A "dramatic" Dorset tidal pool which offers "refreshing dips" by the sea has been named among the most beautiful to visit in the UK.

Dancing Ledge near Swanage was featured in the article from CN Traveller, which was created by writer Freya Bromley.

Tidal pools as a subject helped her overcome a personal tragedy after her younger brother, Tom, died of bone cancer in 2016.

She explained: "I needed to dip my toes into my emotions – anger, regret, guilt and confusion – without being swept away, so I travelled to every tidal pool in Britain and wrote about my adventure in The Tidal Year.



"My hope was that cold water could be a natural antidote to loss, and “fix” me. I didn’t find what I was looking for, but I did find people who shared my passion, many of whom were also searching for something in the chilly water."

Overall, Bromley found tidal pools to be "symbols of community, resilience and hope" which helped her create a list detailing the most beautiful in the UK.

For clarification, a tidal pool is a natural seawater pool filled by the tide with a manmade element, such as metal steps or a concrete boundary.

The full list of the most beautiful tidal pools in the UK can be found on the CN Traveller website here.

@shannonlawford Save this video for your next trip to Dorset! . I’ve been spending all summer in search of some amazing wild swimming spots, and this one has definitely ranked high on my list! . I went for a swim here just a few days ago in November! It was a little chilly but definitely not the coldest swim I’ve done. . Definitely think it’s worth a visit! . #tidalpool #dorsettiktok #travel #ukhiddengems #ukplacestovisit #jurassiccoast #dancingledge ♬ In the Bosom - Sweet After Tears

What was said about Dancing Ledge?

Dancing Ledge was featured for its scenic views and rough-around-the-edges charm, which extends to the way it came to exist.

Bromley wrote: "Everything about Dancing Ledge is dramatic: the views across the Jurassic Coast, the rough waves beating against the cliffs and even its origin story.

"About 100 years ago a local schoolmaster used dynamite to blast a pool into this rocky platform so that children could swim here.

"What’s left is a lozenge-shaped pool sheltered from the ocean for refreshing dips after the vertiginous hike to get here.

@charlotteclarkeuk A natural sea pool to ourselves 🤩 Would you swim here? 📍 Dancing Ledge, Dorset UK #wildswimming #fyp #wildswim #seaswim #seadip #coldwatertherapy #seapool ♬ Children of the Sky (a Starfield song) - Imagine Dragons

"All of it is overseen by seabirds nesting on the sheer cliffs: guillemots, razorbills and the South Coast’s most easterly colony of puffins."

To get down to the tidal pool at Dancing Ledge you'll need to walk from the nearby village of Langton Matravers.


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From here it is a fairly steep cliff walk down which makes it a bit of a scramble as a result.

Therefore, it is not really suitable for young children to try and make their way down.

Additionally, whilst the tidal pool is safe to swim in, the sea around Dancing Ledge is not due to the strong currents.