The Enid Blyton Experience in Dorset
Before Taking the Trip
Swanage and Corfe Castle in Dorset are the places to go for the Enid Blyton Experience. Enid Blyton used to stay in Swanage during the summer holidays with her family and stroll the countryside here. Corfe Castle (which she called Kirrin Castle) inspired her Famous Five series extensively.
My suggestion is to stay at Swanage and visit Corfe Castle for a day. It's fun to walk through the beautiful countryside here; consider taking the steam train (often described in the Famous Five series) or bus to Corfe Castle and then walking through the countryside back to Swanage.
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Corfe Castle, Dorset: Kirrin Castle
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This is Kirrin Castle exactly as you would have imagined it. It even has only one room standing just as it was in Famous Five. Absolutely stunning views of the countryside and the little village at the bottom of the hill. The 11 pounds to enter the Castle premises is well-spent. Think of Five on Treasure Island and Five Run Away Together as you take in this beautiful place.
Corfe Castle Village, Dorset: Kirrin Village
This is the view of the quaint town of Corfe Castle from one of the Castle windows. If you look carefully, you can see the steam from the steam train at the railway station. That's how the Famous Five used to travel in the books! Take a ride for around 9.50 pounds to see exactly how the castle came into view as they would ride on the train home from boarding school.
A Quaint Tea-House in Kirrin Village
Have tea and scones or cake at one of the quaint little tea-houses in Kirrin Village..umm..Corfe Castle Village just as the Five used to do.
Buy Gingerbeer, Licorice Candy, Humbugs, Bull's Eye
Before starting the walk back from Corfe Castle to Swanage (a two hour walk), buy some Famous Five type candies and gingerbeer and you can even get some packed sandwiches and fruits for a Famous Five style picnic in the countryside!
The GingerPop Shop at Corfe Castle
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Unfortunately, the Ginger Pop Shop at Corfe Castle which used to house Enid Blyton books, gingerbeer, candies and other Famous Five mementos has now closed. There is one shop I found which did carry Enid Blyton books, but many of those were ghost-written with titles such as 'Five try a gluten-free lifestyle' and 'Five develop a Beach Body' which made me cringe.
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To read why the Ginger Pop Shop closed down, read the article here.
Walk from Corfe Castle to Swanage
Wander Over the Hills
Use Google Maps to find the walking path from Corfe Castle to Swanage. The car route is quite narrow and without any footpaths. You can imagine yourself wandering over the hills like the Famous Five do especially in Five go Adventuring Again, Five Run Away Together, Five Go to Smuggler's Top and Five Go Off In A Caravan.
Caravans, Horses and the Countryside
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On your walk, you can imagine Enid Blyton walking through this country path and getting inspired to write Five Go Off in a Caravan. Julian and George had horses pulling their caravans and once they reached the Blue Pool where they set up camp in the book, they let their horses loose in the fields just as seen in these pictures and anyone doing this trail would be able to see. Interestingly, the Blue Pool is a little lake just about two hours from Corfe Castle, which is the pool referred to in Five Go Off in a Caravan where the Five set up camp.
Farmhouses Along the Way
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On your walk, you will see various fields with sheep, cows and horses. There are a number of farmhouses along the path, which is where the Five used to stop to buy milk, eggs, fruits and bakery items during their camping, biking and caravaning trips in Five Go Off in a Caravan, Five Get into Trouble and many other books.
Collect Wild Flowers
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Be like Anne and collect a bouquet of wild flowers along the way during the walk. Stick them into your buttonhole...just as Anne used to!
Swanage
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End your trip at Swanage and head to the beach where you can have delicious icecreams just as the Five did. As you lick your icecream, relax on the beach and imagine Kirrin Island just beyond the cliffs. The Brownsea Island (which Blyton imagined into Kirrin Island) can be spotted from Studland Beach on clear days.