Bulbarrow Hill facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bulbarrow Hill
Bulbarrow Hill and Balmers Coombe Bottom, looking west from the footpath to Rawlsbury Camp
Highest point
Elevation	274 m (899 ft)
Prominence	141 m (463 ft)
Parent peak	Lewesdon Hill
Listing	HuMP, sub-Marilyn
Geography
Location	Dorset, England
Parent range	Dorset Downs
OS grid	ST779056
Topo map	OS Landranger 194 Explorer 117E

Bulbarrow Hill is a tall hill in Dorset, England. It stands 274 metres (899 feet) high. You can find it near Woolland, not far from Blandford Forum and Dorchester. This chalk hill is part of the Dorset Downs. These downs are a long chain of hills made of chalk.

Most of Bulbarrow Hill is covered in special grass. This grass grows well on chalky soil. Some parts of the hill are used for farming crops. From the top, you can see amazing views. You can look out over the Blackmore Vale. On a clear day, you might even see parts of Somerset, Wiltshire, and Devon.

History of Bulbarrow Hill

Bulbarrow Hill has a long and interesting history. People have used this spot for thousands of years.

Ancient Hill Fort

On a part of the hill, you can find an old Iron Age hill fort. It is called Rawlsbury Camp. This fort was built by people living here long ago. It covers about five acres of land. Today, not much is left of the fort. You can still see the two big banks of earth. There is also a ditch between them. These were built to protect the fort.

Burial Mounds

The name "Bulbarrow" comes from the word "barrow." A barrow is an ancient burial mound. There are several of these old mounds on the hill. They show that people have lived and been buried here for a very long time.

Old Trackway

A very old path crosses the top of the hill. This path is called a trackway. It has been used since the Middle Ages. People would have traveled along it for trade or to move around the area.

Fun on the Hill

Bulbarrow Hill is a popular place for outdoor activities.

Paragliding Spot

If you like adventure, you might see paragliders here. The hill is a great place for them to launch. They use the wind to fly high above the countryside.

A Special Resting Place

A famous TV presenter named Jack Hargreaves loved this area. He passed away in 1994. His ashes were spread on Bulbarrow Hill. This was above his home, Raven Cottage.

Radio Towers

Bulbarrow Hill has been important for communication for many years.

Early Radio Use

Radio towers have been on Bulbarrow Hill since 1942. During World War II, the RAF (Royal Air Force) put a special navigation station here. It was called a Gee station. This station helped planes find their way. It used wooden masts. The Gee station was used until 1957. Later, the US Air Force also used the site.

Modern Communication

Today, the hill is still used for telecommunication masts. You can see two tall radio transmitter towers. These towers are very important. They help the emergency services communicate. This includes police, fire, and ambulance services.

Images for kids

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  A 3D view of the hill's shape