Become a member
Join today and help protect nature, beauty and history – for everyone, for ever. Enjoy access to more than 500 places with National Trust membership.
Badbury Rings
An Iron Age hill fort in a chalk grassland habitat, which is home to a wealth of wildlife
Blandford Road, Shapwick, Wimborne, Dorset, DT11 9JL
Car park
Pay-and-display car park, open dawn till dusk. Free for members; scan your membership card for an all-day ticket. Charges for non-members: £1.50 an hour, £4 all day.
Dogs allowed
Please keep your dog on a lead between late February and August as there are ground-nesting birds such as skylarks at Badbury Rings. Be aware of grazing livestock; pregnant sheep are often so stressed by dogs running loose that they can abort their young. Dog poo can cause serious harm to livestock, so please pick up and dispose of your dog's poo safely.
Undulating and uneven ground which is steep in places. No toilets. Car park fee for non-members.
By road
Located off of B3082 Wimborne to Blandford road. Follow the brown tourist signs, and take the turning to Badbury Rings opposite the road to Shapwick.
Parking: Large car park available at the end of the roadway, please pass through road narrowing bollards. Pay-and-display car park, open dawn till dusk. Free for members; scan your membership card for an all-day ticket. Charges for non-members: £1.50 an hour, £4 all day.
Sat Nav: Please use the What3Word location: ///parting.melts.threaded
By train
Poole 11 miles
By bus
Services from Bournemouth and Poole, alight Wimborne Square. Taxi advised for onward journey to Kingston Lacy (4 miles)
Planning your visit
Article
Planning your visit at Badbury Rings
Badbury Rings is free to access for everyone. Here are some things you might need to know when you visit.
Article
Visiting Badbury Rings with your dog
The paths and fields around Badbury Rings are great for dog walkers. Find out the best places to walk, plus where and why to keep dogs on the lead or under control.
Highlights
Heritage site
One of Dorset's finest Iron Age hillforts, now home to protected wildlife such as ground-nesting birds and orchids.
Things to see and do
Article
Things to do at Badbury Rings
Families and dog walkers regularly head to Badbury Rings to explore the ancient Iron Age hillfort, while also enjoying the avenue of beech trees and views of the Dorset countryside.
Top trails
Trail
Walk at Badbury Rings and The Oaks
Enjoy impressive views across the Dorset countryside on this circular walk, while discovering the history, flora and fauna of the Iron Age hillfort of Badbury Rings.
Trail
Walk at Eye Bridge and Pamphill, Kingston Lacy
Enjoy a peaceful walk upstream along this picturesque stretch of the Stour river, with ancient woodland and an array of interesting birdlife to observe along the way.
Trail
Walk at White Mill and Shapwick
Starting by an 18th-century mill, this moderate walk goes over rough pasture, alongside the River Stour, through the picturesque village of Shapwick and returns on lanes to White Mill.
Trail
Walk at the Beech Avenue and Droves, Kingston Lacy
Walk around the network of droves and along the tree-lined Beech Avenue at Kingston Lacy. This circular trail takes you back along the outskirts of the Kingston Lacy parkland.
Trail
Walk at Pamphill and Cowgrove
Enjoy a gentle walk through the beautiful unspoilt villages of Pamphill and Cowgrove with good views across the Stour Valley.
Trail
Walk at White Mill and the Droves, Kingston Lacy
Enjoy a relaxing circular walk through the water meadows by the River Stour at Kingston Lacy, taking in short stretches on scenic country lanes and along gravel tracks.
Trail
The woodland trail at Kingston Lacy
Discover the woodland, resident wildlife and historic carriage drive of the Kingston Lacy estate with this circular trail for walkers and cyclists.
Trail
Walk at Pamphill Green and Moor
Enjoy this gentle circular walk taking you through the beautiful unspoilt village of Pamphill and its wide variety of flora and fauna.
Eating and shopping
Food and drink at Badbury Rings
There is no permanent cafe at Badbury Rings. In 2024, there is a food and drink trailer stationed in the car park throughout the summer and autumn. It will be open Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays outside school holidays until the end of October, and Friday-Tuesday during the summer holidays (24 July-3 Sept). There will be a range of hot and cold drinks and snacks, including dog treats. On other days, there is a cafe serving a wide range of light lunches, snacks and drinks at Kingston Lacy, c.2 miles down the road.
Places to stay
524 Pamphill Green Cottage
An eye-catching thatched cottage on the Kingston Lacy estate, where you’ll find miles of footpaths through lush rolling countryside waiting to be explored.
Kingston Lacy Motorhome Site
A peaceful site surrounded by grassland and ancient trees on the Kingston Lacy estate, a short stroll from the house and gardens.
Middlebere Farmhouse
A picture-perfect thatch cottage with modern rustic interiors, close to Poole Harbour.
The Bakehouse
A charming, rustic conversion, this holiday cottage has wonky beams and countryside views.
North Cottage
A cosy cottage attached to the larger farmhouse, with views of open heath and woodland.
Weston Farm Campsite
A meadow campsite just off the South West Coast Path, with walks inland to the Purbeck hills or to Chapman’s Pool on the Jurassic Coast.
Upcoming events
Sorry, there are no upcoming events at this place
About Badbury Rings
Remnants of the Celtic hillfort can be seen today at this peaceful slice of Dorset countryside, which has sweeping views and good walking trails to explore and enjoy.
History
Article
The history of Badbury Rings
Badbury Rings has a history stretching back thousands of years to when Iron Age tribes settled here. Discover the remnants of a Celtic hillfort, overlaid with Roman roads.
Our work
Article
Wildlife at Badbury Rings
As one of only a few chalk downlands in Dorset, Badbury Rings is a haven for many species of wild orchid, butterflies, birds and much more.
Support us
Volunteer with us
Search for live volunteering opportunities, or register your interest with Badbury Rings.