Circular Walk from Swanage to Dancing Ledge
February 15th, 2021
Cumulus Office Manager, Jackie describes a stunning coastal walk from Swanage to Dancing Ledge with echoes of the past.
One of the best walks on the Jurassic Coast
The circular walk from Swanage to Dancing Ledge is the perfect challenge if you’re looking for a picturesque hike in Dorset. Spend the day walking through limestone meadows, discovering disused quarries and taking in some of the most spectacular coastal views along the Eastern End of the Jurassic Coast.
The looped walk is approximately 6 miles – or longer if you include the extra 4 mile jaunt to Worth Matravers. I walked this twice in the summer and thoroughly enjoyed the tranquillity, abundant wildlife and the pure beauty of the area.

Durlston Country Park to Anvil Point
My favourite route starts from the Downs in Swanage, just above Prince Albert Gardens and follows the South West Coast path to Durlston Country Park. Here, lottery and heritage funding has vastly improved the area for visitors over the past few years. Recently Durlston received a Gold Award in the Accessible and Inclusive Tourism category at the National Visit England Award for Excellence 2020.
There is a quirky Castle to explore and a Purbeck stone globe, both built by George Burt around 1897. Don’t spend too much time here otherwise you won’t fit the whole walk in!
Follow the path along the coast in a westerly direction, past Tilly Whim Caves and down to the Anvil Point Lighthouse. The lighthouse, originally built in 1881, is now fully automated and controlled by Trinity House in Harwich. Some of the outer buildings have been converted into unique holiday accommodation.
Leaving the lighthouse behind, continue on the lower path in the direction of St Alban’s Head. You will begin to pass the mile markers and all the way you will be treated to the most stunning views of the Jurassic Coast. You will need to climb various stiles and go through gates, but keep to the well-worn path and you can’t go wrong.



Blackers Hole to Dancing Ledge
Blacker’s Hole provides some of the most challenging climbing on the Dorset Coast. Continue on for another mile or so until you reach the signs for Dancing Ledge. Walk round to the stile and down the rough stone steps to the limestone ledge surrounded by steep cliffs. This rugged platform was created by the quarrying of Purbeck Limestone approximately 200 years ago.
The stone was transported directly from the Ledge as the water here is deep enough to permit the transport ships to approach. There is a small swimming pool, which was blasted into the platform for miners and their families to swim. Today it is a favourite with locals and visitors looking to cool down on a hot summer’s day. Please take care if you decide to go for a swim – the area is quite remote and there is no lifeguard service.
Dancing Ledge apparently got its name from being the approximate size of an average ballroom, although there are many more fanciful stories as to how this name came about!


Dancing Ledge to Spyway Barn
Take time to rest at Dancing Ledge and perhaps enjoy your picnic lunch before embarking on the steepest climb of the walk. With your back to the sea, follow the steps back up from Dancing Ledge and over the stile. Keep to the path that leads you up the hill in front towards Spyway Barn. Please keep to this path, as there have been recent cliff slips in the area.
At the top of the hill, turn to admire the view, before going through the gate and walking inland to the barn passing through a meadow where sometimes there are grazing cattle. On reaching Spyway Barn pause a while to take in the information displayed here by the National Trust about the location and the various fauna and flora, which can be seen.
Continue through the barn towards the ‘lone tree’ – a photographers’ favourite in all seasons and here take the right fork to return to Swanage.
Suggested detour to see dinosaur footprints
If you’re feeling energetic and fancy a detour to see dinosaur footprints, there’s an opportunity to extend your walk further. Take a left and follow the directions below indicated by (*)
Priest’s Way Footpath to Swanage
You are now on the Priest’s Way, a route that follows the footsteps of a medieval priest between his two churches at Worth Matravers and Swanage. According to history, he used to walk this route weekly to visit the churches and the villagers in his parishes. You will know you are sticking to the right path as at each gate or stile is the picture of the priest.
Follow the track between fields and hedgerows where you can hear and sometimes glimpse the many tuneful Skylarks that fill the air along with stone chats and red polls in the gorse, blue tits and robins in the hedges. If you are lucky, you may spot playful hares in the meadows.
You will come eventually come upon South Barn. Pick up the path through a gate and continue east towards Swanage or you can go left towards Herston ((there is a signpost to assist with directions at this point). Going left will take you past an old limekiln where limestone was burnt to make ‘quick lime’. This was spread on the soil to reduce acidity and promote plant growth. If it was mixed with water, it could be used to whitewash houses and disinfect animal stalls. Who knew?


You can retrace your steps back to the Swanage path or continue down the gully that will bring you onto the main road just before the turn to Langton Matravers. If you choose this way, follow the road back into Swanage.
Missing out the limekiln, you will come next to Belle View Farm so called as here is another stunning view out to sea and the town just opens up below. Here you can take the upper path, which will lead you to the Townsend Nature Reserve, or the lower path will drop you down into the caravan park. Swanage town centre is easily accessed from both routes.

(*) Worth Matravers and Dinosaur Footprints detour
Walking towards Worth Matravers you will pass many disused quarries, which pepper the Purbeck landscape. The National Trust preserves these sites to promote the development of the natural landscape and provides habitats for rare species like crested newts and horseshoe bats.
Further down the track is Keate’s Quarry where you can see fossilised dinosaur footprints! These were unearthed during quarrying for the Purbeck Stone and have been left in situ for visitors to sit and ponder the size of these animals that once roamed the Dorset countryside.
It is said that the Diplodocus, which walked in the marshy ground here creating the footprints, was estimated to be 30 meters long and weighed 30 tons! Other fossilised footprints discovered at Suttle’s Quarry in 1963 were removed and are now housed at the Natural History Museum.
On leaving the footprints behind, continue passed Eastington Farm, a 17th Century listed farmhouse now owned by the National Trust. Follow the left hand path and cross over two fields, go over the stile onto the road and turn left into the village of Worth Matravers.
In the village you will find a lovely pond complete with resident ducks, a tea shop for refreshments and the very famous Square and Compass Pub dating from 1752. Stop here for a beer or cider and a pasty and investigate the fossil room with interesting historical artefacts discovered in the area ranging from dinosaur fossils, to Roman coins to prehistoric tools. A very novel and quirky place to rest a while. Once you are fully rested, simply re-trace your steps along the Priests Way back to the lone tree. Full directions can be found above.
This is a full day’s walk, especially if you want to cover all sections described, or perhaps you might consider dividing it down into two separate walks. Whichever you decide, I know you will not be disappointed with the walk or the views. Experience Dorset’s Jurassic Coast at its very best!
What should I pack?
- Plenty of water
- Energy snacks
- Hiking poles
- Waterproofs
- Sun cream
- Picnic
If you want to explore the Jurassic Coast further, Cumulus Outdoors offer a variety of outdoor adventure activities in Dorset. Discover the beauty of dancing ledge during a fun-filled climbing, abseiling or coasteering session with our team of qualified instructors. You’ll get a completely unique view of the magnificent section of the Jurassic Coast, that you simply cannot experience from land!
Please get in touch to find out more!