Beach walk to the base of Ballard Down cliff
Duration: 40 mins
Distance: 2.5 kms (1.5 miles)
Total Ascent: 20 m
Difficulty: Easy
Just two minutes from The White House, a great option for an early morning stroll along the beach with the dog. However there are a number of groynes that need to be negotiated, plus the foot of the cliffs by Shep’s Hollow is difficult to pass at high tide, so it is best to keep an eye on the tide times when conducting this walk.
Head up Burlington Rd towards the Grand Hotel and take the path down to the beach that runs to the left of the hotel. At the bottom by the beach huts turn left and at first walk along the promenade before dropping down on to the beach. Five groynes need to be crossed before reaching the open beach that takes you to the foot of Ballard Down cliff after which you need to turn and retrace your steps. There is no way around the base of the cliffs.
[Note there are two alternative routes off the beach that take you up onto the South West Coast Path. The first is a set of steps at Shep’s Hollow by the end groyne that have recently been repaired and opened (November 2024) following a previous storm. When open this route enables you to either join the footpath to Ballard Down (see Swanage to Studland walk) or return, left, in the direction of the town. The second route is a well hidden track cut through the trees and bushes in a depression towards the end of the beach, before you reach the large pile of chalk stones. However a large landslip in the summer 2021 has destroyed the larger of the two access points. Note that having found the narrow second entrance, the route is steep and muddy in places where locals have cut footholds into the ground and provided tethered ropes to help you negotiate your way up the path. User discretion is thus recommended!]
The White House - Swanage 