A historic Purbeck monument has beaten iconic sights such as the White Cliffs of Dover and St Michael’s Mount in a poll of the nation’s favourite views.

The National Trust’s online vote ran to find the nation’s top ten favourite vistas and Corfe Castle rose from an initial sixth place to finish fourth when the voting finally closed at Christmas.

As well as beating two of the country’s most famous sights, the castle finished above Hardcastle Crags in West Yorkshire, Holywell Bay in Cornwall, Kintail and Morvich in Scotland and Oxburgh Hall in Norfolk.

The Aberglaslyn Pass in Snowdonia came out on top, followed by North Yorkshire’s Brimham Rocks and Borowdale in Cumbria.

Steve Hitchens, chairman of Corfe Castle Town Trust, said: “It’s excellent when you look at the others that were there like Snowdonia and the White Cliffs of Dover. We did well – it’s got to be good news for Corfe.”

As well as Corfe Castle, Dorset’s nominations included Old Harry Rocks, Lam-bert’s Castle and Golden Cap.

Maurice Flynn, the Nat-ional Trust’s Wessex spokes-man, said: “We’ve been thrilled by the response, not only to the vote, but from the wealth of nominations that came forward.

“It’s no surprise that so many of the nominations nationally were of Dorset’s natural assets and it really shows just how fortunate we are to have such wonderful open spaces, coastline and rare countryside on our doorstep.”