South West Coast Path and return via Priest’s Way
Duration: 5 hours
Distance: 19 kms (12 miles)
Total Ascent: 380m
Difficulty: Moderate
An excellent day walk with fine cliff top views and an opportunity for a lunch stop (pint and a pasty) at the popular Square and Compass pub or your packed lunch at one of the numerous rocky bays or cliff tops along the way. This route combines three of the described walks – Swanage to Durlston, Durlston to Dancing Ledge and Worth Matravers (short) [Note to extend the walk further, instead of heading inland at Winspit to Worth Matravers, continue on the South West Coast Path via the St. Aldhelm’s Head walk, heading inland to Worth Matravers via the Renscombe Farm car park].
The return to Swanage from Worth Matravers is via an ancient track known as Priest’s Way (click on link for map). Exit the village by following the road eastwards in the direction of Langton Matravers and Swanage, then opposite the large barn take the footpath which runs diagonally across the field towards Eastington Farm, from where the footpath widens into a well defined track. Continue along Priest’s Way. [Note when due south of Langton Matravers there is a footpath to Dancing Ledge which gives the option of returning via the route described in the Durlston to Dancing Ledge walk. Not far off this path junction is the National Trust owned Spyway Barn which has a collection of information boards on the local flora, fauna an history of the area]. Follow the Priest’s Way markers to the outskirts of Swanage where the footpath turns to the Priest Way road and then Priest’s Rd. Follow the High St down into the centre of Swanage and turn left at the coast to return to The White House.
The White House - Swanage 