{"id":76321,"date":"2021-08-19T15:44:05","date_gmt":"2021-08-19T15:44:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/?page_id=76321"},"modified":"2024-02-22T13:59:24","modified_gmt":"2024-02-22T13:59:24","slug":"ballard-down","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/maps-and-resources\/office-geology\/ballard-down\/","title":{"rendered":"Ballard Down, Dorset"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t\t<section class=\"hero-section hero-section-with-social\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hero-info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hero-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1>Ballard Down, Dorset<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Discovering Geology &mdash; Maps and resources<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"social-wrap social-wrap-inline-them\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sea-background-f\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Share this article<\/span><a target=\"_blank\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/maps-and-resources\/office-geology\/ballard-down\/\"><span class=\"icon-facebook\"><span class=\"hidden\">Facebook<\/span><\/span><\/a><a target=\"_blank\"  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Ballard%20Down,%20Dorset&#038;url=https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/maps-and-resources\/office-geology\/ballard-down\/\"><span class=\"icon-twitter\"><span class=\"hidden\">Twitter<\/span><\/span><\/a><a   onclick=\"javascript:void( (function() {var e=document.createElement('script' );e.setAttribute('type','text\/javascript' );e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8' );e.setAttribute('src','\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());\"  href=\"javascript:void(0);\"><span class=\"icon-pinterest\"><span class=\"hidden\">Pinterest<\/span><\/span><\/a><a target=\"_blank\"  href=\"https:\/\/wa.me?text=https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/maps-and-resources\/office-geology\/ballard-down\/\"><span class=\"icon-whatsapp\"><span class=\"hidden\">WhatsApp<\/span><\/span><\/a><a   href=\"mailto:?subject=Ballard%20Down,%20Dorset&#038;body=To%20the%20north%20of%20the%20Swanage%20Bay%20is%20a%20prominent%20headland,%20which%20is%20a%20major%20Cretaceous%20Chalk%20Group%20exposure%20called%20Ballard%20Down.%20(https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/maps-and-resources\/office-geology\/ballard-down\/)\"><span class=\"icon-mail\"><span class=\"hidden\">Email<\/span><\/span><\/a><a href=\"#\" data-copy=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/maps-and-resources\/office-geology\/ballard-down\/\" class=\"copy-url-on-click\"><span class=\"icon-link\"><span class=\"hidden\">Copy Link<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-bgs-blocks-content-container content-section\"><div class=\"container\"><div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-12\">\n<p>Swanage is a coastal resort in the south-east of Dorset, situated at the eastern end of the Isle of Purbeck. The small town\u2019s primary industry is tourism but it is also a small port and fishing village with many Victorian elements. The town is located at the eastern end of the <a href=\"https:\/\/jurassiccoast.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jurassic Coast<\/a>, a stretch of coastline designated as a World Heritage Site. Swanage Bay faces east and is protected from the south-westerly storms. To the north of the bay is a prominent headland, which is a major Cretaceous <a href=\"https:\/\/webapps.bgs.ac.uk\/lexicon\/lexicon.cfm?pub=CK\">Chalk Group<\/a> exposure called <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ballard_Down\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ballard Down<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Swanage_harry_rocks.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;TextRun SCXW253018724 BCX0&quot; lang=&quot;EN-GB&quot; xml:lang=&quot;EN-GB&quot; data-contrast=&quot;auto&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;NormalTextRun SCXW253018724 BCX0&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;TextRun SCXW56740058 BCX0&quot; lang=&quot;EN-GB&quot; xml:lang=&quot;EN-GB&quot; data-contrast=&quot;auto&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;NormalTextRun SCXW56740058 BCX0&quot;&gt;Old\u00a0&lt;\/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;NormalTextRun SCXW56740058 BCX0&quot;&gt;H&lt;\/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;NormalTextRun SCXW56740058 BCX0&quot;&gt;arry Rocks at the end of Ballard Down,\u00a0&lt;\/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;NormalTextRun SCXW56740058 BCX0&quot;&gt;Isle of Purbeck&lt;\/span&gt;&lt;\/span&gt;.&lt;\/span&gt;&lt;\/span&gt; BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_15883\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Swanage_harry_rocks-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur\" alt=\"Old Harry Rocks at the end of Ballard Down\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Swanage_harry_rocks.jpg\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW253018724 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW253018724 BCX0\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW56740058 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW56740058 BCX0\">Old\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW56740058 BCX0\">H<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW56740058 BCX0\">arry Rocks at the end of Ballard Down,\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW56740058 BCX0\">Isle of Purbeck<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Swanage_harry_rocks.