Scratch Arse Ware and Dancing Ledge walk
Don’t let the name put you off – Scratch Arse Ware offers superb sea views and an alternative route to Dancing Ledge, one of the best-loved spots on the Purbeck coast. A ware is a local name for land used as rough grazing.
Map
Start:
Spyway car park, grid ref: SY997784
1
From the car park go through the gate and follow the path down to Spyway Barn. Bought by the Trust in the early 1990s, the barn houses a display room highlighting local wildlife, conservation and history of the area. Spyway refers to smuggling activities that took place along the coast.
Sycamore tree
Look out for this sycamore tree along the walk. Its thought that it may have once been used as a hangman's tree.
2
At the barn, stop and take a look at the display room to find out more about conservation in this area
3
Go through the gate to the left of the barn and across the first field. Head for the far gate in the second field, stopping to take a look at the sculpture of a Limousin cow, an important grassland grazer, sculpted by Sarah Moore.
4
Head through the kissing gate and turn right, following the wall across this valuable limestone grassland, until you reach a second kissing gate. Pass through this gate and continue along the fence line until you reach a field gate and Scratch Arse Ware.
Scratch Arse Ware
The meaning behind the Scratch Arse part of the name is unclear, although land for rough grazing is normally known as Ware. Limestone grassland here is managed for conservation without using fertilizers or chemicals. This allows a variety of wild flowers and gorse to grow, ensuring a plentiful supply of food for insects, birds and wildlife.
5
From here, continue to walk along the wall constructed from the locally quarried Purbeck limestone. Take a rest on the bench before walking to and taking the diagonal path down towards the coast. Breathe in the gorse aroma in the spring and enjoy its vibrancy.
Dry stone walls
This traditional way of setting field boundaries using the limestone which defines the landscape has been used in south Purbeck for centuries. Dry stone walling is a skilled craft which is kept alive today by National Trust volunteers who help maintain the area’s ancient network of walls.
6
On reaching the cliff fence at the bottom, turn left and join the South West Coast Path. From here, head through the gates, passing Dancing Ledge. Feel free to take a detour down to this part of the coast, before continuing through a third gate and taking the left fork marked Upper Path to Durlston.
7
Follow the left path through the gap in the wall, bearing right in a field towards the hedgerow gap and waymarker to Langton. With the wall on your left, continue to the top and beyond.
8
Continue along the fence line and over the stile before reaching a field gate and stone stile on the left. Use the gate or stile to enter the adjacent field and, with the wall line now on your right, continue to the gate and stile on Priests Way.
9
Turning left, follow Priests Way, keeping right before reaching the fork and continuing right, back to the car park and village of Langton Matravers.
End:
Spyway car park, grid ref: SY997784