Getting Around

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Leave the car and enjoy the sights
Travel by train in Dorset

Search Travel & Tours

City Cruises Poole

City Cruises Poole has now re-opened. Cruises operate daily from Poole Quay and Swanage Pier (1st…

Purbeck Breezer

Hop on board a scenic Purbeck Breezer bus to see dazzling white chalk cliffs, heathlands that…

Bluebird Coach Hire, Day Trips and Holidays

Coach hire, chauffeured tours, day trips and adventures, UK and European coach holidays. We operate…

South Western Railway

South Western Railway is a joint venture between FirstGroup and MTR Europe, two of the world's…

Travel around our beautiful county by bus, train, boat, bike or car. Consider leaving your car at your accommodation and make the journey by public transport part of your day out - sit back, enjoy the view and let someone else do the driving!

Whichever way you choose to travel, make sure you enjoy Dorset’s beautiful coast and countryside to the full.

If you are travelling by car, Travel Dorset gives the latest traffic information. If you choose to travel by bus or train, Traveline South West can give you various options and timetables.

Travelling by bus or coach

It's really easy to travel around Dorset by bus or National Express coach. Travelling into the larger towns for shopping or entertainment can be stress free when you catch one of the bus services connecting all the main towns in Dorset. Let Traveline South West help plan your journey from A to B.

For National Express coaches you will need to buy your ticket in advance, but for other local bus services you can buy your ticket from the driver on the day of travel and you do not need the exact money. Each bus company offers a range of one-way, return, day, week, month or group tickets. You can now use contactless payment on Purbeck Breezer, More Buses and First Dorset buses (including Jurassic Coaster), up to a maximum of £30, so you no longer need to pay with cash.

Travelling across Christchurch, Bournemouth and Poole? Buy a Getting About Ticket for a whole day of travel.

The Jurassic Coaster and Purbeck Breezer buses are ideal for walkers who want to walk a section of the South West Coast Path, as you have the option of travelling out or back by bus. Plus you can sit on the top deck and get great views of our coast and countryside!

Want to use your bus pass? Find out when and how you can use it on Dorset buses.

Travelling by train

You are never far from a railway station in Dorset as there are 23 stations on the national rail network. This includes: 9 Stations on the Great Western Railway routes including Sherborne and Gillingham and 14 stations on the South Western Railway routes including Christchurch, Bournemouth, Poole, Dorchester, Wareham and Weymouth.

You can buy tickets online, by telephone and at railway station ticket offices or self-service machines on station platforms. A variety of one-way, return, day, season and group tickets are available. You might also save money on the entrance to attractions by using the Days Out Guide 2 for 1 ticket.

Visit the National Rail website for more information and to get live train departure times.

Need to get a bus from the railway station to your final destination? Purchase a PlusBus ticket and save money.

Vintage train travel

The Swanage Railway is the picture postcard branch-line to the seaside. Steam and diesel trains weave their way through the beautiful Isle of Purbeck countryside for 6 miles from Norden Station, passing the magnificent ruins of Corfe Castle to the sandy beach of Swanage - the eastern gateway to the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.

Stations are located at Norden, Corfe Castle, Harmans Cross, Herston Halt and Swanage.

Travelling by boat

Avoid the traffic and travel by sea on a boat tour or ferry. Boat trips can be enjoyed as an alternative to road or rail travel and can be caught from Poole, Wareham, Swanage, Lulworth Cove, Weymouth and West Bay. Boats can also be chartered for touring along the coast.

Why not take a day trip to the beautiful Channel Islands or France with Condor Ferries from Poole or take advantage of the many boat trips along the Jurassic Coast? You can even combine boat and bus or boat and train travel with City Cruises and save money!

Travelling by bicycle

Discover Dorset's spectacular coast and countryside by using our cycle networks whilst you are here.

There are a mixture of long and short distance routes, plus signposted and circular trails available.

Travelling by road

Plan your days out with the help of Travel Dorset, which offers information and advice about parking, roadworks and live travel alerts.

Look out for park and ride schemes in Weymouth and Poole to help take the hassle out of your trip to town centres or festivals.

Taxis are available from train stations and airports as well as towns and villages.

Electric Car Charging Points can be found throughout Dorset in the towns of Blandford Forum, Bournemouth, Bridport, Christchurch, Dorchester, Gillingham, Lyme Regis, Poole, Sherborne, Swanage, Weymouth and Wimborne Minster. Some are located in car parks, near shopping areas, at holiday accommodation or you can find other charger points on the Zap Map website or CarWow website.

Want to go car free?

Let us tempt you into discovering car free days with some exciting itineraries for you to explore the area. Leave your car behind, let someone else do the navigating and take the stress out of travelling. And when you travel by boat, open top bus or steam train, it becomes part of your day out - fun for all the family.

Number of results:

Number of results: 37

, currently showing 1 to 20.

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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
375 reviews
City Cruises Poole

Type

Type:

Boat Trips & Tours

Poole

City Cruises Poole has now re-opened. Cruises operate daily from Poole Quay and Swanage Pier (1st April - 31st October 2020). We offer a wide selection of cruises along the Jurassic coast, trips to the Victorian resort at Swanage and the Steam…

Price Free to £47.00 Per Ticket
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
96 reviews
Purbeck Breezer

Type

Type:

Bus and Coach

POOLE
Awards
- Visit Britain We're Good to Go 2020
Hop on board a scenic Purbeck Breezer bus to see dazzling white chalk cliffs, heathlands that stretch to the horizon, picturesque villages, a charming seaside resort that still has steam trains, and a romantic castle perched high on a hill. The…
Bluebird Coach Hire, Day Trips and Holidays

Type

Type:

