Dancing Ledge

Walking down from Spyway Farm

Almost down

It was a clear sunny day again. Van-Man switched on the engine and was puzzled by a message saying change the engine oil. He grunted, “far too early to do the oil.” He promptly checked the dipstick but the oil level was fine.

But Dancing Ledge is an abseil away

After breakfast we headed for Spyway which was around on the Jurassic coast and walk to Dancing Ledge. After a narrow approach road we found the NT car park at Spyway we left at 10.45 for our walk. It began across fields full of wild flowers. The path then went through a farm where Lottie found an animal water trough where she had a drink as it was already warm. Beyond the farm there were no animals in the fields so Lottie ran free. When we met the coast path we found it was high above Dancing Ledge with a steep descent and a strenuous climb back up. While we were debating what to do Lottie began descending so we shrugged and followed her.The steepness of the hill made our calf muscles ache.

How do I get down there?

 We reached the cliff edge which was protected by a sturdy fence but Dancing Ledge was signposted over a stile onto another steep descent hugging the cliff.

Lottie seemed keen to carry on even though it was hot. I guess she was hoping to cool off in the sea. Thankfully a breeze helped us cope with the heat. We carried on with Lottie on the lead in case there were sudden drops. We reached the lower level then realised there was a further sheer cliff face down to Dancing Ledge. We were close enough to see it but couldn’t reach the water.

Adventurers at play

The Adventure Training Camps had people in wetsuits and helmets climbing down the rock face. Some were in the sea, some were in the cave and some were jumping into the sea from a ledge. They all had buoyancy aids and group leaders had emergency lines to throw if anyone got into difficulties. We wandered around on our level watching the activities and looking at the views and the abundant flowers growing in thick clusters on the rock.

Rocky coastline

that looks fun

We soon grew too hot in the sun as there was no shade and the breeze did not reach this ledge. I had my water bottle but Lottie would soon get thirsty. Reluctantly we set off up the hill to Spyway Farm following a grey haired couple who soon increased the gap back to us. We stopped at the coast path to rest with a daunting climb ahead of us and the older couple soon disappeared over the top.

at the cliff face

starting o go up

I let Van-Man squirt water into Lottie’s mouth and patted water on her back, chest and tummy to cool her down. While we were catching our breath the first group of kids came up from Dancing Ledge and started the climb up. We let them pass and followed them, and managed not to lag too far behind them even though we took several short rests.

The second group started to catch us but we reached the top first. However the children and their adults passed us on the gently sloping fields.

and up through the flowers

hardy beauties

Lottie went back to the trough and had a long drink then plodded back to the van where she laid in the shade letting the breeze cool her down. Van-Man kept her company while I got lunch. Thankfully drawing the blinds before our walk and opening windows and lifting the hatches on our return soon cooled the van down.

While eating his lunch two crows came over to scavenge for crumbs. Lottie sent them away but they came back when she wasn’t looking. She also had her snooze disturbed by two other dogs coming over. Our tired Lurcher woofed ‘go away.’

Corfe rules over the landscape

We decided to go to Knoll Beach but as we had to go via Corfe Castle we took a different winding road. On the summit there was a lay-by with excellent views of Corfe Castle.

We eventually parked at Knoll Beach N T car park which had good facilities including a restaurant, coffee shop N T shop and toilets.

Though hot it was not busy. We set off for a walk along the beach towards Shell Bay noticing a thick belt of dried up seaweed along the length of the beach.

Knoll Beach

Old Harry again

Lottie dipped her feet in the sea but was more interested in the sand dunes. As it was close to high tide the beach was quite narrow so we headed into them with Lottie on the lead because of nesting birds. Lottie soon showed she wanted to return to the van via the dunes and a woodland area. This was the most commercial of the beaches around Studland Bay. We did not take any refreshment but chatted to a NT volunteer who confirmed that the white cliffs we could see in the distance was the Isle of Wight. We could just make out the Needles.

It looked as if the Needles were once part of a landmass linking the Isle if Wight to the mainland as Old Harry rocks were in a direct line with them. The seaweed on the beach we were told was partly to stop the erosion of the sand and was only cleared away once a year.Back at the van Lottie seemed hungry so Van-Man fed her while we enjoyed cold fruit juice from our fridge. We headed back to the campsite for a quiet evening. 

Tomorrow we head to Newquay and the bustle that meeting up with a family with five children provides.