Heritage Locations
Heritage is all around us and touches our everyday lives. Wherever you are in the Dorset AONB, it is likely that you will be able to see something from the past - a hill fort, an interesting old building, a stone circle, or even a very large white giant!
Take a closer look and even small and seemingly insignificant features - a hump in a field, an old dry stone wall - can give you clues to how people lived and what they did here long ago.
In fact, the landscape we see today has been shaped by human activity over thousands of years. A lot of things that appear 'natural' are really the result of people's interactions with the land. This even includes some of our most important wildlife habitats. Heathland, for example, was created by prehistoric farmers.
But heritage isn't just about what we can see in the landscape. There's a rich cultural heritage of local customs and traditions that you can hear, touch and taste! A cultural heritage that not only tells us stories from the past but shapes the lives of people living here today.
In this section, you'll find some examples of our rich local heritage, where to go to see it and links to find out more.
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Iron Age hillfort on the steepest hill in Dorset, with spectacular views.
Former Cistercian Abbey founded 800 years ago, now a family run estate. Magnificent building and gardens.
Iron Age hillfort at the western end of the chalk ridge, overlooking the Marshwood Vale. The hollows in the interior are probably the remains of Iron Age grain storage pits.
Large human figure cut into the chalk hill above the village of Cerne Abbas.
Spectacular Iron Age hillfort overlooking the Blackmore Vale. The locations of Iron Age huts can be seen in the interior, and there is an earlier Neolithic long barrow inside the fort too.
Iron Age hillfort containing smaller Roman fort in one corner, built at the time of the Roman conquest.
The most massive Iron Age hillfort in Europe with high and complex ramparts.
Chalk hill figure of horse and rider created in 1808. The rider represents King George III, a regular visitor to Weymouth.
Early 17th Century hunting lodge set in parkland.
One of Britain's most majestic ruins. Extensive castle remains in a strategic position in the Purbeck Hills.
Monument erected 1844 in memory of Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy, Flag-Captain of HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar. Wonderful views.
Prehistoric stone circle, constructed about 4,000 years ago. The circle is made up of nine stones of varying sizes and is now surrounded by trees.
Part of an extensive 4,000-year-old Bronze Age cemetery.
Remains of a Bronze Age stone circle, built about 4,000 years ago.
14th Century chapel on the hill south of Abbotsbury village. The chapel was used as a lighthouse and has a small turret.
The Jurassic Coast was the first natural World Heritage Site to be designated in the UK, and stretches from Exmouth in the East Devon AONB through to Poole Harbour.
