Pilsdon Pen is one of the highest points in Dorset and the site of an impressive Iron Age hillfort overlooking the beautiful Marshwood Vale in West Dorset.
Rising to around 277 metres (909 feet), the hill provides some of the finest panoramic views in this part of the county. On a clear day, views extend across the surrounding hills towards the Jurassic Coast and far beyond Dorset.
The summit is surrounded by substantial banks and ditches constructed during the Iron Age, although archaeological evidence shows that people were using Pilsdon Pen thousands of years before the hillfort was built.
The site is now cared for by the National Trust and is free to visit.
Admission: Free
Parking: Limited roadside parking
Facilities: None
Recommended visit: Allow around 1–1½ hours
Walking to the Top of Pilsdon Pen
Pilsdon Pen is reached from the B3164, approximately 3 miles south-west of Broadwindsor.
There is no formal visitor car park, but a roadside lay-by at the bottom of the hill provides limited parking. From here, a footpath climbs steeply towards the summit.
The walk is relatively short, but the climb is quite steep. Once at the top, grassy paths allow you to explore the interior of the hillfort and walk along sections of its ancient ramparts.
The ground can be uneven and slippery in wet weather, so suitable footwear is recommended.
Views from Pilsdon Pen
The views are one of the main reasons to make the climb.
Pilsdon Pen rises high above Marshwood Vale, an attractive landscape of rolling hills, woodland and farmland stretching towards the Jurassic Coast.
On a clear day you can see Golden Cap and the sea to the south, while views extend towards the Hardy Monument in the east and Exmoor and the Quantock Hills to the west. To the north it is sometimes possible to see as far as the Mendip Hills.
Several other ancient hillforts occupy prominent hills in the surrounding landscape, including Lewesdon Hill, Lambert’s Castle and Coney’s Castle.
Pilsdon Pen Hillfort
The large earthworks surrounding the summit were constructed during the Iron Age.
Pilsdon Pen is a multivallate hillfort, meaning it was protected by several lines of banks and ditches. The fort encloses around 2.8 hectares, with as many as three concentric ramparts protecting parts of the hilltop.
Archaeological excavations carried out between 1964 and 1971 uncovered evidence of roundhouses and pits within the fort. Finds included pottery, sling stones, evidence of metalworking and a gold coin.
The main period of occupation appears to have been during the later Iron Age, although the hilltop had already been important for thousands of years.
Today the ramparts remain clearly visible and give a good impression of the scale of the ancient fortifications.
Before the Iron Age
Pilsdon Pen has a much longer history than the hillfort itself.
Flint tools discovered on the hill provide evidence of human activity dating back thousands of years, while two prehistoric burial mounds survive within the later Iron Age fort.
These burial mounds date from the Late Neolithic or Bronze Age and demonstrate that this prominent hilltop had significance long before the construction of the ramparts.
The commanding position and extensive views that attract walkers today may also help explain why people were drawn to Pilsdon Pen throughout prehistory.
Later History
Pilsdon Pen continued to be used long after the Iron Age settlement had disappeared.
During the medieval and later periods, parts of the hill were cultivated and the summit was also used as a rabbit warren. Earth mounds known as pillow mounds were created to provide breeding places for rabbits, which were valuable for their meat and fur.
Pilsdon Pen was later used as a beacon site, taking advantage of the extensive views from the summit.
The earthworks visible today therefore represent several different periods of human activity rather than simply the remains of an Iron Age fort.
Longer Walks Around Pilsdon Pen
Pilsdon Pen lies on several long-distance walking routes, including the Wessex Ridgeway, Monarch’s Way and Jubilee Trail.
It can also be combined with nearby Lewesdon Hill on a longer walk through the countryside around Broadwindsor.
Lewesdon reaches approximately 279 metres, making it slightly higher than Pilsdon Pen and generally regarded as the highest point in Dorset.
Combining the two hills provides an excellent walk through some of the highest and most attractive countryside in West Dorset.
Visiting Pilsdon Pen
There are no toilets, café or other visitor facilities at the site, so come prepared, particularly if you are planning a longer walk.
The summit is exposed and conditions can change quickly in poor weather. The steep climb, steps and uneven grassy terrain also make the site unsuitable for wheelchairs.
Livestock graze the hill, so dogs should be kept under close control and on a short lead around animals.
Pilsdon Pen is around 5 miles west of Beaminster and can easily be combined with a visit to Beaminster, Broadwindsor or nearby Lewesdon Hill.
For anyone interested in walking, ancient history or panoramic views, Pilsdon Pen is one of the most rewarding places to visit in the hills of West Dorset.