearby is the Nodding Donkey oil well, the largest on-shore well in the UK. There are good walks from Kimmeridge, one has to be mindful of range closures for the walks to the west from the beach. The village itself does have a Post Office/stores/Café which does a great trade in the summer.   

 
Rock pools form at low water which will keep children occupied for many hours! The waters are clear and great for snorkling. Nearby is the Nodding Donkey oil well, the largest on-shore well in the UK.   There are good walks from Kimmeridge, one has to be mindful of range closures for the walks to the west from the beach.  

The village itself does have a Post Office/stores/Café which does a great trade in the summer.

Acton

A small hamlet just to the west of Langton Matravers with a working quarry. Many of the stone cottages were the homes of former quarry workers and are situated in wild and twisty lanes  where the cottages are butted together. There are no immediate local facilities but you are not far from the town of Swanage. Many of the cottages are now holiday homes.