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Hidden Dorset > Discover > Natural Environment > Countryside > Duddle Heath Rainbarrows
Duddle Heath Rainbarrows
Duddle Heath Rainbarrows Countryside
A lovely walk through Puddletown Forest and worth it for the views and the peace! Good for watching Sika deer in the autumn.
The mound in this picture is one of three Bronze Age bowl barrows on Duddle Heath, collectively named The Rainbarrows. Edward Cunnington excavated these barrows in 1887 and the cremation urns recovered are now held in the Dorset County Museum. The area around the rainbarrows has recently been cleared of scrub and rhododendron as part of the "Hardy's Egdon Heath Project" to re-establish the heathland on the edge of Puddletown Forest.
Directions
There are many routes into Puddletown Forest but from the Thorncombe Wood car park at Higher Bockhampton, follow the track up to Hardy's Cottage. Bear right immediately behind the cottage and make your way to Rushy Pond (signposted); just before the pond cross the stile signposted Roman Road. At the other end of the Roman Road is another stile; turn right onto the track and follow this until almost its end when the path slopes steeply down. The rainbarrows can be reached by crossing a stile through the fence on the right. The gorse is a bit scratchy so watch out if you’re wearing shorts.
Additional Information
The photograph and text are Copyright Jim Champion and licensed for reuse under a Creative Commons Licence. http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/395668
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