Ballard Down Group Walks | Join a Walk
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Elevation
162m
531 ft
Prominence
65m
Coordinates
50.6310, -1.9658
SZ025812
OS Map
195
Explorer: OL15E
The summit features a large, well-placed trig point that serves as a perfect photo opportunity, overlooking the sweeping coastal vistas.
Ballard Down primarily consists of chalk, a soft, white rock formed from marine organisms that offers fascinating exposure to the Earth's geological history.
Views extend to the Isle of Purbeck, the English Channel, and the jagged coastline of Dorset.
The name 'Ballard' might derive from the old English 'Bealuweard,' meaning 'the place of the bear.' Not that anyone has seen a bear up here since the Stone Age.
Historically, this area was significant in both military strategy and agriculture, with remnants of ancient earthworks still visible.
A classic circular route starting from the village of Swanage, offering stunning views over Studland Bay and Purbeck Hills.
There is a small car park at the top of Ballard Down, however, spaces are limited. Parking in Swanage is recommended, approximately 2.5 km walk away.
Swanage can be accessed via the Purbeck Breezer bus service from Wareham, particularly in the summer months.
There are public toilets and cafes in Swanage that offer a range of refreshments; ideal for fuelling up before or after your adventure.
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Some common questions about the hills answered
Many walkers use Walkmates to join or organise walks with others. You can check for group walks around Ballard Down through the maps
Activity varies by location and time, but Walkmates lets you see whether others have shared walks or shown interest in this area. Find other people through the walking friends search walking friends for Ballard Down search or of course create your own walk for Ballard Down
Yes. If there aren’t any walks listed already, you can create a walk and make it available for others to join.
If you're signed up to Walkmates, you can create a walk to Ballard Down.
There are often multiple ways to walk this hill, depending on experience and route preference. Walkmates helps you explore walks and routes that others have shared.
Yes. You can suggest or create routes to share with others. Walkmates focuses on the social side of walking, so routes are used to help people organise walks and explore areas together, rather than as detailed navigation tools or route libraries.
Other uses really appreciate knowledgeable walkers sharing their routes. Share your favourite route to Ballard Down here
We always strive to keep the information on Walkmates as accurate as possible. If you find an error, please let us know through the contact form and we'll aim to correct it as quickly as possible
Grid Ref: SZ025812
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