Durlston Country Park has many features of interest. One of the Rangers, Robin Ploughman, takes through the parks history and shows us some of the spectacular wildlife and geology.
One of the towns most profitable business men, George Burt, built the castle, now part of Durlston Country Park, upon the headland overlooking Swanage Bay.
The Tilly Whim caves at Durlston were the result of quarrying of the stone. They are no longer open to the public as they are unsafe and liable to collapse.
The Durlston Globe is a famous feature of Dulston Country Park. It was carved from Portland Limestone in 1887, and consists of 11 segments, weighing around 40 tonnes.
The Lighthouse here is automated and is one of many around the country managed by Trinity House.
Durlston Country Park is a special wildlife habitat for many different species of birds, insects and flowers.
ButterfliesThe hay meadows are managed specifically to encourage a wide diversity of plants, which in turn attract a host butterflies.
The chalk Downland is ideally suited to many different flowers
InsectsDuring the summer, the hay meadows come alive with colour and life. Over 300 different insects have been recorded at Durlston.
One of the more unusual species found here is the glowworm. Not really a worm, but a beetle, these can be found by taking a walk around the park after dark during the summer.
The Durlston Marine Project is a voluntary marine nature reserve that stretches from South Haven Point at the entrance to Poole Harbour, 25 Km along the coast to St. Aldhelms Head. The project monitors the varied marine life that inhabits these waters.
Many people visit Durlston with the hope of seeing the dolphins which frequent the waters off Purbeck. Dr. Owens of the Durlston Marine Project explains about the importance of the Dolphin Watch Volunteers who watch the seas day by day to monitor the dolphin numbers and visits.
Dr. Owens also tells us about a rare reef building worm called Sabellaria spinulosa. It was only discovered just recently, building a huge colony in Swanage Bay, providing a habitat for other marine creatures.
There are many ways to explore the coastline around Swanage, one of the best ways to get close to the seabirds and coastal geology is by boat.
Just off the cliffs of Durlston lies the remains of the S.S. Kyarra, a steam powered passenger and cargo ship which was sunk by UB 57 as she steamed up the channel towards Plymouth in 1918. Her holds were packed full of luxury items bound for Australia, and it is a piece of her cargo that many divers look for when they explore the wreck.
The Kyarra provides a large artificial reef in which many different sea creatures live.