Bus and Coach

WEYMOUTH
Awards
- Visit Britain We're Good to Go 2020
Coach hire, chauffeured tours, day trips and adventures, UK and European coach holidays. We operate a high quality fleet ranging from 8 to 57 seats.
South Western Railway

Type

Type:

Rail

London

South Western Railway is a joint venture between FirstGroup and MTR Europe, two of the world's leading train companies. With over 235 million passenger journeys a year, the South Western franchise covers urban, suburban, regional and long-distance…
Purbeck Park

Type

Type:

Car Park

CORFE CASTLE

The car park and toilets at Purbeck Park are now open.
Just off the A351 north of Corfe Castle, Norden Car Park has space to park 350 vehicles. If travelling to Corfe Castle or Swanage, using the Car Park is the easiest way to avoid traffic…

Price Free to £5.00 Per Ticket
Harman's Cross Railway Station

Type

Type:

Rail

Harman's Cross, SWANAGE

The station is located in a tranquil spot, within unspoilt rolling Dorset countryside which has inspired artists and writers for generations, including Thomas Hardy and Enid Blyton. Many of Swanage Railway's special events are hosted at Harman’s…
Condor Ferries

Type

Type:

Boat Trips & Tours

POOLE

*LATEST UPDATE* Day trips to Guernsey are currently suspended. Some ferries are operating with restrictions in place - visit their website for the latest information. Condor Ferries operate vehicle and foot passenger ferries from St Malo in France…

Price £24.00 to £34.00 Per Ticket
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
2980 reviews
Swanage Railway

Type

Type:

Rail

SWANAGE

Swanage Railway has now re-opened. Gift Cards are now available to purchase from Swanage Railway to be redeemed against any Swanage Railway product - including train tickets, dining trains and even driver experiences. The gift cards can be purchased…

Price Free to £37.00 Per Ticket
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
78 reviews
Greenslade Pleasure Boats

Type

Type:

Boat Trips & Tours

Poole Quay, POOLE

*2020 Poole Harbour Cruises now open & available*. Every day at 11am, 12.30pm & 2pm. 2 metre distance will be in place, face covering will be required. Daily trips running from March – October.

Price £6.00 to £13.00 Per Ticket
North Dorset Travel

Type

Type:

Bus and Coach

Holton Heath, POOLE
Awards
- Visit Britain We're Good to Go 2020
North Dorset Travel: Dorset’s longest established coach operator, serving the County since 1921! We operate a fleet modern coaches which include onboard WiFi, USB charging and Air Conditioning.
Corfe Castle Railway Station

Type

Type:

Rail

CORFE CASTLE

From Corfe Castle Station, catch a Swanage Railway train to Norden, Harman's Cross, Herston Halt or Swanage. The station building dates from the opening of the line in 1885, but following closure and narrowly avoiding demolition in the 1970’s has…
Studland - Sandbanks Ferry

Type

Type:

Boat Trips & Tours

STUDLAND

The Sandbanks Ferry is now back in service and is running to the usual timetable further information, and latest updates, can be found on the ferry’s website.
www.sandbanksferry.co.uk
Herston Halt Railway Station

Type

Type:

Rail

Herston, SWANAGE

Herston Halt is a request stop. Like many halts across the country, trains only stop on request. Travelling passengers should give early notice to the Guard on their train that they wish to alight here and passengers waiting for a train on the…
Swanage Railway Station

Type

Type:

Rail

SWANAGE

Catch the Swanage Railway train from here to Herston, Harmans Cross, Corfe Castle or Norden. Swanage Station is the seaside terminus of the Swanage Railway branchline, with all the charm of a seaside holiday of days gone by. The station is in the…
Norden Railway Station

Type

Type:

Rail

CORFE CASTLE

Norden Railway Station is situated to the north of Corfe Castle, directly adjacent and accessible from the main A351 road before you reach Corfe Castle village. Just follow the clearly marked brown tourism signs to Norden Car Park, where there is…
Holton Heath Train Station

Type

Type:

Rail

Poole

Train station with services to London, Weymouth, Poole and Bournemouth.
Pokesdown Train Station

Type

Type:

Rail

Bournemouth

This is the nearest train station to Boscombe beach and pier.
Christchurch Train Station

Type

Type:

Rail

Christchurch

Visit Christchurch by train and take pleasure in its medley of sandy beaches, cosy teashops and elegant restaurants.
Poole Train Station

Type

Type:

Rail

Poole

With a unique mixture of fascinating history, top attractions, Britain’s best beaches and a bustling Quay & shopping scene, a visit to Poole makes for a great day out or place to stay during your holiday to Dorset.
Gillingham Train Station

Type

Type:

Rail

Gillingham

Train station in the beautiful Blackmore Vale with bus links to Shaftesbury (of Hovis Hill fame).

Ratings & Reviews

Know Before You Go - Covid-19 information Eat Out to Help Out, We're Good To Go Dorset, Know before you go town centres, Repect, Protect and Enjoy Dorset,	Things To Do Family Friendly, Dog Friendly, The Jurassic Coast, Fossil Hunting, Active and Outdoor , Families & Children, Heritage & Culture, Animals & Farm Parks, Gardens & Parks, Tours & Boat Trips, Food & Drink Experiences, Entertainment & Arts, Shopping, Nature and Wildlife,	Accommodation Hotels, Bed & Breakfast, Self Catering, Self Catering Agencies, Dorset Holiday Cottages, Caravan & Holiday Parks, Campsites, Glamping, Pubs & Inns, Farm Stays, Group Friendly, Pet Friendly, Accessible, Gradings & Awards,
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Getting Around

Transportation

Search Travel & Tours

Highlights

Travelling by bus or coach

Travelling by train

Vintage train travel

Travelling by boat

Travelling by bicycle

Travelling by road

Want to go car free?

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