Badbury Rings Sat Nav postcode DT11 9JL (Google map)
Badbury Rings is an Iron Age hill fort (Dorset is home to 18 of them) located about 4 miles north-west of Wimborne and 6 miles southeast of Blandford Forum. It has 3 defensive rings of ramparts and ditches. It is thought that the inner ring dates from around 500 – 600 BC. Archeologists believe that people lived here over 6000 years ago before the fort was built. A number of tribes settled in Badbury. Among them were the Durotriges – a Celtic tribe who lived in parts of South West of England prior to the Roman occupation of 43 AD.
Badbury Rings and much of the surrounding countryside was owned by the Bankes Family until 1982 when it was gifted to the National Trust together with Kingston Lacy House and Gardens.
Entry to Badbury Rings is FREE although you do have to pay for car parking in the car park nearest to this ancient monument. The National Trust have many excellent walks nearby and the Kingston Lacy Estate which are also completely FREE and well worth doing. As you can imagine this area is a favourite spot for nature lovers and walkers (dogs are allowed but must be kept on a lead as many of the walks pass through fields with livestock).
National Trust Wessex Hillfort Guide
Visit the webpage https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ and then click on the link to download a free pdf copy of Wessex Hillforts, a Visitor’s Guide. This excellent 70-page guide includes photos, illustrations and a map showing local walks around the main hillforts in Dorset.
Iron Age Hillforts in Dorset
Maiden Castle: Maiden Castle is one of the largest and most significant Iron Age hill forts in Europe. Located near Dorchester, it boasts intricate earthworks and defensive ramparts.
Hod Hill: Located near the village of Shillingstone, Hod Hill is another significant Iron Age hill fort in Dorset. It boasts impressive earthworks and defensive ramparts, offering insights into ancient settlement patterns and defensive strategies.
Hambledon Hill: Situated near the town of Blandford Forum, Hambledon Hill is renowned for its extensive earthworks and stunning panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. It is one of the largest and most well-preserved hill forts in Dorset.
Badbury Rings: Located near the village of Shapwick, Badbury Rings is a multi-vallate hill fort featuring multiple ramparts and ditches. It is believed to have been occupied from the Bronze Age through the Roman period, serving as a significant cultural and strategic center.
Pilsdon Pen: Positioned near the village of Pilsdon, Pilsdon Pen is one of the highest points in Dorset and features the remnants of an Iron Age hill fort. Its elevated location offers sweeping vistas of the surrounding landscape.
Eggardon Hill: Situated near the village of Powerstock, Eggardon Hill is an impressive Iron Age hill fort characterized by its steep slopes and well-preserved earthworks. It is believed to have been occupied from the late Bronze Age through the Iron Age period.
Related Pages: Kingston Lacy / Wimborne / Blandford Forum / Hod Hill / Hambledon Hill