Purbeck wakes up to snow, ice and fog as temperature drops

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.

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Snow on road out of Swanage
Peter Clarke

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

Snow and ice at Swanage Railway
Ben Ford

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.”

Corfe Castle in the snow
Andy Lyons

The beauty of Corfe Castle emerges through the mist

Corfe castle in the snow
Mike Streeter

East Street with Corfe Castle

Corfe Castle in snow
National Trust / Corfe Castle

Best way to keep warm at Corfe Castle

Snow and ice on road from Church Knowle to Corfe Castle
Amelia Coffen

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.

Snow on Swanage Beach
Simon Wilkins

On Swanage Beach plenty of ice but no cream!

Snow and ice at Church Hill
Nikki Canning

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

Snow man in Swanage
Andrew Birt

Hearts of ice in Langton Matravers

Icy hearts in snow in Langton Matravers
Moira Purver

Snowy scenes in Kingston

St James's Church in snow in Kingston
Karen Grant
Snow in Kingston
Karen Grant

Corfe Castle gets a dusting of snow

Boilerhouse gallery in the snow
Simon Polkinghorn
Corfe castle in the snow
Mike Streeter
Corfe Castle in the snow
Corfe Castle cemetry in the snow

Views from Church Knowle

Snow and ice near Church Knole
Amelia Coffen
Snow and ice near Church Knole
Amelia Coffen

Halfway House – Very quiet on the A351 between Corfe Castle and Wareham

Halfway Inn in snow

Beautiful, snowy Wareham

Snow in Wareham
Emma Hopkins
Snow in Wareham
Emma Hopkins
Snow in Wareham
Emma Hopkins

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