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- Ballard Down is an area of chalk downland on the Purbeck Hills in the English county of Dorset. The hills meet the English Channel here, and Ballard Down forms a headland, Ballard Point, between Studland Bay to the north and Swanage Bay to the south.
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What type of rock is Ballard Down & Old Harry rock?
Swanage Bay faces east and is protected from the south-westerly storms. To the north of the bay is a prominent headland, which is a major Cretaceous Chalk Group exposure called Ballard Down.
- Old Harry Rocks Walk – Details and Map
- Old Harry Rocks Circular Walk Route
- Refreshments and Relaxation
- Wildlife on Your Old Harry Rocks Walk
- Download Printable Pdf of This Route
Distance: 6.5km / 4 milesTime: 1.5 – 2 hoursElevation Gain:201mDifficulty:Easy-ModerateStep 1 – Car Park to Old Harry Rocks
Walk out of the car park and turn right. Follow the road down hill past the Bankes Arms pub. At the bottom of the hill, you will see a path on the left leading to the beach, followed by a small white brick building containing public toilets. Next to the toilets is a gravel and stone track signposted for Old Harry Rocks. Turn left to follow this track uphillin the shade of tunnelling trees. The walk to Old Harry Rocks is one mile and takes around 20 minutes. Simply keep following the path. As...
What Are Old Harry Rocks?
Old Harry Rocks mark the easternmost point of the Dorset Jurassic Coast. These are a group of chalk rock stacksstretching out into the sea from Handfast Point on the Isle of Purbeck. Local legend holds that the rocks are named after Harry Paye, a pirate from nearby Poole. Once upon a time, Purbeck and the Isle of Wight were connected by a chalk ridge. Old Harry Rocks, and their counterpoint The Needles on the Isle of Wight, are remainders of this chalk ridge.
Step 2 – Rejoin the SW Coast Path
Once you’re done with Old Harry,follow the grass track up the other side of the headland.Simply keep the sea on your left and climb uphill. In summer, the chalk grassland on your right is covered with buttercups and yellow kidney vetch, making it especially pretty. After about 15 mins you will come to a wooden gate.Turn around here for an exceptional view of the Pinnacle Stack. Walk carefully towards the cliff edge for an excellent view of the stacks, but don’t get too close!
If you need refreshments before heading home, the Bankes Arms is a lovely pub with a fab beer garden for summer and roaring log fires during winter. Joe’s Cafe on the beach has some really great snacks, as well as local Purbeck ice cream! Also nearby is the famous PIG on the Beachfor a fancy meal or a sumptuous afternoon tea in the gardens. To cool...
This Old Harry Rocks walk passes through several different areas,from coast to chalk grassland to leafy countryside. So keep your eyes peeled for the local flora and fauna. The grasslands across the top of Old Harry Rocks and Ballard Down are known for their stunning array of wildflowers, especially in summer. If you’re lucky, you can sometimes spo...
If you prefer a paper route to follow, I’ve put together a FREE printable PDF of my Old Harry Rocks walk instructions. Click here to download. I’ve taken out the detail and the optional extensions, so you might still find it easier loading this page on your phone to follow. If you’re worried about signal problems, save the page to a reader like the...
A circular walk with breathtaking panoramic views across Dorset's coast and countryside. The route starts in Studland, follows the South West Coast Path and then travels along Ballard...
- 4½ miles
Short walk along the Jurrassic Coast from Studland. Route includes Old Harry & Ballard Down with views across Swanage Bay. With maps and GPS file.
It takes you along the flat, grassy ridge of Ballard Down, which, as the name suggests, is a chalk downland and part of the Purbeck Hills, to Old Harry Rocks. The views along this ridge are truly spectacular stretching over Poole Harbour on the north side and over Swanage on the south.
Ballard Down (see (Figure 4.1) for general location) forms a distinct promontory at the eastern end of the Isle of Purbeck where differential erosion of sands and clays to the north and south of the Chalk cuesta has produced Studland Bay and Swanage Bay respectively.
