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You are here: Home > Dorset's History & Heritage > Ancient Sites
Ancient Sites
There are so many fascinating sites to uncover across Dorset, such as the Roman Town House, Hardy Monument, St Catherine's Chapel, Kingston Russell Stone Circle, Jordan Hill Roman Temple and many more. See our list of museums to find out how you can delve even deeper. Here just a few sites to explore:
High on the hill over the picturesque village of Cerne Abbas is the Cerne Giant, an 180ft high male figure believed to be an ancient symbol of fertility. The giant is also thought to be representative of the Roman God Hercules.
Ancient hill forts can be found across Dorset and provide an energetic ramble, fabulous views and great picnic spot! Maiden Castle is the largest in Europe. It dates back 4,000 years and is located on the outskirts of Dorchester. Eggardon Camp, near the beautiful village of Powerstock has approximately 500 depressions, believed to be the indentations of huts and storage pits. Lambert’s Castle, 7 miles from Lyme Regis is so vast, it was used as a racecourse during the 18th and 19th Centuries. .JPG)
Hod Hill is a Site of Special Scientific Interest overlooking the River Stour and neighbouring Hambledon Hill, also a National Nature Reserve was an extensive Neolithic settlement. Badbury Rings is a triple banked Iron Age defensive earthwork. It is part of the Kingston Lacy Estate and is now owend by the National Trust. Pilsdon Pen is the highest hill fort in Dorset and along with the others provides breathtaking views from the summit.
Maumbury Rings, in the centre of Dorchester, is a listed ancient monument, originally constructed around 2500BC. The Romans converted this late Neolithic henge into an amphitheatre in the first century AD. Also in Dorchester, you’ll find Poundbury Camp an Iron Age camp and site of a Roman cemetery containing more than 1,000 graves.
Knowlton Rings, near Wimborne, was constructed in the Bronze Age as a religious site. The church in the centre was built to destroy the religious power of the rings (a symbol of the power of Christianity over Paganism). The site is now managed by English Heritage and is open to the public free of charge.
Check our Trips and Tours page for our ancient sites and landmarks itinerary. Click here for more details about Dorset's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
