Badbury Rings

Badbury Rings is one of Dorset's finest Iron Age hillforts, three concentric rings of rampart and ditch on the Kingston Lacy estate near Wimborne, later overlaid by Roman roads and approached along the Beech Avenue. Free to walk over, it is one of only a few chalk downlands in the county, grazed by sheep and cattle for its wild orchids, butterflies and ground-nesting skylarks, and circular walks link the rings with White Mill, Shapwick and the River Stour. Families and dog walkers use it for a short walk, and reviewers single out the sweep of Dorset countryside from the ramparts. Tips from visitors: there are no toilets and no cafe, the nearest at Kingston Lacy house; the pay and display car park is free for members who scan their card but has a narrow entrance; the ground is steep and uneven in places; and keep dogs on a lead in the ground-nesting season, which regulars complain many owners ignore.