On a warm and bright Sunday in April what better than a day out in Betty, our Bongo.
We set off for Swanage, a coastal town in the south east of Dorset, situated at the eastern end of the Isle of Purbeck.
The drive alone is always a pleasure, the rolling countryside stretches off either side of the road and the scents of spring fill the Bongo.
We meander through Corfe Castle, admiring the dramatic ruins on the hill which date back hundreds of years. The caste is owned by the National Trust and is well worth a visit if you get a chance.
We head on past the old stone cottages and back into the countryside. Swanage is a further 6 miles from Corfe Castle but the roads are clear and we soon spot the sandy beaches and glorious coastline.
As you come into Swanage along Victoria Avenue you will see the Main Beach Long Stay car park on your right.
Prices vary dramatically according to time of year - find out more:
You can pay using Phone and Pay so don't worry if you haven't got change.
Please note that you cannot camp or sleep in any of the council run car parks.
We chose to continue on into Swanage and instead park in the Broad Road Long Stay car park. It's up a slight hill and offers the most spectacular views so is well worth the slow amble up the hill when heading back to the car (or in our case Bongo).
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| View from the Broad Road Car Park |
We arrived in time for lunch and headed to Harry Ramsdens. Well it wouldn't be right to go to the seaside and have anything other than fish and chips.
There are several fish and chip shops to choose from and they were all busy.
We sat outside in the sunshine watching the world passing us by. The sun had brought out lots of visitors and the sea front was bustling.
There are lots of things to see and do in Swanage, including:
* The Steam Railway Swanage Railway website
* Swanage Museum Check Opening Times
* Sandy beach, parks and play areas
But we had other plans.... We had come to do a treasure trail! If you haven't heard of treasure trails they are a fun way to explore an area.
They are a series of clues and instructions that lead you on a journey around a town or area. You have to solve the clues by looking for certain things i.e. a date on a memorial plaque on a bench and by solving the clues you reveal the answer to the trail. The trails can be murder mysteries, spy missions or treasure hunts and the website will tell you how long the trail should take and how many miles of walking it will involve.
Currently they cost £6.99 and you print them off at home. If you want to find out more follow the link below:
Our treasure trail involved a mile and a half of walking and should have taken us 2 1/2 hours but that didn't include the time queueing for the afternoon ice cream (again you cannot go to the seaside and not get ice cream!).
The trail took us away from the sea front and around parts of Swanage we otherwise wouldn't have seen.
Luckily the trails also offer a text service so if you really can't solve a clue you can send a text and get the answer. You are only allowed 3 texts though!
Having completed the trail, with the help of all 3 texts, we headed back to the Bongo for a well earned cup of tea and to enjoy the view.
If you are heading to Swanage in your Bongo why not check out one of the local campsites...
I'll be visiting some soon so you can always check back for my reviews or why not sign up for email alerts...
Why not check out my You Tube Swanage Day Trip video as well :)
