Swanage Pier Trust

The Unique 100+ year old Victorian Pier lies in the Southern area of Swanage Bay.
Swanage Pier is owned and operated by The Swanage Pier Trust, a registered charity and has two paid members with all other tasks being performed by Volunteers.

The Pier Master is a volunteer among the many others who man the gates and operate the Pier Shop and Exhibition.
Separate from The Pier Trust are The Pier Friends who raise funds through their members and perform fund raising activities throughout the year.

Visitors are offered the opportunity of assisting in the upkeep of the Pier, by 'Sponsoring a Plank'. This consists of a brass plaque (14.8cm x 4.5cm) engraved with a short message and embedded in to one of the Pier planks.
All funds contributing to the £125,000 a year continuously required to keep the Pier' Alive'.

Limited parking is available on the Pier and where better to park your vehicle than alongside the waters edge, just to relax and admire the views or to take part in the varied activities.

Thousands come to the Pier to Scuba Dive under the Pier or to board boats to other local dive destinations. An area adjacent to the Pier being buoyed off as a safe Diver training zone.

The Dive shop is operated by Divers Down, here divers can hire equipment, charge up their cylinders or do diver training courses.
Divers Down is celebrating its 50th year of operation in 2008 and is the oldest Diving School in the UK.

The Pier is also the home of the Isle of Purbeck Sub-Aqua Club, an active club of 50 plus members and now in its 20th year.

Others come to the Pier with rod and line. The far end of the Pier being a popular spot to relax and have a days angling.
During the summer months, boats operate from the Pier to Bournemouth, Poole, the Isle of Wight and along the Purbeck Heritage Coast.

Durlston Country Park often operate an 'Under The Pier Show' when visitors can see the varied marine life, as it happens, live on screen without getting wet.

A feature on the Pier is Marine Villas which is the home of Pier Shop. Here you will see many attractions including an Exhibition of of Pier History and a superb display of model RNLI Lifeboats, well worth a visit. One room displays saucy postcards by Donald Mcgill and houses several 'Penny in the Slot' machines still in working order, just purchase some old pennies and go back in time. (open from Easter to November).

Many artifacts have been donated to the Pier by Divers and these are on show in the shop. In the Cafe area, hot drinks and snacks may be purchased along with sweets and a vast variety of small gifts.

There are Ladies and Gents toilets on the Pier each with a hot shower.

The Pier is normally open during the summer months (April - September) from 8am (7am Bank Hols).
Closed approx. 1 hour before dusk. Winter opening 7 days a week. From 1st October, open from 8am to 5pm.

Donations towards the continuous maintenance of the Pier are always welcome. Please see the Pier Master or contact the Pier Honorary Treasurer on 01929 423636.

The Swanage Pier Trust is a company limited by guarantee No. 1848357 and a registered charity No.290397