Climbs 813 m and descends 874 m, topping out at 126 m and dropping to 0 m. Measured along the mapped route.
What you walk on, by distance (from OpenStreetMap way types).
Four axes rated 1–5 — the single rating above is only the headline.
Past Dancing Ledge and Anvil Point to Swanage, then over Ballard Down to Old Harry Rocks and the finish at South Haven Point.
This stage depends on 1 crossing. Check times before you set out — most are seasonal or tide-bound, and the inland detour is long.
Places on this leg with a full history, and free audio guides you can read or hear.
Worth Matravers to South Haven Point is 16.7 miles (26.9 km). Allow about 9 h 6 min of walking, before stops.
Stage 52 climbs about 813 m and descends about 874 m, with a high point of about 126 m. On the South West Coast Path the ascent, not the distance, is what decides how long a day takes — the route repeatedly drops to sea level and climbs straight back out.
It is graded hard. Rated out of five: physical demand 5/5 (Severe), terrain 3/5 (Moderate), navigation 2/5 (Modest), remoteness 2/5 (Modest). On the SAC hiking scale it is T2 — some steep, rough or uneven ground.
By distance the surface is footpath 84%, bridleway 1%, track 6%, road & lane 8%, other 1%. Percentages come from the mapped way types along the route.
March to October is the usual window for this leg. Outside it, daylight is short, some estuary ferries stop running and cliff-top wind and rain make an exposed route much harder work.
Water on this stage is moderate. We map 6 refill points on the leg — mostly pubs, cafés and taps in the villages the path passes through. Shade is minimal: this is open cliff-top walking, so carry more than you think in summer.
Yes — Studland–Sandbanks chain ferry. Year-round vehicle/foot chain ferry across the mouth of Poole Harbour at Shell Bay, beside the South Haven Point finish.
Highlights on this leg are Dancing Ledge, Old Harry Rocks, South Haven Point — the finish. It also passes 3 places we cover in depth: Corfe Castle, Old Harry Rocks, South Haven Point - The Finish. There are 3 free audio guides between them.
Chain ferry/road finish at Sandbanks.