Quietly nestled away in the heart of the beautiful Isle of Purbeck, you’ll discover one of Dorset’s hidden gems. The Blue Pool nature reserve dates back over 400 years and offers a wonderful place to find peace and tranquility. Wander along the sandy paths which guide you through the tall vibrant cedar trees, or head down towards the inviting waters edge thats as calm as a millpond. Let little ones marvel at the fairy houses along the fairy trail, and if you’re feeling energetic take the steps to gain scenic views over the peaceful rolling Purbeck Hills.
Be sure to devour a delicious homemade scone from the Blue Pool Tea Rooms before you leave. Load it up the Devonian, or Cornish way with lashings of sweet strawberry jam and a dollop of fresh clotted cream on top. Then sit outside and enjoy the feeling of sunshine kissing your skin as it peeks its way through the gaps in the tree canopy.
This peaceful walk has varying difficulty routes and offers something for everyone no matter their age and ability. Bring the kids and the grandparents along for a lovely afternoon of making memories together with the family.
In this article...
What is The Blue Pool Address
The Blue Pool is located in the pretty Isle of Purbeck, near Wareham. To reach the Blue Pool, enter the following address in to Google Maps:
Furzebrook Road, Wareham, BH20 5AR
Or use these What3Words to take you right to the Blue Pool carpark:
///submerged.beep.mergers
Parking at the Blue Pool is plentiful and although its free, they do suggest a voluntary contribution of £2 per car.
Is the blue pool worth visiting?
If you enjoy being surrounded by peacefulness and nature, then you should 100% pay a visit to the Blue Pool. Situated inside 25 acres of unspoilt woodland, it’s a beautiful place to wander amongst the tall trees and marvel at the bright and sometimes turquoise coloured pool.
It’s also the closest i’ve felt to what you could experience in Canada, which is so high on my bucket list!
How was The Blue Pool formed?
Although the Blue Pool is now a beautiful scenic lake with unusually vibrant water, it’s actually the end result of a flooded and disused clay pit. The site was once used to extract Purbeck Ball clay and was in operation between the middle of the 17th century to the early 20th century. The clay produced fine ceramic items such as smoking pipes, tea pots and crockery.
Do you need to book tickets?
The Blue Pool doesnt require pre-booking. It’s just a case of turning up and purchasing a ticket from the ticket booth, which you’ll easily spot as you make your way over from the carpark towards the entrance.
However, if you are attending in a large group you may wish to speak to The Blue Pool first over the phone to arrange this.
Ticket prices for the Blue Pool
A family ticket for 4 will cost you £22.50 in total. Which I think is reasonable and makes it far more affordable than many other family attractions cost nowadays! If you’re not looking for a family ticket, here’s the individual entry prices for The Blue Pool.
Adults £7.50
Children £3.75
Under 5’s – Free
What makes the water here so blue/turquoise?
The impressive blue or sometimes turquoise tone is all to do with sunlight and how it refracts in the water. The sunnier the day; the brighter the water is going to appear. So bear that in mind, as it wont look quite as impressive if you visit on a cloudy day. Minuscule particles of clay float in the water, and when the sunlight diffracts from them it causes this natural phenomenon to occur. The colour of the water also seems to change depending on the angle that you’re viewing it.
It’s a bit like the relaxing Blue Lagoon in Iceland, where the white silica mud turns the geothermal water a gorgeous milky blue colour.
What wildlife can you expect to see here?
The Blue Pool is home to lots of beautiful animals, big and small. If you’re lucky you might be able to spot one of Britain’s rarest and most endangered reptiles; the Green Sand Lizard. Look up and you might see buzzards and owls, or squirrels darting between the tree branches. They also have Sika deer roaming the woods.
Are you allowed to swim at Blue Pool?
Although it looks super temping with its inviting bright blue water, it’s actually super cold and deceptively deep. To keep visitors safe, swimming is strictly forbidden at The Blue Pool. The same goes for canoeing and paddleboarding, or any other water sports!
Can you have a BBQ?
Because this is a nature reserve, no BBQ’s are allowed in The Blue Pool estate or in the carpark. You can bring a picnic in though, if you’re not wanting to buy any food here. Just make sure you don’t leave any rubbish behind, and leave The Blue Pool exactly how you found it.
Are dogs allowed at The Blue Pool?
Dogs are welcome to visit. Although they must be kept on a lead at all times, and they aren’t allowed to go for a doggy-paddle in the pool.
How deep is the water?
The water at the Blue Pool is considerably deep! It’s 30ft, which is just over 9 meters deep.
How long do you need to spend here?
I would advise to allow a minimum of 2-3 hours. This should be enough time to wander around all the walking routes at a leisurely pace, soak in the views and take a pitstop at the Blue Pool Tea Rooms for something to eat.
What is there to do at the blue pool?
Walks – There are lots of interconnecting paths to follow, so take your time and enjoy exploring each one.
Themed trails – They have just done a Halloween trail for the children, and it looks like they are due to do a Christmas trail too!
Search for animals – The Blue Pool is home to many animals including, grey squirrel, sika deer, owls, badgers and green sand lizards to name a few.
Playground – There is a small play area amongst the woodland for children to play. It includes a slide and a couple climbing/balancing beams.
Tearooms – Refuel at the Blue Pool Tea Rooms, take a cosy seat indoors or head outside to dine alfresco with views across the tranquil water. This café has wonderful eco coffees and a selection of different teas. If you’re feeling hungry, they offer sandwiches, healthy salads, and full English breakfasts all made with locally sourced produce. Also on the menu you’ll find the award winning Purbeck ice cream, homemade cream teas and many more tasty options!
Gift Shop – The gift shop is the ideal spot to pick up a little treat of souvenir for someone special. Inside you’ll find a beautiful selection of locally made crafts and produce.
Woodland Treats – Another chance to stop for a refuel, but with a much smaller menu. Woodland Treats offers delicious milkshakes, fruity smoothies and tasty ice creams to take away and enjoy by the pool.
Fully Licensed Bar – If you fancy a tipple, the fully licensed bar offers local beers, gins and ciders.
Fairy Door Hunt – Something for the youngsters to enjoy. Follow the fairy trail to discover cute fairy houses along the way.
What times is the Blue Pool Tea Room open?
The Blue Pool Tea Room’s are open 7 days a week, between 9:30am – 5pm. Giving you plenty of opportunity to tuck into locally sourced food to suit all tastes and appetites.
Other places to visit nearby
About half an hours drive away, you’ll arrive at one of my favourite places in Dorset; Durdle Door.
Durdle Door is the most photographed beach in Dorset, and is certainly worth a visit any time of the year. If you want to pay a visit, check out my Durdle Door & Man’o War article which is full of helpful information to help you plan your day!
There is also the nearby Corfe Castle. Which is a castle ruin that’s perched on the top of a hill, approximately 2 miles away from The Blue Pool. Unlike Glastonbury Tor which is free, you’ll need to purchase a ticket to go to Corfe Castle.
Where is a good place to stay?
Wareham is going to be your closest option for finding a hotel or airbnb, so here’s some nearby accommodation options.
Watch our Blue Pool Video!
The Furzebrook Estate has been open to the public for just shy of 100 years. With all the ongoing work and refurbishments, I think The Blue Pool will keep improving and expanding this attraction year on year.
I hope you add this peaceful hidden gem onto your list of places to visit in the UK! Below is a video from our trip to the gorgeous Blue Pool, enjoy!