We left Old Harry Rocks and turned south, walking along the clifftop path towards Ballard Down. More chalk stacks can be found just to the south of Old Harry, known as The Pinnacles.
The Pinnacles stand at Parson’s Barn, an one-time cavern which was cut into the cliffs by the sea. Parson’s Barn was used as a smuggler’s cave some centuries ago, but the sea continued to erode it and eventually the roof collapsed in. After this it became one of many small bays cut into the cliffs.
As we walked up onto Ballard Cliff the whole of Swanage Bay opened up before us.
I stood captivated at the landscape below with its layers of sand, shingle, surf and seaweed. It was a grey day and I wasn’t expecting such transient beauty!
Points on this part of the walk (copy and paste the co-ordinates into Google Earth):
- The Pinnacles: N 50° 38.240 W 001° 55.635
- Ballard Cliff: N 50° 37.840 W 001° 56.350
- Layers in the Sand: N 50° 37.700 W 001° 56.770
Walk #76 Statistics (of which this post forms the third part):
- Date of Walk: 26 December 2014
- Walk #76 total distance covered: 6.83 miles
- Coast of Britain Walk Total Distance Covered: 641.45 miles
- CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO INTERACTIVE MAP!!!
The Coastal Path 