English advice needed!

Dorset 11

Image by thesweetcheat

Lianachan Apr 11, 2005 23:31:56

I have to go to Dorchester for a couple of days soon, and would rather spend my evenings looking at ancient sites than sitting in a hotel drinking.

I know of Maiden Castle and Abbotsbury Castle, but what else is there in the area I really shouldn't miss? I will only have one, maybe two, evenings free.

How do you lot do for daylight down there at this time of year? Will I be able to get a good few hours in after about 17:00?

Cheers for any advice.

Lian

juamei Apr 12, 2005 02:01:14

Replying to Lianachan

Atm you'll get maybe 2 1/2 hours after 5pm. It was getting dark just before 8pm tonight...

Go see Maumbury Rings, visitable at any time and near the centre of dorchester. Quite good in the dark and very comfortable if you are looking for a temporary bed after too many pints :)

goffik Apr 12, 2005 08:02:02

Replying to Lianachan

I'm sure there are others more qualified to pipe up on sites in Dorset, but here goes!

Presuming you have transport (although most of these are pretty close together anyway - within about a 10 mile radius), the biggies as far as I'm concerned are:
<a href="http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/282">Kingston Russell</a> stone circle
<a href="http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/41">The Grey Mare & Her Colts</a> Long Barrow
<a href="http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/323">The Hellstone</a> dolmen
<a href="http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/47">The Nine Stones of Winterbourne Abbas</a> stone circle (and while you're there - <a href="http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/2612">The Broadstone</a> "standing" stone)
<a href="http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/1261">Hampton Down</a> stone circle
<a href="http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/35">Cerne Abbas</a> chalk hill figure

That's all the ones I've personally been to, but there's a fair whack of stuff about! I've not even mentioned The Poor Lot, The Valley of Stones, Mayne stone circle, the Dorset Cursus and the dozens of barrows scattered about... It's a good central place for all manner of Neolithic shennanigans!

Have fun!
G x

(I do hope all these links work after all that!)

suave harv Apr 12, 2005 08:46:43

Replying to Lianachan

>I have to go to Dorchester for a couple of days soon, and would rather spend my evenings looking at ancient >sites than sitting in a hotel drinking.

I like both.

In Mike Pitts 'Hengeworld' he mentions Thomas Hardy's cottage is situated by a henge. Just thought I'd throw this in, I bet it's not too spectacular.