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Main Instructor:

Chris Pole

Hosted By:

Chris Pole

Walk Description:

A beautiful walk with extensive views over farmland.

This is a very historic area. This walk is about 5 miles long following bridle ways.

We then loop back to the carpark over the rings with views to Kingston Lacy. (In season the bluebells in the wood near the rings are worth visiting.)

Badbury Rings is a substantial Iron Age hillfort constructed around a chalk knoll standing at 100 metres above sea level and dating back to approx 800BC. It has been a scheduled ancient monument since 1924. On a clear day the I O W and the Purbecks are visible. There are three rings of defensive ramparts and ditches. The centre would have been filled with roundhouses.

It was in the territory of the Durotriges. In Roman times a temple was located west of the fort.

A town known as Vindocladia was to the SW of the site. 

Badbury Rings forms part of the Kingston Lacy estate (the house is nearby) and is owned by the NT.

Badbury Rings is approached from a 2 mile avenue of beech trees with around 365 trees on each side of the road.

This walk is over open farmland to start and can be breezy. After rain some paths are slippy. 

There are no toilets, the nearest are at Pamphill Dairy, an excellant place for coffee. They have a take away facility as well with a reduction in the coffee price if you take your own cup.

The carpark is National Trust and the parking for non members is £4. NT members scan card for ticket.

There are cows and sometimes sheep roaming free around the rings.

Location Notes:

The Badbury Rings Main Car Park is at the end of a gravel road. There is a sign post for the car park on the Blandford Road. The car park is free for National Trust members, otherwise charges apply.