I recently had the chance to indulge my inner Duchess with a day out in beautiful Dorset at Lulworth Castle.
Nestled along the dramatic Jurassic coast on the Lulworth Estate sits this impressive 17th century castle.
Expansive manicured grounds and views out to the ocean are the stuff of dreams. It’s easy to lose a few fairy tale hours here, which is precisely what we did on a recent, gloriously sunny June afternoon.
Now I know I’m a little biased, being born and raised in this terrific south coast county, but I’m sure you’ll agree she’s a rare and wild beauty!
Lulworth is a large country estate on the dramatic jurassic coast with a thriving village, numerous places to eat drink and be entertained, long coastal walking paths and of course the famous Lulworth Cove.
The foundations of the castle were laid in 1588 and it was finally completed in 1609. Originally built as a hunting lodge for the nobility, the castle was eventually bought by Humphrey Weld in 1641. The Castle became the family home and has remained in the Weld family ever since. 5 Centuries and only one previous owner!
We whiled away several hours exploring the inside of he castle, ascending the south tower and enjoying the vast park. It is a considerable journey to the top of the tower, but there are ample opportunities to stop and take in the views.
Very sadly in 1929 the castle was almost destroyed entirely by a fire, the grandeur of the interior was lost but it’s story has been beautifully preserved. If you take the tour, which I would recommend you do, you can read all about the castle’s history and see images of the magnificent 17th and 18th Century interior, captured in photographs and artefacts saved from the fire.
We more or less had the castle to ourselves as we visited on a weekday. I imagine that weekends and school holidays are much busier, however, there is plenty of open space for everyone and lots for the little people to enjoy too. I can’t imagine it could ever feel crowded here.
The castle has a small but well stocked tea room. You can enjoy an afternoon tea or a savoury snack. Nothing fancy but perfectly ample and mostly locally sourced.
The castle grounds also boast 2 churches, one of which is a Roman Catholic chapel. This is especially beautiful and rare and is reputed to be one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in Dorset. Before the reformation, catholic churches were banned, so this pretty chapel, hidden in plain sight, is particularly lovely to see in its historical and preserved glory. Sadly no photo’s allowed, so you’ll have to go and take a look for yourselves.
St Andrews Church also sits proudly in the park and boasts an abundant profusion of roses in the churchyard. The scent is wonderful and heady, particularly on an early summers evening.
It was a perfect summers day out. If you are looking for somewhere to while away the summer days, do pay Lulworth a visit.It costs just £6 per adult and is easily one of the nicest days out for all.
Enjoy
Amellia Mae
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