What a fabulous day! The sun was shining, the boys were smiling, we had packed lunches ready to go and a Castle waiting to be explored! After a brief detour around the town of ‘Corfe Castle’, we eventually found THE Corfe Castle! We then heard a story from the very helpful National Trust ladies about 2 cars hitting the info building’s side wall, because both their electric handbrakes had failed (goes back and triple checks the Edge’s electric handbrake) and it was off to the castle we were! A walk around the perimeter gave an idea as to how large the grounds were and this really was a great location for a castle! We discussed motte & bailey castles (HE in action) and their pros and cons then we were in! The boys are both practising their social skills by greeting any of the Nat Trust/Eng. Heritage workers and asking about entry etc. and they had a short history lesson from another NT lady all about the local(ish) NT landmarks, using her pins to guide the discussion, which the boys loved – Nate explained to her about his Disney World pins!

The boys were fascinated by the garderobe (toilet!) and how they used excrement launching as a battle tactic! The walls were amazing, ruins, but still standing strong…some an angles showing where they had been attacked in battles, as well as by the elements. There was a great quiz for the boys to complete, all about the plant life inside the walls. We learnt about lichen and about how ivy can be a great protector for the ruins, but in turn, a great destroyer.

There were also 2 BBC Spring Watch cameras set up facing a peregrine falcons nest, complete with (I believe) 4 eggs! We found a sheltered spot to have lunch, on the bench between the naughty priests’s bedroom and dining room!

After the Castle, we had a meander around the village, including a trip to the bakery and the NT shop. Nate was his usual happy self and mummy hit her head on a low shop ceiling so we left quickly and looked at the small cottages before leaving for Middle Beach, north of Swanage.

We arrived as the tide was coming in…or out…there didn’t seem to be much of a difference, but the boys had a great time regardless, building and crushing sandcastle, searching for shells, being children! 😍