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Park in the southernmost of the two lay-bys on the Ulwell Road out of Swanage.

  1. Go through the gate at the north end of the lay-by.

    Lat:50° 37' 41.6'' N(50.628227°)
    Long:1° 58' 15.2'' W(-1.970878°)
    OSSZ 02156 80949
    w3w: ///pirate.means.promising
  2. Head up the hill past the Swanage Water Act benchmark.

    Lat:50° 37' 42.1'' N(50.628375°)
    Long:1° 58' 15.7'' W(-1.971026°)
    OSSZ 02145 80966
    w3w: ///snowmen.error.behaving
  3. When you reach the point were the path up the hill crosses the path along the foot of the downs, turn right and follow the later path.

    Lat:50° 37' 44'' N(50.628901°)
    Long:1° 58' 15.8'' W(-1.971044°)
    OSSZ 02144 81024
    w3w: ///races.instructs.belong
  4. Keep following this path along the left side of the hedgerow.

    Lat:50° 37' 43.5'' N(50.628749°)
    Long:1° 58' 14.3'' W(-1.97064°)
    OSSZ 02172 81007
    w3w: ///arranger.waving.burn
  5. Go through the gate.

    Lat:50° 37' 43.5'' N(50.628761°)
    Long:1° 57' 53.3'' W(-1.964809°)
    OSSZ 02585 81009
    w3w: ///dynamic.zealous.novels
  6. Cross the path from Swanage to the Studland, and continue along the narrowing path to the left of the hedgerow.

    Lat:50° 37' 45.5'' N(50.629315°)
    Long:1° 57' 33.9'' W(-1.959425°)
    OSSZ 02966 81070
    w3w: ///insurance.rationed.vegans
  7. The path drops down through the wooded coombe before climbing up again, to join the level route.

    Lat:50° 37' 48.2'' N(50.630066°)
    Long:1° 57' 9.3'' W(-1.952597°)
    OSSZ 03449 81154
    w3w: ///radiated.wipes.diplomas
  8. The walk could be extended here by taking the right-hand path, dropping down to the gate in the far distance and out along the Coastal Path to the end of Ballard Down.

    Lat:50° 37' 50.1'' N(50.630571°)
    Long:1° 56' 51.3'' W(-1.947586°)
    OSSZ 03803 81211
    w3w: ///viewer.laws.sounds
  9. Our path, however, gradually ascends to the ridge and becomes indistinct. Head towards the two Round Barrows on the top of the ridge.

    Lat:50° 37' 51.7'' N(50.631037°)
    Long:1° 56' 45.6'' W(-1.945989°)
    OSSZ 03916 81263
    w3w: ///useful.important.options
  10. Turn left at the barrows ...

    Lat:50° 37' 53.7'' N(50.631572°)
    Long:1° 56' 41.6'' W(-1.944886°)
    OSSZ 03994 81322
    w3w: ///cabinet.baguette.latest
  11. .. and follow the broad path as it continues to climb.

    Lat:50° 37' 53.7'' N(50.631572°)
    Long:1° 56' 45.3'' W(-1.945907°)
    OSSZ 03922 81322
    w3w: ///spike.examples.stiffly
  12. Go through the gate, and keep on up the path to the highest point of the walk.

    Lat:50° 37' 51.3'' N(50.630921°)
    Long:1° 57' 56.4'' W(-1.96566°)
    OSSZ 02525 81249
    w3w: ///upper.engineers.spurned
  13. Drop down to the Obelisk, turn left and go over the stile.

    Lat:50° 37' 52.8'' N(50.631338°)
    Long:1° 58' 8.2'' W(-1.968947°)
    OSSZ 02292 81295
    w3w: ///accusing.lighters.impact
  14. Soon the path starts to drop steeply, and eventually it becomes knee jarringly uneven steps.

    Lat:50° 37' 47.2'' N(50.629779°)
    Long:1° 58' 15'' W(-1.970843°)
    OSSZ 02158 81122
    w3w: ///thighs.media.fancied
  15. At the bottom of the steps, cross the path that runs along the foot of the downs and return to the lay-by by the path you came up.

    Lat:50° 37' 44.6'' N(50.629067°)
    Long:1° 58' 16.1'' W(-1.97115°)
    OSSZ 02136 81042
    w3w: ///inclines.email.ember