National Trust · Dorset National Landscape
Five National Trust places inside the Dorset National Landscape boundary, all free to members.
The five are Golden Cap, Thorncombe Beacon, Brownsea Island, Corfe Castle and White Nothe.
Distances and facilities last checked October 2026
Five National Trust places sit inside the Dorset National Landscape boundary, from Golden Cap in the north to White Nothe in the south. One of them is within four miles of a mainline railway station, and one has a café.
Golden Cap: A high coastal viewpoint on the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. Thorncombe Beacon: A coastal hill east of Golden Cap with a long history as a signal station overlooking the Jurassic Coast. The two are about 2 miles apart from first to last, so they fit into one day.
Brownsea Island: An island in Poole Harbour known for red squirrels, wildlife and its connection with Scouting. Corfe Castle: Corfe Castle has crowned the Isle of Purbeck since the 11th century, cared for by the National Trust. White Nothe: A coastal headland reached from Ringstead, above Burning Cliff on the Jurassic Coast. The three are about 17 miles apart from first to last, so they fit into one day.
Brownsea Island is 2.0 miles from Poole and Corfe Castle is 0.2 miles from Corfe Castle (heritage railway). Distances are in a straight line, so allow longer on foot or by taxi or bus.
Many places open fewer days or close for part of the winter, so check opening times before you travel.
Photo: Albany E. Howarth, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Corfe Castle has crowned the Isle of Purbeck since the 11th century, cared for by the National Trust. 0.2 miles from Corfe Castle (heritage railway). Has a café and car park.
0.2 miles from Corfe Castle (heritage railway) · Café · Parking
Read our guide →Photo: Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
An island in Poole Harbour known for red squirrels, wildlife and its connection with Scouting. 2.0 miles from Poole station.
2.0 miles from Poole
Official site →Photo: Kevin Walsh, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A high coastal viewpoint on the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. 8.0 miles from Axminster station.
8.0 miles from Axminster
Official site →Numbers match the map above. Distances are to the nearest railway station, in a straight line.
9.8 miles from Axminster
0.2 miles from Corfe Castle (heritage railway)
5.1 miles from Moreton (Dorset)
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National Trust members get into all five for free, and parking at Trust car parks is free too. Some places are open land with no entry charge, so check each place before you go.
Is National Trust membership worth it? →Two day routes, each built from places close to each other. Distances between stops are in a straight line, so allow more by road.
Day 1 · Northern group
About 2 miles from first stop to last.
Day 2 · Southern group
About 17 miles from first stop to last.
Coming from further away?
Enter your start and end points in the journey planner. It lists every place within 5, 10 or 20 miles of your route, in the order you will pass them.
Five sit inside the Dorset National Landscape boundary: Golden Cap, Thorncombe Beacon, Brownsea Island, Corfe Castle and White Nothe.
Brownsea Island is 2.0 miles from Poole. Corfe Castle is 0.2 miles from Corfe Castle (heritage railway).
Corfe Castle has a café.
Golden Cap and Thorncombe Beacon are about 2 miles from first to last. Brownsea Island, Corfe Castle and White Nothe are about 17 miles from first to last.
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