Dancing Ledge is one of those must see views in your lifetime if you’re exploring the South West coast path. You may even get lucky and spot the puffins nesting in the limestone cliffs.
This Swanage to Dancing Ledge walk is approximately 2.5 miles (linear) or 5 miles circular starting from Durlston Country Park. There is a shorter route to see Dancing Ledge as well if you don’t want to walk from Swanage.
Facilities and Parking At Durlston Country Park
There is parking available at Durlston Country Park. On site you’ll also find toilets and a cafe. You could spend a few hours just exploring the paths and scenery at the Country Park, but save your energy if you’re planning this Jurassic Coast walk.
Durlston Country Park To Dancing Ledge Walk
From the south west corner of Durlston Country Park, you’ll find the South West Coast marker directing you towards Dancing Ledge. The marker tells you it’s 2.5 miles to Dancing Ledge.
Following the path away from Durlston Country Park, you’ll pass some great view points. do stop and admire the views, they are truly spectacular, especially on a sunny day.
Tilly Whim Caves
The first point of interest along the way is Tilly Whim Caves. The caves are three stone quarries. Access is closed off, but there are information points with the history available to read.
Anvil Point Lighthouse
Just outside of the country park, you’ll see Anvil Point lighthouse in the distance. This was built in 1881 by Trinity House as a waypoint for vessels along the English Channel coast.
The terrain along the coastal path becomes a little rocky at this point. The incline and descent isn’t very challenging and there are steps in the ground to take you down before your short climb back up.
Once you reach Anvil Point lighthouse (a location you can now stay in), the terrain turns to grass and tracks along the end of fields.
Anvil Point To Dancing Ledge
You will pass lots of stone walls leading up the hill, showing you just how low down you are at this point. Although the cliff is still a long way up from the sea level. A lot of the walk along these paths are fairly flat and easy to walk on.
If you choose to walk when the weather hasn’t been good, I would suggest the ground would be boggy, so something to bear in mind.
We passed through a few kissing gates, and spotted some cattle faeces. This suggests you may also see cattle in the fields, however we didn’t see any.
The majority of the path is well laid out, and there are only a few area where we spotted large rocks and tree roots jutting out. Along the walk there are two milestones to pass before reaching Dancing Ledge.
The first is the Nautical Mile Marker Base. These are two pairs of pylons that mark out a nautical mile on the coast. The second is Guillemot Ledge which is on the highest section of cliff along the Swanage coastline.
Just past Guillemot Ledge is the final kissing gate before reaching Dancing Ledge. You know you’ve arrived as you’re treated to a nice view in the distance from the top of the cliff before making your descent.
This is also where you may start to see more people as they have made the journey to see Dancing Ledge.
Dancing Ledge
The area down to Dancing Ledge has multiple stiles in the fenced off area for you to climb over.
There are steps down to the ledge itself as well, but remember this is NOT an area to go swimming along the South West Coast Path. There is no shore line at Dancing Ledge and swimming is very unsafe here.
Dancing Ledge To Durlston Country Park
To return to Durlston Country Park, you can choose to walk back the way you came, or to climb up the hill towards Spyway Barn and take the Priest’s Way along the top of the cliffs. This way takes you through more fields and over stiles back to Durlston.
Visiting Dancing Ledge From Spyway Car Park
If you don’t fancy the walk from Swanage and Durlston Country Park, you can park at the National Trust Spyway Car Park. The Spyway car park address is Durnford Drove, Langton Matravers, Swanage BH19 3HG.
A short walk past Spyway Barn and to the top of the cliff near Dancing Ledge doesn’t take too long to walk.
The walk down to Dancing Ledge is quite pleasant but the walk back up is not so forgiving! It’s worth bearing in mind that you lose mobile signal when you are near Dancing Ledge.