SWANAGE youngsters have tested out new family orienteering trails at a Purbeck beauty spot – and they’ve given the routes a resounding thumbs-up.

Twenty five St Mary’s RC First School pupils took to the dunes at Studland Beach to use the National Trust’s outdoor trails.

The trust has been working with Wessex Orienteering Club to develop three new routes, between 1km and 2.5km long.

These trails are based on a simplified map available from the visitor centre at Knoll Beach, and National Trust bosses hope the scheme will encourage families to make the most of Studland’s nature reserve.

Studland visitor experience officer Kevin Rideout explained: “This is a simplified version of orienteering for a family audience.

“It is about encouraging people to get out there and giving them the confidence to explore.”