Where is it?
Some information to help you plan your travel. And some extra information for those of you spending a little time in the area before or after the event.
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Location
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Travel options
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Information
Where is it?
Wareham, Dorset, UK
Wareham is a pretty market town of Saxon origin. Situated between the Rivers Frome and Piddle, it's a popular destination for those who enjoy boating up the river.
Wareham is located just on the edge of Isle of Purbeck, an unspoilt paradise in south east Dorset. We call it an “Isle” because it is largely surrounded by sea except where it is bounded by the River Frome. The Purbeck Hills (“The Purbecks”) run across the area with Corfe Castle in the largest gap. We're lucky with a micro-climate which makes it one of the sunniest places in the country in spring and autumn!
Travel options
By car
Dorset is very accessible by car from all areas on the country. And once you’re here you can embrace our leisurely pace of life as there’s not a single motorway in the whole of Dorset!
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From the east: Dorset is primarily reached by the M3 and M27 and journey times from the M25 and the home counties are in the region of 2–2.5 hours.
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From the west: We're well served by the M5 from Bristol, ideal for travellers from the North and Wales. ​
By train
Our office is a 10-15 min walk from Wareham station (Wareham, Dorset, WRM) which is on the main line, 2 hours from London Waterloo.
Plan and book your train journey here
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Train tip: To ensure a bargain, the key is to start looking about 12 weeks before travelling. And, two singles often beat a return. Read more here about splitting your ticket making it even cheaper (it is still the same journey, learn more about it here!)
By plane
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Nearest airport is Bournemouth (45 minutes' drive time from us). You can fly to Bournemouth from: Alderney, Ayr, Dumfries, Glasgow, Guernsey, and Jersey, Leeds, and many European countries, click here for more information.
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A little further away we have Southampton Airport (SOU) which has a direct train connection to Wareham station (a comfortable 45 minute train journey). SOU boast one of the fastest plane to train connections in Europe, with only 99 steps from the main terminal to the station. Direct flights from Aberdeen, Alderney, Belfast, Cork, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Guernsey, Jersey, Manchester, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle. Many European countries also fly into Southampton, for more more information click here.
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​For our guest travelling further, London Heathrow (LHR) or London Gatwick (LGW) would probably be the best choices. When you search for your arrival airport, do a search for "All London Airports" and both will show up if available through your airline.
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Heathrow is approx. 2 hours away in car, 3 hours with train, and 4 hours with bus. See the different connection options Heathrow-Wareham here.
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Gatwick is approx. 2.15 hours away in car, 3 hours 20 min with train, and 4.5 hours with bus. See the different connection options Gatwick-Wareham here.
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About the local area
Purbeck - the Jurassic Coast
95 miles of coastline and 185 million years of history. The Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site is a site of outstanding international importance for Earth Science.
Walk along the South West Coast Path and pass Old Harry Rocks, Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door, go fossil hunting in Kimmeridge. Fancy a day at the beach? Enjoy Swanage’s Blue Flag sandy beach or the more rugged 4 mile stretch of sand at Studland National Nature Reserve. If nature is more your thing, Durlston Country Park is a perfect place to discover the area’s rich wildlife, as is Brownsea Island and Wareham Forest.
Experience the charm of Wareham, a historic market town in the stunning south coast county of Dorset, right by the picturesque river Frome. Don't miss out on the quintessential British delight of enjoying fish and chips on the quay! Just a short drive away, you can explore the Poole Harbour, complete with its lifeboat station and lots of restaurants. Hop on boat to Brownsea Island, a captivating nature reserve and the birthplace of scouting in the UK!
Adventure awaits with the iconic ruins of Corfe Castle, the breathtaking Lulworth Cove, and the incredible fossil-rich 'Jurassic Coast' stretching to Lyme Regis, all within easy reach.
Culture enthusiasts will love visiting the serene National Trust property "Cloud Hill," where you can discover Lawrence of Arabia's tranquil cottage and resting place.
If you're planning to explore the area around the event look at this article from The Telegraph, with some tips on local sites you might want to visit. Or this article with a Top 6 Must Visit list.
And contact the Purbeck Tourist Information centre who are very helpful.