PEOPLE all over Dorset are eagerly awaiting Monday’s visit from the Princess Royal, and none more so than staff at Durlston Castle who are busy buffing displays and preening pathways prior to her arrival.

On the same day as Princess Ann visits Poole’s Twin Sails Bridge, the Osmington White Horse and Bournemouth’s Cherry Tree Nursery, she will be dropping in on the newly-restored Swanage landmark to give the castle an official dedication.

“We’re very excited about it,” said Durlston ranger Ali Tuckey. “She will be touring the building, unveiling a plaque, and meeting staff and volunteers who have made the project happen.”

It has taken eight years for the restoration to come to fruition after Dorset County Council bought the lease for the building in 2003.

“When we took over, the building was in a very sorry state, with subsidence, dry rot and wet rot,” explained Ali.

“It dates back to 1887 and was built as a restaurant for a planned model estate – which never happened. We wanted to turn a 19th-century restaurant into a 21st-century visitor centre.”

It’s hugged by Durlston Country Park – a National Nature Reserve comprising 280 acres of Dorset’s very best coast and countryside. Being such a fantastic place for wildlife, geology, butterflies, wildflowers, sea birds, and superb coastal views, it attracts more than 250,000 visitors a year.

“We wanted to inspire people to explore the park,” said Ali. “And we aspired to provide a modern, new visitor facility not just for the park but for the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.”

The Heritage Lottery Fund provided 70 per cent of the money needed to restore the building, but Durlston needed to find the rest. Thankfully they had help from the Arts Council, Lush, BP, and Friends of Durlston, among others. Whereas the fundraising took many years, the restoration itself took 18 months using South Coast company Greendale.

“We also had a fantastic firm of architects – MJ Long and Partners. They have worked on historic buildings in London. We wanted to retain the important Victorian heritage so they kept its original features yet added new life for the future.”

Staff and visitors are enjoying the new spaces, including the Fine Foundation Gallery which is a key hub of the new building, offering opportunity for a varied programme of art exhibitions, live music and performance and interactive displays.

“We now have new displays on the surrounding wildlife, geology and the like,” said Ali, “Also a new restaurant called Seventh Wave and a great interactive area for children.”

He added: “For the first time people can go out onto the roof and take in the amazing views toward Bournemouth, Isle of Wight and Old Harry.”

There’s a stunning engraved glass artwork in the cafe by artist Lulu Quinn, featuring the names of over 2000 species of living thing recorded at Durlston, and The Timeline – a linear artwork by Gary Breeze, telling the story of life on earth, with sculptures, poetry and inscriptions.

There are more plans in the pipeline with the old visitor centre becoming an education centre with increased classroom space. Arts Council funding will also enable an artist to work on site and there’ll be a small flat for long-term volunteers which will be finished later this year.

“The restoration has given us a chance to experiment and try new things,” said Ali. “The castle isn’t just for holidaymakers but for residents too.

“It’s alive and bustling and the feedback has been great. The building is fantastic and these are very exciting times.”