Free for members
Hardy Monument is the 72-foot octagonal stone tower raised in 1844 on Black Down above Portesham to honour Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy, Nelson's flag captain at Trafalgar, in whose arms the admiral died. The National Trust has looked after it since 1938. From the South Dorset Ridgeway hilltop you can pick out Start Point in Devon, St Catherine's Point on the Isle of Wight and Pen Hill in Somerset on a clear day, each around 40 miles off, with Chesil Beach, the Fleet and Portland spread out below. On certain days you can climb the 120 steps inside, weather permitting. Families can follow the waymarked Mini Explorer Trail, with nine brass-rubbing checkpoints, and dog walkers are asked to keep to short leads around sheep and ground-nesting birds. Reviewers single out the 360-degree view towards Portland Bill, the picnic benches and the walks from the free car park. One tip from regular visitors: bring cash for the tower, as cards are not accepted. There are no toilets on site.
Prices, non-members
Please note: we are only able to accept cash payments. To help families enjoy days out for less this summer, the Government has introduced a temporary reduction in VAT, running from 25 June to 1 September 2026. This means the admission price you pay may be less than advertised. Please speak to a member of the Welcome Team when you arrive if you have any queries.
The car park is open all year round. Access to the tower is only possible on Saturdays from April to September. When open, the last entry to Hardy Monument will be 15:30. Please note in poor weather conditions, Hardy Monument may close at short notice.
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Dog friendly
Starts at the information board near the stone bench at Hardy Monument car park. 1.5 miles, 1 to 1.5 hours, easy difficulty; waymarked route with 9 brass-rubbing checkpoints, past the monument towards Bronkham Hill.
