Bindon Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bindon Hill |
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East end of Bindon Hill from Arish Mell gap.
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 168 m (551 ft) |
| Prominence | 94 m (308 ft) |
| Parent peak | Lewesdon Hill |
| Listing | sub-HuMP |
| Geography | |
| Location | Dorset, England |
| Parent range | Purbeck Hills |
| OS grid | SY839802 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 194 |
Bindon Hill is a cool place in Dorset, England. It's a big, old earthwork from the Iron Age. An earthwork is like a giant fence or wall made of earth. It wraps around a hill right by the sea, close to Lulworth Cove. This area is part of the famous Jurassic Coast. It's also a special place called an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This means its amazing natural looks are protected.
Exploring Bindon Hill
Bindon Hill has a huge earth wall and a ditch. This main wall stretches for over 2 kilometers (about 1.2 miles). It runs along a ridge from east to west, right next to the coast. The sea is only about 750 meters (half a mile) to the south.
The hill itself rises to 168 meters (551 feet) high. The cliffs nearby are very tall, from 30 to 120 meters (100 to 400 feet) high. At one end, the walls curve towards the cliffs of Lulworth Cove. At the other end, the main wall reaches the cliffs at Mupe Bay. The whole area inside these earthworks is huge, covering about 110 hectares (270 acres).
Was it a Hill Fort?
Even though it's called a "hill fort," Bindon Hill might not have been a typical fort. It's so big that it would have been very hard to defend. Also, experts haven't found much proof of people living inside its walls.
Because of its huge size, many think Bindon Hill was mostly used for keeping animals safe. It might have been a giant fenced area for farm animals like sheep or cows.
Visiting Bindon Hill
You can only visit Bindon Hill when the Lulworth Ranges are open. The Lulworth Ranges are a special area owned by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). This means the British military uses the land.
The MoD uses these ranges for training with tanks and other armored vehicles. The training area is very large, over 2,830 hectares (7,000 acres).
Safety First!
If you visit, it's super important to stay on the marked paths. Always follow any signs you see. This is because military vehicles are used here. There might also be warnings about unexploded shells or other dangers.
You'll see a flashing warning light on the hill. This light tells you when the ranges are being used for training. So, always check if the ranges are open before you plan your visit!
