When you think of places to go in Dorset, you don’t automatically think of Hod Hill.
I have only recently discovered it, and I fell in love.
Hod Hill is a large iron-age hillfort in Dorset, full of history and breathtaking countryside views.
If you’re a lover of the countryside and scenic walks, then this is a must for anyone who is looking at somewhere new to explore, or if you’ve been and want to know more, then read on!
A little about Hod Hill’s location and geography:
You can find Hod Hill in The Blackmore Vale, which is a broad valley in the north of Dorset approximately 3 miles north-west of Blandford Forum, Dorset, England.
The hill itself is roughly 469 ft.
If you were looking at the hill from a bird’s eye view, you would be able to see the large rectangular shape of the fort and the many ramparts which were used to defend from invasion.
To the north of Hod Hill stands Hambledon Hill, which is also a hill fort, and for someone who enjoys a good walk, you can walk from one to the other.
Best Places to Park at Hod Hill
There are two key places you can park.
First option: You can park in the village of Stourpaine. We parked in the village hall car park.
This is the address: Havelins, Stourpaine, England
Going up Hod Hill from this side is a bit more gentle and less steep compared to the other side.
To get up from the village car park, you’ll want to walk back down Havelins road, then turn left down Manor road and go all the way down to the very end, and you’ll then be able to follow the path to the top of the hill.
Also, you can still park in the village and walk around the long way, which takes you to the other side, which is steeper, but the walk on the way is beautiful, and some of it goes along the river stour.
To walk the long way from the village hall car park, you’ll want to walk down Hod Dr and then just follow the path all the way around until you reach the other car park.
The second option: You park in the car park by the entrance to the side of the hill.
This is the steeper side but much quicker to the top.
My suggestion:
If you’ve got the time and don’t mind a little walk, then I would suggest parking in Stourpaine village car park and walking the long way round until you reach the little car park.
Then walk up the steep side and go back down the other side when you’re done.
It will be a circular loop.
That way you’ll have a nice walk and see some more scenery.
Hod Hill Historical Overview
During the iron age (1200 BC – 600 BC), Hod Hill would have had a community consisting of approximately 200 round houses.
It would have been inhabited by the Durotriges tribe, whose territory was Dorst, South Wiltshire, South Somerset, and Devon East of the river Axe.
Many tribes lived in these hill forts as it was on higher ground which meant it was easier to defend themselves from attacks from other tribes.
It is believed that around 43/44 AD, the Romans captured the fort during their invasion.
They built a seven-acre fort within the perimeter of the original fort in the northwest corner, which is the highest point on the hill.
During excavation digs, many ballista bolts have been found.
Exploring Hod Hill
Hod Hill is part of the national trust.
However, this site doesn’t benefit from a coffee shop or toilet facilities, so come prepared!
There are plenty of areas where you could sit and enjoy a packed lunch and take in the breathtaking views, although watch out for the local wildlife as there are plenty of sheep wandering around.
There are no admission fees and no opening and closing hours for Hod Hill, so you can enjoy it as often and as long as you like!
This is a lovely bonus as you can make a day of it or just ‘pop’ down for a dog walk.
As mentioned, there is a national trust car park at the bottom of the hill.
However, it was hard to find with the sat nav, and it wasn’t until we had parked somewhere else and walked to the hill that we found it.
It turned out that it didn’t matter much as we had such a lovely walk that we didn’t mind missing the car park as we might not have gone that way had we known.
What to See and do at Hod Hill
Depending on what your plans are for your trip to Hod Hill, there are a variety of things to see and do.
There are so many beautiful walks you can enjoy, and we spotted many dog walkers so it’s a dog-friendly environment which I’m sure will be enjoyable for you and your dog.
We (my husband and I) went with our two children (11 and 1).
And I will say this is not a pushchair-friendly walk, we took a baby carrier, and it was a bit of a slog walking up the hill with the baby on me, but he enjoyed it….the 11-year-old not as much!
The view from the top (as I’ve mentioned a few times) is stunning, and you could just stay up there all day!
If you’re an avid birdwatcher, there were a number of birds flying around that didn’t look like the average pigeon (can you tell I’m not a birdwatcher?)
Even though I don’t know many different birds, I found it fascinating looking at them flying around.
As someone who lives in the suburbs, I loved seeing different birds to the usual blue tits and magpies that I see in my garden.
There are a number of walking and cycling routes that you can do, and as I mentioned, there is a walk from Hod Hill to Hambledon Hill, which is roughly about 5k and can take just under 2 hours.
It is a popular walking route. But if you were walking at an off-peak time, such as a weekday or term time, then I’m sure the route is quieter.
We visited Hod Hill on a lovely, sunny Sunday in February, and we saw only a small amount of people, so you can enjoy your visit without it being overrun.
At the bottom of the hill, we came across a beautiful stream, it was picturesque in the sun, and our son had so much fun playing ‘pooh sticks.’
As mentioned earlier, we were unable to find the national trust car park, so we parked by the village hall.
We had to walk to Hod Hill, but the walk was beautiful, and a lot of it was along the river Stour.
If you enjoy woodland walks with a river running past, then this is a lovely location for that.
It was so lovely seeing the sheep, birds, and the flowers, such as snowdrops, begin to pop up ready for spring.
Children and adults will find it fun wandering around the top of the hill, spotting the sheep, and playing hide and seek around the fort.
My son was partially interested in the chalky stones he found, and we came across the word ‘LOVE’ made out of them.
In the Local Area of Hod Hill
If you’re not a fan of a packed lunch, the small village of Stourpaine next to Hod Hill has a beautiful dog-friendly pub called ‘The White Horse Inn,’ which has a lovely beer patio area.
The pub also has a pool table which sets the scene for a lovely country pub with a warm, friendly atmosphere.
Next to the pub is a village shop which unfortunately was closed the day we were there, so we didn’t get to go in so remember if you’re not interested in going into the pub bring refreshments in case the shop is closed.
We walked through the little village of Stourpaine, which looks like it’s straight out of an Enid Blyton book.
I’m a huge fan of houses, and I loved looking at the beautiful thatched-roofed cottages and their beautiful gardens.
Close by is the small idyllic town of Blandford Forum.
Hod Hill is quite rural, so if you want to visit somewhere close by with a number of shops, pubs, and hotels, then Blandford Forum is a great choice.
Final Thoughts On Visiting Hod Hill
I would recommend a trip to Hod Hill to anyone who enjoys being out in nature, enjoys a good hike/bike ride, and enjoys fresh air away from any modern distractions.
It’s a great place for children to explore and family walks with their dogs.
What makes Hod Hill great is that it’s not overpopulated, and you can enjoy a walk around without being ‘on top’ of people.
You can explore the history of Dorset and enjoy breathtaking views, all for free!
Why not take some binoculars and see how many different animals you spot, or pack a picnic and enjoy it at the top of the hill?
Children can be children again and climb trees and see what treasures they can find on the hill.
Just remember to take care when visiting, respect the area and have fun!
