Agglestone Rock
Agglestone Rock
5
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Scenic Drives • Scenic Walking Areas
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12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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5.0
36 reviews
Excellent
28
Very good
7
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Laggie
Bournemouth, UK65 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
Park at middle beach (pay to park) or national trust membership.
Follow beach road to studland store then cross the road. Walk up Heath green road, then turn right onto Agglestone road.
You'll soon come upon the Heath where you pick up the trail.
You'll find a mix of mud, sand and stone underfoot. Adequate footwear will be needed if going when it's wet.
From the top of the hill views are breathtaking.
The rock itself is rather odd to see in such settings. Well worth the walk.
It's around 3 miles from the carpark.
Dogs must be kept on lead due to horse.
Follow beach road to studland store then cross the road. Walk up Heath green road, then turn right onto Agglestone road.
You'll soon come upon the Heath where you pick up the trail.
You'll find a mix of mud, sand and stone underfoot. Adequate footwear will be needed if going when it's wet.
From the top of the hill views are breathtaking.
The rock itself is rather odd to see in such settings. Well worth the walk.
It's around 3 miles from the carpark.
Dogs must be kept on lead due to horse.
Written July 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gossipmonkey
Newbury, UK218 contributions
Apr 2022
We have been going to Swanage for years and never knew this place existed. Lovely evening walk across heathland on a warm April evening and watched the sun go down. Lovely views as well.
Written July 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lucy S
50 contributions
Nov 2020
Although I’ve lived near here for over a decade I’ve not been here for years and forgotten what a sight it is. Just over 1 hour round trip from the Studland road along lovely heath. Park on the road and use the tracks to get there across studland Heath rather than the footpaths. It can get a bit wet around the bottom of the rock so best to approach from the south going downhill
Written November 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
places2seeplaces2go
England, UK4,750 contributions
Sep 2020
Have wanted to walk to Agglestone Rock for some time.
Finally in September 2020 we did the circular walk from Studland to Agglestone & back.
Parked in a nearby lay-by . But there are plenty of other places to start your walk from.
A great walk, not too taxing & plenty to see.
The rock itself is huge & quite bizarre. Its like its been dropped from space.
Beautiful views.
Finally in September 2020 we did the circular walk from Studland to Agglestone & back.
Parked in a nearby lay-by . But there are plenty of other places to start your walk from.
A great walk, not too taxing & plenty to see.
The rock itself is huge & quite bizarre. Its like its been dropped from space.
Beautiful views.
Written January 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
beakenbauer
Swanage, UK58 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
Whenever we are in Dorset, we always make the effort to walk to the Agglestone. The kids love it as does our English Springer Spaniel. Small parking area on the left not long after the right turn into Knoll Beach from where you can access the heath and start the leisurely walk to the stone. Well worn paths and about 30-45 mins to walk there. Easy to find an alternative route back making the walk circular if you wish
Written August 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SaffronLH
Southampton53 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
Followed advice posted here and parked in the lay-by then walked down from the golf course. Loads of signs. Great views. It took about 1 hour to stroll down, back and take photos. Stunning views. Dog enjoyed it too
Written July 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BNA20152015
Bath, UK431 contributions
Mar 2020
By either route you get a spectacular walk through the Dorset heathland, wonderful views over the sea and Brownsea Island and the rock formation itself is well worth a visit making a grand finale to the walk. We were staying at the Knoll House hotel and set off from there following a very muddy bridle way. If only we had looked in the hotel first we would have found a much nicer way to start the walk ! The walk can easily be extended.
Written March 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Julie W
Poole, UK16 contributions
Aug 2017 • Family
What a brilliant 8 hours outdoors!
My children (aged 13 and 9) were not impressed at the thought of spending a day hunting out "just an old rock". Yet as we travelled home by open top bus, via the chain ferry, even they reflected on a wonderful day.
I had downloaded a 3 mile circular walk from the Dorset AONB website. We really enjoy following the clues on this type of walk and the bonus was that it began/finished near a beautifully laid out children's playpark, which instantly earnt me brownie points.
I had been intrigued by the legend of the rock which states that the devil was so angered by the look of Corfe Castle being built that he threw the massive rock towards it from the Isle of Wight. It didn't hit it's target and now lays in Goldingston Heath.
The walk took us through heathland towards a golf course. We met several people horse riding which the kids really liked seeing and we also saw some lizards. We soon began walking along a ridge where we were able to look down on the huge rock and take in the beautiful views of Brownsea Island, Studland Bay and Old Harry's Rocks behind it.
The walk to the rock wasn't too arduous however it would have been too difficult to navigate with a buggy or if struggling with mobility issues.
We spent an hour at the rock taking pictures, talking about the legend and having a picnic. Only one other family crossed our path whilst we were there and this solitude added to the spiritual and calming feel of the area.
We then walked down from the rock through the mire, heath and woodland until we came back to the park.
After a play we wanted to soothe our aching tootsies so headed over to South and then Middle beaches where we paddled and enjoyed an ice cream.
Really recommend this walk and a trip to find the Agglestone Rock.
My children (aged 13 and 9) were not impressed at the thought of spending a day hunting out "just an old rock". Yet as we travelled home by open top bus, via the chain ferry, even they reflected on a wonderful day.
I had downloaded a 3 mile circular walk from the Dorset AONB website. We really enjoy following the clues on this type of walk and the bonus was that it began/finished near a beautifully laid out children's playpark, which instantly earnt me brownie points.
