Corfe Castle in Dorset has been dubbed a ‘fairytale’ village by visitors who say it feels like stepping back in time – with its picturesque ivy-covered cottages and thousand-year-old castle ruins
This Dorset village makes visitors feel like they’ve entered a fairytale (stock image)(Image: Getty Images)
A quaint village that looks to have leapt straight out of a fairy tale has been praised by visitors, many of whom feel as though they’ve stepped back in time when arriving. And it’s right here in the UK.
Corfe Castle is a charming village nestled in Dorset, situated on the site of a ruined castle bearing the same name. Perched atop a gap in the Purbeck Hills, it offers a truly breathtaking destination for your next day trip. Additionally, there’s an awe-inspiring, historical castle just a stone’s throw away. Built in 1107 by King Henry I, Corfe Castle served as a crucial Royalist stronghold during the English Civil War.
One visitor, Hannah, is among the many who have been captivated by this historic village and is now encouraging others to follow suit. As a renowned travel influencer boasting more than 208,000 Instagram followers, Hannah brought her camera along on her journey to the Dorset village to capture its unique charm.
“A real-life fairytale village, tucked into the Dorset countryside,” she wrote in her post’s caption. “This is Corfe Castle, where ivy-clad cottages nestle beneath the ruins of a thousand year old castle and time stands still.”
In her accompanying video, Hannah shared drone footage soaring above the castle and village at sunset, casting them in an even more enchanting and picturesque light.
The castle is currently under the stewardship of the National Trust and is open to the public, having only opened in December 2024 after being closed for 400 years. The charity also operates a shop and a tearoom within the village.
The village sits in the valley beneath the castle, roughly four miles south-east of Wareham and four miles north-west of Swanage.
Several homes and cottages throughout the village are constructed from the same stone, establishing it as one of Dorset’s most picturesque and photographed villages. Following the partial destruction of the castle in 1646, much of the stone was repurposed to construct the neighbouring village. Today, the village boasts several independent shops, pubs and tea rooms, offering visitors a wealth of choices during their stay.
“Come for the history, stay for the tea rooms, and that unmistakable feeling that you’ve stepped into another era,” Hannah said. “If fairytales had postcodes… this would be one of them.”
Hannah wasn’t alone in her enthusiasm for the village, as numerous viewers flocked to the comments section to express their own admiration.
“Amazing. I am adding this to our list of must visit places if we can get back,” one viewer wrote. Another said: “A dream to visit!!!”
“Have been lucky enough to visit the area with my family, and it is a beautiful and amazing place and makes you proud of our great country,” a third person said.
Another viewer recommended: “You must visit at Christmas, the whole village is lit up, so pretty. Dorset is a beautiful county and Corfe is one of our loveliest villages.”