Dancing Ledge
A flat sea-level rock shelf left behind by quarrying, with a tidal swimming pool blasted out of the rock that is one of Britain's best-known wild swimming spots.
Dancing Ledge lies south of the village of Langton Matravers. The name comes from the way waves leap across the rock surface at high tide. The area was once a Purbeck stone quarry. In the early 20th century, a nearby school used explosives to blast out a tidal pool where pupils could swim. Today it is popular with wild swimmers and climbers. The walk from the village car park takes about 30 minutes, and the final section requires climbing down rock steps. Swimming is banned when the waves are rough.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Swanage Railway
- Swanage
- Durlston Country Park
- Corfe Castle
- Studland Bay
- Old Harry Rocks
- Brownsea Island
- The Etches Collection