Weymouth/Swanage/Kimmeridge help needed

[ThreeGuesses]

We are staying in Weymouth for a week in May, and I would like to drive to Swanage, take 2yr old dd on the steam traim, visit Kimmeridge and dh would also like to visit the beer festival at Harman's Cross Station.

Is this possible in one day?

Should we try to park in Swanange or get on the Norden park and ride. If we do the park and ride would we still be able to visit Kimmeridge the same day?

Advice very gratefully recieved

[ThreeGuesses]

bump

[ThreeGuesses]

anyone know anything about this area?

[WorzselMummage]

It sounds doable

I love Weymouth. Me and my mum take the kids for a few days every year. You'll have a fab time.

[ThreeGuesses]

Well I was thinking

Beach and fossil hunting in the morning (Kimmeridge)

Lunch and a stroll in the afternoon (swanage)

Beer festival (and hopefully some hot food) early evening.

Does this sound a lot?

[WorzselMummage]

Sounds perfect

[lisasimpson]

what time of year are you going? we were in Swanage for the carnival week last year and parking was a nightmare, but other times should be fine, there are plenty of car parks.

[ThreeGuesses]

We are going in May lisasimpson, not sure when the carnival is

[IsItMeOr]

I love Swanage .

I would say get the train from Norden because then you don't have to pay for parking iirc, whereas you will in Swanage.

If you like chocolate, I would strongly recommend that your stroll in Swanage take in this place. Although I can't see it mentioned on the website, they have a cafe now.

For a 2yo, I wonder if Studland Bay might be a better beach - it is long, wide and sandy, and there's a lovely National Trust cafe if you go to the farthest Car Park. Is DD really going to be that bothered by fossils yet? Studland is very handy for Swanage.

It's a gorgeous part of the world - sure you'll have a lovely time .

[IsItMeOr]

Ooh, just found this bit on the railway's own website. Norden sounds best place for parking.

I also love Corfe Castle, and if I were going for a walk, personally I would prefer to wander around there (small, quaint village) and up to the top of the castle, have lunch in the great National Trust tearooms, rather than around Swanage (pretty average, not particularly attractive small town). Just a thought!

[ThreeGuesses]

I was hoping dd would see crabs and things in the rock pools in Kimmeridge IsItMeOr, do you think that's likely?

Do you know if you park in Norden and pay the prk and ride fee you can get on and off the train as much as you like?

Chococo looks fab! Thanks for showing me that, a definte stop off

[ThreeGuesses]

x posts!

Corfe castle does look lovely and I'm sure dd could let off a lot of steam there!

Still not sure if we can jump on and off the train as we like. I hope so!

[WorzselMummage]

If you geta crab line you can catch them from Weymouth harbour.

Well usually use smokey bacon

[ThreeGuesses]

Where can you get a crab line from? DH would love that, let lone dd

[WorzselMummage]

Any old seaside crap shop ! They are about £1 and your need a bucket too.

We sit there for hours and eat chips and have a drink and watch the world go by.

May is a good month for crabbing. Too late in the season and they have all got wise

[ChippyMinton]

Park at Norden. IIRC you can get a return ticket or a hop-on-and-off type ticket.

Have fish & chip lunch in Swanage.

Check the timetable because the trains don't run every day and the timetable can be limited (although if the beer festival is on you should be alright).

[FiveGoMadInDorset]

Kimmeridge for rock pooling is great BUT you need to check tide times.

[ThreeGuesses]

@ wise crabs, love the idea of relaxing, watching the world go by.

Is that a rover ticket Chippy?

Where can I check tide times?

[FiveGoMadInDorset]

here you will need to look at swanage and mupe bay and take a time halfway between the two.

[lottiejenkins]

This place is interesting,,,,,,
abandoned Dorset village only available to vist when the firing range is closed!!

[ThreeGuesses]

Oh thats really sad lottie, intresting to see though I'd imagine

[ThreeGuesses]

Thanks for the link Five

[lottiejenkins]

Very interesting, the church is still as it was as is the school, the school still has blackboards and the childrens names on their pegs. The houses are just shells though!

[EccentricaGallumbits]

Tyneham is incredibly beautiful and a lovely half hour walk to the beach.

I think you aren't allowed to collect fossils at Kimmeridge becaue it's private land but I may be thinking of somewhere else.

Train from Norden, then hop offat Corfe, do the castle, then on the Swanage for icecream/beer/more beach.

[lottiejenkins]

better link