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;TextRun SCXW253018724 BCX0&quot; lang=&quot;EN-GB&quot; xml:lang=&quot;EN-GB&quot; data-contrast=&quot;auto&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;NormalTextRun SCXW253018724 BCX0&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;TextRun SCXW56740058 BCX0&quot; lang=&quot;EN-GB&quot; xml:lang=&quot;EN-GB&quot; data-contrast=&quot;auto&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;NormalTextRun SCXW56740058 BCX0&quot;&gt;Old\u00a0&lt;\/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;NormalTextRun SCXW56740058 BCX0&quot;&gt;H&lt;\/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;NormalTextRun SCXW56740058 BCX0&quot;&gt;arry Rocks at the end of Ballard Down,\u00a0&lt;\/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;NormalTextRun SCXW56740058 BCX0&quot;&gt;Isle of Purbeck&lt;\/span&gt;&lt;\/span&gt;.&lt;\/span&gt;&lt;\/span&gt; BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_15883\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>Ballard Down can be reached via several footpaths from Swanage. The chalk grassland that covers the headland is at its prime in the summer when calcareous-loving wildflowers are most abundant. The wildflowers include ragwort, hogweed, purple orchids, bird&#8217;s-foot trefoil, common vetch, scabious, marjoram, harebell \u2014 to name a few!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ballard Down is owned by the National Trust, which allows grazing on the down to prevent it converting to natural beech woodland. An obelisk on down commemorates the building of a new water supply for the town in 1883.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Swanage_headlandl.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;TextRun SCXW253018724 BCX0&quot; lang=&quot;EN-GB&quot; xml:lang=&quot;EN-GB&quot; data-contrast=&quot;auto&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;NormalTextRun SCXW253018724 BCX0&quot;&gt;Ballard Down headland from Swanage.&lt;\/span&gt;&lt;\/span&gt; BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_90145\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Swanage_headlandl-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur\" alt=\"Ballard Down headland from Swanage\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Swanage_headlandl.jpg\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW253018724 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW253018724 BCX0\">Ballard Down headland from Swanage.<\/span><\/span> BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Swanage_headlandl.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;TextRun SCXW253018724 BCX0&quot; lang=&quot;EN-GB&quot; xml:lang=&quot;EN-GB&quot; data-contrast=&quot;auto&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;NormalTextRun SCXW253018724 BCX0&quot;&gt;Ballard Down headland from Swanage.&lt;\/span&gt;&lt;\/span&gt; BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_90145\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>Walking&nbsp;along&nbsp;Ballard Down,&nbsp;the most easterly point is called&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Old_Harry_Rocks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Old Harry Rocks<\/a>.&nbsp;&#8216;Old Harry&#8217;&nbsp;is a sea stack&nbsp;comprised of&nbsp;pure&nbsp;white&nbsp;chalk.&nbsp;Old Harry&nbsp;was formerly linked to the Needles Chalk Hills on the Isle of Wight. Old Harry was formed from a headland that formerly jutted out into the water.&nbsp;Over&nbsp;hundreds&nbsp;of thousands of&nbsp;years,&nbsp;the sea eroded the headland and left the sea stack.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Swanage_chalk_soil.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;TextRun SCXW253018724 BCX0&quot; lang=&quot;EN-GB&quot; xml:lang=&quot;EN-GB&quot; data-contrast=&quot;auto&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;NormalTextRun SCXW253018724 BCX0&quot;&gt;The chalk &#8216;soil&#8217; on Ballard Down.&lt;\/span&gt;&lt;\/span&gt; BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_74720\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Swanage_chalk_soil-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur\" alt=\"Chalk soil at Ballard Down\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Swanage_chalk_soil.jpg\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW253018724 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW253018724 BCX0\">The chalk &#8216;soil&#8217; on Ballard Down.<\/span><\/span> BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Swanage_chalk_soil.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;TextRun SCXW253018724 BCX0&quot; lang=&quot;EN-GB&quot; xml:lang=&quot;EN-GB&quot; data-contrast=&quot;auto&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;NormalTextRun SCXW253018724 BCX0&quot;&gt;The chalk &#8216;soil&#8217; on Ballard Down.