Black ice on roads and pavements in Swanage and across Purbeck caused a number of incidents as vehicles skidded round corners and down hills.
The road through Harmans Cross was closed for a period of time around mid morning following a car accident, and dog walks and morning strolls were postponed as snow, ice and fog descended on Sunday 11th December 2022.
The road out of Swanage towards Harmans Cross was very icy and a number of cars came a cropper on the bend at the junction with Crack Lane
Frosty morning on the tracks
Swanage Railyway cancelled its services
Swanage Railway cancelled its Christmas dining car service as water pipes froze and travel to Swanage by road for visitors, volunteers and staff was difficult and potentially hazardous.
Swanage Railway said:
“Please do not travel to us today if you are booked on The Dorsetman dining train, with the current icy conditions and predicted snowfall, we have taken the difficult decision to cancel our dining train.
“Despite the best efforts of our volunteers this morning, the safety of our passengers and customers must come first.”
The beauty of Corfe Castle emerges through the mist
East Street with Corfe Castle
Best way to keep warm at Corfe Castle
On the road from Church Knowle to Corfe Castle
Corfe Castle shimmered through the fog and ice
The National Trust opened Corfe Castle to the public, lit the fires in the braziers and the ruins shimmered through the fog and ice. However the castle was closed earlier than usual for safety.
The Number 40 Purbeck Breezer bus was delayed and re-routed via Harmans Cross as it was too icy to get safely up Kingston Hill and through Langton Matravers.
On Swanage Beach plenty of ice but no cream!
Police close off Church Hill in Swanage after a vehicle collision due to ice
Weather will remain cold and icy
The weather in the morning for Monday 12th December 2022 is expected to remain cold and icy with the Met Office predicting for Swanage -1 degrees celsius, feeling like -5 degrees celsius at around 8 am.
Further inland in Wareham it is predicted to be -2 degrees celsius, feeling like -5 degrees celsius at around 8 am.
Dorset Council will be out gritting the roads again overnight. Information about which roads are being treated and when is on its website
More photos
Swanage snowman
Hearts of ice in Langton Matravers
Snowy scenes in Kingston
Corfe Castle gets a dusting of snow
Views from Church Knowle
Halfway House – Very quiet on the A351 between Corfe Castle and Wareham
Beautiful, snowy Wareham
