Dorset

Dorset 11

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Squid Tempest Jul 17, 2001 13:18:35

Any good sites to see in the Dorchester area which aren't in the MA? We're off there next week, and we did most of the MA sites there last year (Swannery, Maiden Castle, Badbury Rings etc)
Thanks,
Squid

johan Jul 17, 2001 21:32:38

Replying to Squid Tempest

If you head towards Bridport you can take a journey to Eggardon Hillfort which is only briefly covered in MA. Also a trip to Knowlton Henges never goes amiss. Lovely countryside round there.

Not sure about access, but the Nine Stones at Winterbourne Abbass is part of a bigger ceremonial landscape some of which can be seen from the road in either direction.

Also Hambledon and Hod Hill are worth the journeys.

Ever thought about Cranborne Chase, back towards Poole and the Dorset Cursus?

I know most of these are covered in the MA but they are all worth checking out further.

It might be worth checking out the museum in Dorchester and asking for advice there, maybe even the Records Office.

Failing that just get out into the countryside, there's always some surprise lurking around the corner.

Have fun, I'm hopefully getting out on Dartmoor in the next few weeks for the first time since December! I need to get out there!

johan

Annexus Quam Jul 17, 2001 22:05:39

Replying to Squid Tempest

here's some more sites not mentioned by cope or johan... with the OS numbers (LB means long barrow, H henge and RB round barrow)

I must say they are all in West Hants (cos I work in 'megalithic areas' for
ease of travel and visit, not in counties in my own gazetteer):

hengistbury prom fort sz 164910
pimperne LB st 917105
buzbury cattle enclosure st919060
shapwick RB st934016
spetisbury fort 915020
combs ditch field boundary st 890000
deverel rb sy820990
ringmoor enclosure st809085
rawlsbury fort st 767057
povington heath 24 rb (MOD land so fuck them!) sy876840
bindon hill fort 835803
five marys rb's 790842
came wood rb's aligned on lb 702853
chalbury 695838
smacam down bronze village 657994
poundbury 683912
pilsdon fort st 413013
blackpatch flint mines nr abbotsbury
bronkham hill 30 rb's sy 623873
blackdown 10 rb 613876
poor lot 44 rb necropolis 589907
ham hill st484164
robin hoods butt rb st230143/237128
broad down 50 rb sy 147967-174935
blackbury sx187924
sidbury sy128913
cadbury ss 914053
three barrows 3 rb's sx915991
milber down enclosures sx 884699
kents cavern 934641
stanborough 773517
bolt tail fort 669397

when not indicated, I am sure you will recognise the ending -bury or -borough, until today a sign of hillfort or castled town

if you need more details about any of the sites or even more info then say it and let me know if you visit any of those, many are unknown to me - mainly, as you can see, that part of the south is, too, teeming with round barrows and hillforts more than anywhere else - impressive stone constructions are not so common, but who cares when it is the land and her features that says it all? a megalith is only a needle on one of the hotspots of a beatiful naked body

wychburyman Jul 18, 2001 14:18:15

Replying to Squid Tempest

Not too far away (but in the MA so you may have tried it) is The Grey Mare and Her Colts Long Barrow, and a few minutes from that the Nine Ladies (I think) stone circle.

Me and W'girl spent several ours in that landscape, warm sunshine, fluffly clouds, buzzards, silence; absolute bliss and fine views along the Dorset coast.