&lt;\/span&gt;&lt;\/span&gt; BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_74720\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;chalk&nbsp;of Ballard Down and Old Harry Rock&nbsp;is formed from the shells of tiny marine algae known as coccoliths. Chalk is a type of soft limestone, usually white or pale grey and very friable.&nbsp;Swanage town itself sits on soft&nbsp;clays of the <a href=\"https:\/\/webapps.bgs.ac.uk\/lexicon\/lexicon.cfm?pub=W\">Wealden Group<\/a>, while to the south are&nbsp;hard&nbsp;limestones of the <a href=\"https:\/\/webapps.bgs.ac.uk\/lexicon\/lexicon.cfm?pub=PB\">Purbeck Group<\/a>. The Purbeck limestone was extensively quarried in the past and examples can be seen in the town\u2019s buildings.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Swanage_fauna.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;TextRun SCXW253018724 BCX0&quot; lang=&quot;EN-GB&quot; xml:lang=&quot;EN-GB&quot; data-contrast=&quot;auto&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;NormalTextRun SCXW253018724 BCX0&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;TextRun SCXW117374153 BCX0&quot; lang=&quot;EN-GB&quot; xml:lang=&quot;EN-GB&quot; data-contrast=&quot;auto&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;NormalTextRun SCXW117374153 BCX0&quot;&gt;A huge variety\u00a0&lt;\/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;NormalTextRun SCXW117374153 BCX0&quot;&gt;of flora&lt;\/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;NormalTextRun SCXW117374153 BCX0&quot;&gt; grow on Ballard Down, all of which love &lt;\/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;NormalTextRun SCXW117374153 BCX0&quot;&gt;calcareous&lt;\/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;NormalTextRun SCXW117374153 BCX0&quot;&gt; soil&lt;\/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;NormalTextRun SCXW117374153 BCX0&quot;&gt;. In the summer months, the down is awash with insects and birds&lt;\/span&gt;&lt;\/span&gt;.&lt;\/span&gt;&lt;\/span&gt; BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_152\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Swanage_fauna-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur\" alt=\"fauna on Ballard Down\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Swanage_fauna.jpg\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW253018724 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW253018724 BCX0\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW117374153 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW117374153 BCX0\">A huge variety\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW117374153 BCX0\">of flora<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW117374153 BCX0\"> grow on Ballard Down, all of which love <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW117374153 BCX0\">calcareous<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW117374153 BCX0\"> soil<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW117374153 BCX0\">. In the summer months, the down is awash with insects and birds<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Swanage_fauna.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;TextRun SCXW253018724 BCX0&quot; lang=&quot;EN-GB&quot; xml:lang=&quot;EN-GB&quot; data-contrast=&quot;auto&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;NormalTextRun SCXW253018724 BCX0&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;TextRun SCXW117374153 BCX0&quot; lang=&quot;EN-GB&quot; xml:lang=&quot;EN-GB&quot; data-contrast=&quot;auto&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;NormalTextRun SCXW117374153 BCX0&quot;&gt;A huge variety\u00a0&lt;\/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;NormalTextRun SCXW117374153 BCX0&quot;&gt;of flora&lt;\/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;NormalTextRun SCXW117374153 BCX0&quot;&gt; grow on Ballard Down, all of which love &lt;\/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;NormalTextRun SCXW117374153 BCX0&quot;&gt;calcareous&lt;\/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;NormalTextRun SCXW117374153 BCX0&quot;&gt; soil&lt;\/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;NormalTextRun SCXW117374153 BCX0&quot;&gt;. In the summer months, the down is awash with insects and birds&lt;\/span&gt;&lt;\/span&gt;.&lt;\/span&gt;&lt;\/span&gt; BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_152\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>Back in Swanage, the beach is pebbly in parts, with pebbles mainly composed of&nbsp;hard&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Flint\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">flint<\/a>, which occurs&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;chalk. Flint&nbsp;is a type of&nbsp;quartz&nbsp;formed from silica sponges through a geological process of melting and condensing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Further information<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The walk from Swanage over Ballad Down to Old&nbsp;Harry Rocks is strenuous in parts and the weather can be unpredictable on the down. From the down,&nbsp;the views across Dorset\u2019s coast and countryside are breathtaking.