What will you discover in Dorset? Try a new activity, stumble on a great place to go, unearth more.
Tick the boxes below according to your preferences and discover new places to explore.
Hidden Dorset > Discover > Natural Environment > Countryside > Badbury Rings and Beech Avenue
Badbury Rings and Beech Avenue Countryside
Drive along this wonderful Beach tree lined road and see the sunlight filter through their leaves. Stop and wander round iron age Badbury Rings.
The impressive mile-long avenue of beech trees was planted in 1835 as an anniversary gift for Lady Bankes. It led as the main driveway to their manor house Kingston Lacy. Drive along or stop at the Rings to admire the changing seasons of the trees.
Badbury Rings is a hill fort which dates from the Iron Age, (800BC to AD43), and is constructed on an earlier Bronze Age site (2200BC-800BC). It is believed to have belonged to an ancient Dorset tribe known as the 'Durotriges' who also constructed the famous site at Maiden Castle near Dorchester.
Badbury Rings is a high point in the local landscape and provides excellent views in all directions. It was used as a main cross roads for the Roman empire whose road network cut across Dorset. You can take a number of relatively easy walks from the site which are all signposted from the carpark.
Badbury Rings is now part of the Kingston Lacy estate, formerly owned by the Bankes family, now owned by The National Trust. Kingston Lacy can be found south of the Rings on the road towards Wimborne. For more information http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk search Kingston Lacy.
Directions
Free Parking at Badbury Rings car park (charges apply during point-to-point meets)sign posted off the B3082 between Blandford Forum and Wimborne Minster
Additional Information
Dogs are not allowed on the rings.
Images of Badburyrings thanks to http://www.imagesofdorset.org.uk Copyright © 1998–2006 John Allen.
Be the first to comment on this Gem
Filter by area
