Purbeck

Tucked away in the south eastern corner of Dorset, Purbeck is 60 square miles of land that is bounded on almost all sides by water. Although not an island in the strict meaning of the word, it has the sense of a tiny islet.

The name Purbeck reputedly translates from Saxon as 'beak-shaped ridge which is home to bittern or snipe'. The beak-shaped ridge refers to the Purbeck Hills.

Once you arrive on Purbeck, take the short ferry ride from Sandbanks. On arrival five minutes later, you feel as if you have stepped back in time to a period when life were a little gentler. Purbeck an absolute pleasure - take your time to explore.

Corfe Castle

The idyllic village of Corfe Castle is the perfect place to stop for lunch. Look for the Fox Inn, right by the entrance to the Medieval castle, where you can try out a traditional ale and some local fare. It is a beer garden overlooking the castle, and is one of the best vantage points from which to take in this historic edifice.

Run by English Heritage, Corfe Castle is steeped in history. There has been a fortress on the site since the ninth century, and the remains date back to the eleventh century.

The Swanage Railway

The delightful Steam Heritage Railway provides a train services between Norden Park and Ride, Corfe Castle, and Swanage. Trains operate weekends throughout the year and weekdays from Easter to October. Evening services run regularly from Easter to September. Dining trains throughout the year.

The Square and Compass pub

Little has changed at the Square and Compass (Telephone: 01929 439229) since the Newman family took over the pub in 1907. Fortunately for visitors, there is now a roof on the toilets and electricity. This pub is a living gem, which offers the timeless qualities of a classic rural English pub in a stunning location - a decent pint, simple food, and wonderful company. The pub is located in Worth Mattravers, just ten minutes drive from Corfe Castle and fifteen minutes from the Isle of Purbeck Golf Club.

Chartwell

The former home of Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill (who led Great Britain to victory during World War Two) and his spiritual home for over 40 years, Chartwell is today one of the finest estates and gardens in Southern England. The house is open to the public, where you can see the rooms as they were in Churchill's day, right down to the daily papers and his famous cigars. The key moments from his life are beautifully maintained and displayed in photographs and books spanning Churchill's colorful career. There is a museum and exhibit rooms with impressive displays, sound recordings, and a superb collection of Churchill's mementoes and uniforms.

However, the main attraction is the stunning garden with its lakes, rose gardens and famous water garden, where Churchill would sit for hours and feed his Golden Orfes (koi pond fish). The original garden walls, built by Churchill's own hands, remain today.

More information:

National Trust: Chartwell

Sandwich, Kent

The medieval town of Sandwich is a superb place to spend a day exploring. Famous for being the home of the sandwich, Sandwich has its share of excellent museums too.

The word 'sandwich' for an item of food was possibly named after John Montagu who was the Fourth Earl of Sandwich. It is said that in around1762 he asked for meat to be served between slices of bread to avoid interrupting a gambling game. This story may have been rumor or adverse propaganda spread about by his rivals.

Hereditary English titles can be confusing. The family of the Earls of Sandwich has no real connection to the town itself, only the title. The First Earl of Sandwich, Edward Montagu, originally intended to take the title of the Earl of Portsmouth. This may have been changed as a compliment to the town of Sandwich, because the fleet he was commanding in 1660 was lying off Sandwich before it sailed to bring back Charles II to England. It is generally thought that the word 'sandwich' has no connection with the town, only with John Montagu. A sandwich could just as easily have been called a 'portsmouth.'