Corfe Castle

Corfe Castle is one of England's most dramatic ruins, straddling a natural gap in the Purbeck Hills with the village huddled at its foot and a steam railway threading past. From the air the broken keep and curtain walls on their conical mound are spectacular, especially with morning mist pooling in the valley. The catch is ownership: the castle and much of the immediate land are National Trust, so you must not take off or land on it. The practical answer is Corfe Common, open access land just south of the village, which gives a legal launch point and a fine oblique view of the castle against the hills. Keep clear of the steam trains, livestock on the common, and the busy village streets. Airspace is manageable, with Bournemouth Airport and its flight restriction zone about 22km to the east, well outside the controlled area, though it is worth a quick check before you fly. The Purbeck ridge funnels wind, so expect some turbulence on breezy days and pick calmer weather. Early morning is the prize: the crowds and coaches have not arrived, the light is soft on the stone, and if you are lucky a low mist wraps the base of the castle for a truly atmospheric shot.