Park in the southernmost of the two lay-bys on the Ulwell Road out of Swanage.
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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°) OS SZ 02156 80949 w3w: ///pirate.means.promising -
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°) OS SZ 02145 80966 w3w: ///snowmen.error.behaving -
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°) OS SZ 02144 81024 w3w: ///races.instructs.belong -
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°) OS SZ 02172 81007 w3w: ///arranger.waving.burn -
Go through the gate.
Lat: 50° 37' 43.5'' N (50.628761°) Long: 1° 57' 53.3'' W (-1.964809°) OS SZ 02585 81009 w3w: ///dynamic.zealous.novels -
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°) OS SZ 02966 81070 w3w: ///insurance.rationed.vegans -
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°) OS SZ 03449 81154 w3w: ///radiated.wipes.diplomas -
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°) OS SZ 03803 81211 w3w: ///viewer.laws.sounds -
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°) OS SZ 03916 81263 w3w: ///useful.important.options -
Turn left at the barrows ...
Lat: 50° 37' 53.7'' N (50.631572°) Long: 1° 56' 41.6'' W (-1.944886°) OS SZ 03994 81322 w3w: ///cabinet.baguette.latest -
.. 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°) OS SZ 03922 81322 w3w: ///spike.examples.stiffly -
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°) OS SZ 02525 81249 w3w: ///upper.engineers.spurned -
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°) OS SZ 02292 81295 w3w: ///accusing.lighters.impact -
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°) OS SZ 02158 81122 w3w: ///thighs.media.fancied -
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°) OS SZ 02136 81042 w3w: ///inclines.email.ember