Quietly nestled away in the heart of the beautiful Isle of Purbeck, you’ll discover The Blue Pool Nature Reserve. One of Dorset’s hidden gems that dates back over 400 years and offers a wonderful place to find peace and tranquility. Sandy paths guide you through the tall cedar trees and down towards the inviting waters edge, whilst adrenaline seekers can now take a wobbly walk over the new suspended rope bridge – the longest in the UK! Theres also fairy houses for little ones to discover along the fairy trail, and if you’re feeling energetic you can take the steps to gain scenic views over the peaceful rolling Purbeck Hills.
This beautiful 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.
The Blue Pool at a Glance – Don’t Miss 👀
- Braving the wobbly bridge – the longest rope bridge in the UK!
- Admiring the beautiful blue water
- Enjoying a slice of cake from the cafe
- Letting the kids play at the woodland park
- Strolling all the different walking trails and fairy trail
In this article...
What is The Blue Pool Address
The Blue Pool is located in the pretty Isle of Purbeck, near Wareham in Dorset. 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, but they do suggest a voluntary contribution of £2 per car which can be left in the small wooden box near the entrance.
Read more: Durdle Door & Man O’ War Beach: Explore Dorset’s Jurassic Coast
Is The Blue Pool Worth Visiting?
Yes – If you enjoy being surrounded by peacefulness and nature, then you should 100% pay a visit to The Blue Pool. Situated inside 30 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. Plus with the addition of the play area and rope bridge, it’s a great place to bring children for a fun day out in nature.
It’s also the closest i’ve felt to experiencing a little slice of Canada. Somewhere thats very 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.
Cross The Longest Rope Bridge in The UK at The Blue Pool!
The Blue Pool is now home to the longest suspended rope bridge in the UK – and it’s very fun to cross! Spanning 50 meters and standing 10 meters from the ground, the bridge mirrors and puts into perspective the depth of The Blue Pool.
You’ll find the suspension bridge at the far side of the Blue Pool, where you can enjoy some gorgeous views as you make your way across. To keep everyone safe there is a maximum of 6 people allowed to cross at one time, and the sign says to make sure you’re holding on to the sides as its fairly bouncy.
It’s a great addition to The Blue Pool, and reminded me of the rope bridge at The Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall.
Woodland Play Area
Nestled inside part of the woodland you’ll find a lovely play park for the children. It’s got balance beams, swings, a slide and our boys favourite – the rock climbing wall. There’s also a couple picnic benches in here, so you can rest your legs whilst your kids burn off some energy.
Read more: Mortehoe to Lee Bay: A Circular Coastal Walk in North Devon
Do You Need to Pre-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
For a family of 4 to visit The Blue Pool, it will cost you £22.50 in low season (1st October – 31st March). Which I think is reasonable and makes it far more affordable than many other family attractions nowadays. Prices do jump up slightly during high season though (1st April – 30th September). It would be nice to see them introduce a slightly discounted family ticket option during high season.
| Low Season | High Season | ||
| Adult | £7.50 | Adult | £9.50 |
| Children | £3.75 | Children | £4.75 |
| Under 5’s | Free | Under 5’s | Free |
What Makes The Water Here So Blue?
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 which you can hope to spot whilst strolling the Sika Walk.
Read more: Visit Corfe Castle in Dorset: A Journey Through History
Are You Allowed to Swim at The 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.
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.
Read more: Visit Brownsea Island, Dorset: Home to Red Squirrels & Scouts
How Long Do You Need to Spend at The Blue Pool?
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, cross the fun rope bridge and take a pitstop at the Blue Pool Tea Rooms for something to eat.
What is There to Do at The Blue Pool in Dorset?
Walks – There are lots of interconnecting paths to follow, so take your time and enjoy exploring each one.
Rope Bridge – New for 2024, you can now cross the longest suspended rope bridge in the UK!
Themed trails – Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal trails throughout the year. Especially around Easter, Halloween and Christmas.
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 great play park in the woodland for children. It included a slide, swing, balance course and rock wall.
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.
Fairy Door Hunt – Something for the youngsters to enjoy. Follow the fairy trail to discover cute fairy houses along the way.
What Time 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. Be sure to devour a delicious homemade scone and load it up the Devonian, or Cornish way with lashings of sweet strawberry jam and a dollop of fresh clotted cream on top. But watch out for the peacocks – this one kept trying to steal Jude’s cake which was very amusing for us, and everyone else watching!
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.
Read more: Glastonbury Tor Walk: Revel in Somerset’s Scenic Views
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!
Before you go …
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