Ball Hill, Dorset facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ball Hill |
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Ball Hill seen from Folly where the Wessex Ridgeway crosses the road between Plush and Mappowder
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 251 m (823 ft) |
| Prominence | 74 m (243 ft) |
| Parent peak | Lewesdon Hill |
| Geography | |
| Location | Dorset, England |
| Parent range | Dorset Downs |
| OS grid | ST721034 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 194 |
Ball Hill is a cool place in Dorset, England. It's one of the tallest hills in the area, standing 251 metres high! You can find it along the famous Wessex Ridgeway path.
Contents
Where is Ball Hill?
The very top of Ball Hill is at the east end of a short ridge. This ridge runs from east to west. The lower part, on the west side, is called Church Hill.
Nearby Places
If you look south from Ball Hill, the land drops quickly. It leads down to a small village called Plush. This village is in a valley known as Watcombe Bottom. To the north, the land slopes down gently. It goes towards the valley of the Lydden.
Other Hills Around
Ball Hill is about 4 kilometres southeast of Buckland Newton. It's also 6 kilometres west-northwest of Cerne Abbas. And it's about 9 kilometres west of Milton Abbas. Another important hill nearby is Lyscombe Hill. It's 261 metres tall and is to the southeast. It's on the other side of a tiny village called Folly.
Ball Hill's History
People have lived around Ball Hill for a very long time. We know this because of old signs from prehistoric times. These signs are found on almost every hill nearby.
Ancient Discoveries
On Nettlecombe Tout, which is part of Lyscombe Hill, there was once a hill fort. This was a strong place where people lived and defended themselves. On the sides of Lyscombe Hill, you can find old ditches called cross dykes. There are also ancient burial mounds called tumuli. On Church Hill, to the west, there's another tumulus. You can also see signs of old field systems there. These are patterns in the ground from where people used to farm long ago.
