Swanage East Route 1

The detailed walk is below or in PDF format if you wish to print it: 

Swanage, East Circular Route 1

How to get there: - Grid Reference 022809; On approaching Corfe Castle from Wareham, turn left for Studland just after the National Trust car park. After 3 ½ miles, just before Purbeck Golf Club, take the right turn, signposted Swanage 2 ½ miles.

At the next junction, turn right for Swanage and park in the lay-bye with the large stone plinth saying ‘Welcome to Swanage’.

On the left, near the start of the lay-bye, take the small swing gate, go straight ahead 100m to the path crossroads and turn Right.

Continue along the path for 400 metres, taking you into the National trust Ballard Down area and continue ahead, giving you excellent views across Swanage to your right.

Avoid any forks to your left and after another 400 metres you will meet another path from the right (here you will have a gate to your right to Swanage).

Turn left here and ascend towards the Ridgeway of Ballard Down (250 metres). You have seats available at regular intervals for resting and taking in the views across Swanage and the bay.

As the path levels off at the top, turn sharp left and walk up to the top of the Ridgeway. At the Ridgeway you will get a panoramic view of Poole Harbour as well as Swanage to your left.

You now need to turn left and head along the Ridgeway towards the masts in the distance.

Follow the path through the gate and drop down, past the Obelisk and follow the path down to the road (As an alternative, you can turn directly left here down the steps back to the lay-bye).

Cross the road carefully and turn left, walking down the grass verge for about 300 metres. For the following 300 metres, you will need to walk on the right-hand side of the road until you meet the road junction on your right.

Cross the road into the small open area (signpost here for the Coastpath 1 ¾ miles), go over the stile, and after about 20 metres, follow the footpath sign to your right.

Continue along the path for 400 metres, through the gate, and about 30 metres after the gate, fork right and follow the path down to the lay-bye.