&nbsp;The&nbsp;chalk cliffs at Old Harry Rocks are vertical and potentially dangerous. Stay on the well-worn path and keep a good distance from the cliff edge.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><em>Visit Swanage<\/em>&nbsp;provides tourist information as part of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.visit-dorset.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>VISIT DORSET.com<\/em><\/a><\/li><li>Approximately 10&nbsp;km to the west of Ballard Down is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/maps-and-resources\/office-geology\/kimmeridge-bay-dorset\/\">Kimmeridge Bay<\/a> and  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/maps-and-resources\/office-geology\/lulworth-cove-and-durdle-door-dorset\/\" class=\"broken_link\">Lulworth Cove<\/a> lies a further 5&nbsp;km west<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\t\t<h2>About the author<\/h2>\n\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"cards cards-contact no-shape\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/P1036132-500-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"Prof Mel Leng\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/P1036132-500.jpg\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5>Prof Melanie Leng<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>BGS Chief Scientist, environmental change, adaptation and resilience<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>BGS Keyworth<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/people\/leng-melanie\/\">Find out more<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"relatives\">\n\t\t\t\t<h5>Relative topics<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/tag\/postcard-geology\/\" class=\"button primary-background\">postcard geology<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/tag\/world-heritage-sites\/\" class=\"button primary-background\">world heritage sites<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<section   id=\"latest-content-5204-block_608869028b6f7\" class=\"grid-section  primary-background   \" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row header-of-section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>You may also be interested in<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row grid-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-lg-6 col-12\">\n\t<div class=\"cards cards-orizontal-sm  cards-find-more  cards-bordered\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/feature_homepage_p815563-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"Ammonite p815563\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/feature_homepage_p815563.jpg\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/\">Discovering Geology<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Discovering Geology introduces a range of geoscience topics to school-age students and learners of all ages.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-6 col-12\">\n\t<div class=\"cards cards-orizontal-sm  cards-find-more  cards-bordered\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/maps-and-resources\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Maps_and_resources_feature-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"Maps and resources feature image P542895\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Maps_and_resources_feature.jpg\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/maps-and-resources\/\">Maps and resources<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Download and print free educational resources.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/maps-and-resources\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-6 col-12\">\n\t<div class=\"cards cards-orizontal-sm  cards-find-more  cards-bordered\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/maps-and-resources\/office-geology\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Scarborough_headland-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"Scarborough Castle headland\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Scarborough_headland.jpg\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/maps-and-resources\/office-geology\/\">Postcard geology<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Find out more about sites of geological interest around the UK, as described by BGS staff.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/maps-and-resources\/office-geology\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>To the north of the Swanage Bay is a prominent headland, which is a major Cretaceous Chalk Group exposure called Ballard Down.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":76323,"parent":71982,"menu_order":13,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"on","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"ballard down, dorset, chalk","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"50567,37440,62204,37431,8435,37384","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[1070,1345],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Ballard Down, Dorset - British Geological Survey<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, 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