I had been intrigued by the legend of the rock which states that the devil was so angered by the look of Corfe Castle being built that he threw the massive rock towards it from the Isle of Wight. It didn't hit it's target and now lays in Goldingston Heath.
The walk took us through heathland towards a golf course. We met several people horse riding which the kids really liked seeing and we also saw some lizards. We soon began walking along a ridge where we were able to look down on the huge rock and take in the beautiful views of Brownsea Island, Studland Bay and Old Harry's Rocks behind it.
The walk to the rock wasn't too arduous however it would have been too difficult to navigate with a buggy or if struggling with mobility issues.
We spent an hour at the rock taking pictures, talking about the legend and having a picnic. Only one other family crossed our path whilst we were there and this solitude added to the spiritual and calming feel of the area.
We then walked down from the rock through the mire, heath and woodland until we came back to the park.
After a play we wanted to soothe our aching tootsies so headed over to South and then Middle beaches where we paddled and enjoyed an ice cream.
Really recommend this walk and a trip to find the Agglestone Rock.
Written August 16, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Clive L
Bournemouth, UK4 contributions
Feb 2017 • Family
We walked in the winter sunshine from the top road near the golf course down to the Agglestone, enjoying the fantastic scenery and panoramic views of Arne, Poole Harbour, Brownsea Island, Bournemouth Bay, the Isle of Wight and much more. The Agglestone is a fascinating rock in a spectacular location, and serves as a good waypoint for an onward walk to the sands at Middle Beach, where there is a dog-friendly cafe open weekends only at the winter and every day in the summer.
A leisurely round trip was just under 5 miles, taking in the Agglestone, Middle Beach, Fort Henry (a WW2 bunker on the cliff top) and the bridleways of the heath. The ground was muddy in places, but there are wooden walkways over the worst parts. Our route was only on the road for about 200 yards in total, between the heath and a secluded valley that leads to Middle Beach, and then on the return trip via the footpath by Studland Stables.
A leisurely round trip was just under 5 miles, taking in the Agglestone, Middle Beach, Fort Henry (a WW2 bunker on the cliff top) and the bridleways of the heath. The ground was muddy in places, but there are wooden walkways over the worst parts. Our route was only on the road for about 200 yards in total, between the heath and a secluded valley that leads to Middle Beach, and then on the return trip via the footpath by Studland Stables.
Written February 4, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mikey
North Yorkshire, UK965 contributions
Dec 2014 • Solo
Agglestone Rock, also known as the Devil's Anvil, is a sandstone block of about 400 tonnes weight, perched on a conical hill, approximately 1 mile from the village of Studland, south Dorset. Legend has it that the devil threw the rock from The Needles on the Isle of Wight with the intention of hitting either Corfe Castle, Bindon Abbey or Salisbury Cathedral. "Aggle" was taken into the old Dorset dialect as meaning "to wobble".
Myth relating to the stone:
" A musing stroll across the heath from Studland, brings you to the Aggllestone, the holy stone (Helig - Anglo-Saxon for holy) hurled by the devil on to the crest of a hillock rising above the peaty waste. Fiends often do dress like angels, and it is certainly hard to detect anything of the devil when the Madonna-blue chalices of that visionary flower, Gentiana pneumonanthe, are open on the heath. But devils did traffic with holy stones in archaic England, for devils were once gods themselves fallen from heaven upon evil days, the days when the usurping Celts looked with dread upon the works of their predecessors. For the Agglestone is a menhir".
Taken from Downland Man by H.J. Massingham Pub 1927 by Jonathan Cape
Myth relating to the stone:
" A musing stroll across the heath from Studland, brings you to the Aggllestone, the holy stone (Helig - Anglo-Saxon for holy) hurled by the devil on to the crest of a hillock rising above the peaty waste. Fiends often do dress like angels, and it is certainly hard to detect anything of the devil when the Madonna-blue chalices of that visionary flower, Gentiana pneumonanthe, are open on the heath. But devils did traffic with holy stones in archaic England, for devils were once gods themselves fallen from heaven upon evil days, the days when the usurping Celts looked with dread upon the works of their predecessors. For the Agglestone is a menhir".
Taken from Downland Man by H.J. Massingham Pub 1927 by Jonathan Cape
Written February 19, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Susan W
Poole, UK1 contribution
Where is the nearest place to park. I have 4 dogs to get there.
Clive L
Bournemouth, UK4 contributions
There is a small parking area for about 4 cars on the Corfe Castle to Studland road, past the entrance to the golf course and just after the right turn to Swanage. There is a second small layby just after this one. Failing that there are car parks at Knoll Beach and Middle Beach that you could walk up from onto the nature reserve and on to the Agglestone.
Agglestone Rock (Swanage) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Agglestone Rock
- Agglestone Rock is open:
- Sun - Sat 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
- Hotels near Agglestone Rock:
- (0.70 mi) Longmead Cottage Bed & Breakfast
- (0.54 mi) Knoll House Hotel
- (1.79 mi) Swanage Haven Boutique Guest House
- (0.35 mi) Heated pool, 5 double bed, Log fires , walk pub/beach 15mins, sea views-
- (1.07 mi) Littlecroft B&B
- Restaurants near Agglestone Rock:
- (0.68 mi) Old Harry Bar
- (0.79 mi) THE PIG-on the beach
- (1.89 mi) The Cabin
- (2.55 mi) Java Independent Coffee House
- (2.58 mi) Love Cake etc