Chaldon Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chaldon Hill |
|
|---|---|
The old navigation beacon on Chaldon Down, looking east towards Lulworth Cove
|
|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 178 m (584 ft) |
| Prominence | 90 m (300 ft) |
| Parent peak | Lewesdon Hill |
| Geography | |
| Location | Dorset, England |
| Parent range | South Dorset Downs |
| OS grid | SY783813 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 194 |
Chaldon Hill, also known as Chaldon Down, is a tall hill in Dorset, England. It is one of the highest points on the South Dorset Jurassic Coast. The top of the hill is about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) west of a famous landmark called Durdle Door.
A special path for horses and walkers, called a bridleway, goes across the hill just below its highest point. Another path, the South West Coast Path, goes down the steep side of the hill towards the beach and Durdle Door. At the very top of Chaldon Hill, you can find an ancient burial mound called a tumulus and a trig point, which is a marker used for surveying. There are also navigation beacons nearby, about 200 metres (220 yd) to the southeast. Two coastal cliffs, White Nothe and Bat's Head, are on either side of the hill.
History of Chaldon Hill
People have lived in the area around Chaldon Hill for a very long time. There is lots of proof that people settled here in prehistoric times, which means before written history.
Ancient Discoveries
- You can find ancient burial mounds, called tumuli, to the southwest and east of the hill. These were often used to bury important people.
- There is also evidence of an old field system and an earthwork to the northeast. A field system shows where ancient farms were, and an earthwork is a large mound or ditch made by people long ago.
- Two specific burial mounds, named Wardstone and Bush Barrows, are located to the east.
- Another ancient field system can be seen on the steep hillside near the coast. These discoveries help us learn about the people who lived here thousands of years ago.
