West View House stands on the corner of the tiny hamlet of Acton, which consists largely of old quarry-mans cottages built in the 1870’s.  The local quarry is still active providing the Purbeck stone you see all around (including our floors).  There are many lovely walks directly across the countryside from the cottage (see map below).  One of our favourites is to follow The Priests Way towards The Square and Compass pub in Worth Matravers, a gorgeous spot for an evening drink or bite, and a wander back enjoying the sea views.  In the other direction the path leads to Dancing Ledge and Chapmans Pool.

Further afield, the local town of Swanage is a traditional seaside town with a pleasant mix of fish and chip shops, cafes, antiques, art galleries, and amusements.  There is a promenade for comfortable strolling along the sea front as well as a beach and a pier.  In the opposite direction, Corfe Castle is a striking monument and makes a lovely day out as does the Steam Railway that runs between Swanage, Corfe, and Norden.

Other popular local attractions are the Dinosaur Footprints (a short walk away), The Dorset Adventure Park (just outside Corfe), The Tank Museum (Wareham), and Monkey World (Wareham).