Panorama showing the view north form Corfe Castle in Dorset over the Isle of Purbeck. Picture taken in September 2009.

Corfe Castle North View - Corfe Castle visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Corfe Castle North View' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Dorset.

Corfe Castle stands on top of a 62m high hill in a gap in the Purbeck Hills in Dorset rising above Corfe Castle village. This picture shows the commanding position the castle held with views far over the surrounding countryside. The hills on either side of the castle are actually higher, rising to about 103m. Called West Hill and East Hill they are clearly visible within this picture. On the top of each is an ancient tumulus. 'Corfe' means 'gap' in Saxon and this image shows how the area got its name.

Corfe Castle was built in the 11th Century, though the remains of Saxon 'Herringbone' brickwork in the walls of the Old Hall in the West Bailey indicate that older buildings stood here. It survived all attacks until it was betrayed by a garrison member during the English Civil War. Occupied at the time by Royalist forces commanded by Lady Mary Bankes, the castle was then blown up by Oliver Cromwell.

Today the ruins of Corfe Castle are owned by the National Trust and are a Grade I listed building. The site is open to the public, with entrance fees charged to non-members of the National Trust. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the area. Within the village is Corfe Model Village, another attraction, which shows how the village would have looked before the destruction of the castle.

From this viewpoint you can clearly see the viaduct bridge along which the steam train from Corfe to Swanage runs.

Corfe Castle
The Square,
Corfe Castle, Wareham,
Dorset BH20 5EZ
Phone: 01929 481294

Train: Steam train from Swanage.
Road: Corfe Castle lies on the A351, 5 miles west of Swanage and 4 miles south east of Wareham.