Durlston Country Park National Nature Reserve

Durlston Country Park National Nature Reserve
Durlston Country Park NNR
Lighthouse Road
Swanage
Dorset
BH19 2JL
England

Website

www.durlston.co.uk

E-mail

info@durlston.co.uk

Telephone

01929 424443

All information is drawn from or provided by the venues themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.

Durlston Country Park, National Nature Reserve and Castle, situated 1 mile from Swanage in Dorset, is a fabulous 280 acre countryside paradise, consisting of sea-cliffs, coastal limestone downland, haymeadows, hedgerows and woodland.

With stunning views, walking trails, the historic Great Globe, superb geology, fascinating wildlife there is always something different to see and do.

Durlston Castle features interactive exhibits for all the family about the wildlife and geology of Durlston and the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, while the Fine Foundation Gallery, within the Castle, host an everchanging series of art, craft, scientific or historical exhibtions and a varied programme of performance and other events.

Venue Type:

Garden, parklands or rural site

Opening hours

10.00am - 4.00 (1st Nov - Easter Holidays)
10.00am - 5.00 (Easter Holidays - 31st October)

Admission charges

N/A.

Getting there

By car or bike: From Swanage, follow the brown tourist information signs.

On foot: From Swanage town centre, follow the South West Coast Path or Victorian Trail signs

Bike racks are located in the car park nearest Durlston Castle

Additional info

An offroad wheelchair and Tramper electric buggies are available for less mobile visitors - to book or for more information, please call 01929 424443, visit www.durlston.co.uk or email info@durlston.co.uk

Exhibition details are listed below, you may need to scroll down to see them all.

Outline South West' & 'Postcards from the Path'

2 — 19 March 2015 *on now

An exhibition of artwork produced by Anita Reynolds whilst walking the South West Coast Path, along with pieces by four guest artists in response to the coastal path. During the exhibition there will be opportunities to take part in special art workshops with the five artists. Supported by Villages in Action

In the Fine Foundation Gallery: 10.30-4.00pm daily.

Suitable for

Any age

Admission

Free of Charge

Durlston Wedding Fair

22 March 2015 10:30am-3pm

Durlston Castle Wedding Fair. A great chance to explore this beautiful venue, meet the suppliers who can help with your big day and discuss your ideas with our Wedding Planner.

Fine Foundation Gallery

Suitable for

Any age

Events details are listed below. You may need to scroll down or click on headers to see them all. For events that don't have a specific date see the 'Resources' tab above.

Delinquent Dinosaurs and Fantastic Fossils!

2 April 2015 2-4pm

Family activity. Discover Durlston's prehistoric past, with games and activites.

Booking Essential!

Suitable for

Any age
Family friendly

Admission

£3.00.

Bird Sounds in Close Up!: Guided Walks

12 April 2015 10-11:30am

In Autumn: Using a directional microphone, join a Ranger to listen to some of the huge variety of migrants passing over Durlston as migration gets underway.

In Spring: Listen to Durlston's spring birdlife and more, using a directional microphone and find out how and why birds sing.

Booking essential. £3.

Suitable for

Any age

Admission

£3.00 per person.

Website

http://www.durlston.co.uk/events.aspx

Meet a Moth

21 March 2015 10:30-11:30am

Come along as we open last night's moth trap to enjoy the beauty and strangeness of these creatures of the night.

Meet at Durston Castle: Donations welcome.

Suitable for

Any age

Admission

£3.00 per person.

Website

http://www.durlston.co.uk/events.aspx

Go Wild at Durlston!

1 April 2015 11:30am-3pm
8 April 2015 11:30am-3pm

Family activities. Drop in to the Learning Centre any time between 11.30 and 3 to take part in craft activities, games or experiments about wildlife or geology. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Donations welcome.
Every Wednesday during the school holidays.
Meet at Learning Centre.

Suitable for

Family friendly
Any age

Admission

Free but Donations welcome.

Stargazing at Durlston

28 March 2015 7:30-10pm
22 April 2015 9-8:30pm

Join the Wessex Astronomical Society for a short talk and the chance to use telescopes to view the sky at night.

October: The Moon, galaxies, star clusters and the Autumn Constella'

November: The Moon, nebulae, galaxies and the Winter Constellations.

December: TBC

January: The Moon, Jupiter, Star clusters, Galaxies, Orion Nebula and the Winter Constellations.

February: The Moon, Jupiter, Orion Nebula, Galaxies and the Spring constellations.

March: The Moon, Jupiter, Star Clusters, Orion Nebula, Galaxies and the Spring constellations.

April: The Moon, Venus, Jupiter, Lyrid meteors and the Spring Constellations.

Meet at the Learning Centre.

Weather dependent - phone 01929 424443 on the day to confirm. £3.00 per person.

Suitable for

Any age

Admission

£3.00 per person.

Website

http://www.durlston.co.uk/events.aspx

‘Purbeck Footprints' Wildlife Photography Walk

19 April 2015 10:30am-12pm

Join wildlife photographer Julian Sawyer from 'Purbeck Footprints' and learn the basics of wildlife photography, fieldcraft and getting the best from your camera, in the beautiful setting of Durlston.

Meet at Learning Centre.

Booking essential.

Suitable for

Any age

Admission

£5.00

Website

http://www.durlston.co.uk/index.php?nid=141&id=4

Swanage Beach Clean

26 April 2015 2-4pm

Join the Durlston Rangers to help keep Swanage Beach beautiful. Gloves and bags provided. Meet outside Bull and Boat restaurant (north end of Swanage Beach).

N.B. March and April times TBC.

Suitable for

Any age

Website

http://www.durlston.co.uk/events.aspx

Monthly Bird Walks at Durlston

22 March 2015 10-11:30am

Join top birder Hamish Murray for guided bird walks

November to see what late migrant and resident birds can be found around the National Nature Reserve;

December for a gentle stroll to enjoy Durlston's winter bird life;

January to see what late migrant and resident birds can be found around the National Nature Reserve;

February for a stroll to look and listen for Durlston's birdlife;

March to enjoy the chorus of birdsong and look for newly arrived migrants.

Meet at the Castle at 10.00am: £3

Suitable for

Any age

Admission

All walks £3.00 per person.

Website

http://www.durlston.co.uk/Dorset-Bird-Week.aspx

Deep Freeze or Hothouse?': Understanding Climate Talk

8 March 2015 4:30-4pm

An illustrated talk with demonstrations by meteorologists Sylvia and Howard Oliver. Earth’s climate has changed many times in the past.How has this happened and how can wildlife respond to these changes?

In the Learning Centre

Admission

£3.00

Durlston's Coastal Landscape

15 March 2015 2-3:30pm

Join a Ranger for a stroll along the Coast Path, to discover how geology, coastal change, history, weather and wildlife combine to create this spectacular landscape

Meet at Durlston Castle

Suitable for

Any age

Admission

£3.00 per person.

Website

http://www.durlston.co.uk/events.aspx

50 Years, Man and Boy': The Artwork of Peter Rush

27 March — 20 April 2015

An exhibition of the witty, beautiful and unique work of Peter Rush including book illustrations, oil paintings, TV captions, puppets and wire and paper sculptures. Ongoing live demonstration of sky and seascape painting.

Also workshops for children. www.peterrushart.co.uk

In the Fine Foundation Gallery

Daily 10.30-4.00pm

Suitable for

Any age

A Wildlife Wander with Widget

9 April 2015 2-3:30pm

Join Park Dog Widget and Katie the Ranger to sniff out Durlston's wildlife and get a dog's eye view of the Park.

Booking essential.

Meet at the Castle.