Hardown Hill facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hardown Hill
Hardown Hill from the south near Golden Cap
Highest point
Elevation	207 m (679 ft)
Prominence	154 m (505 ft)
Parent peak	Lewesdon Hill
Listing	Marilyn
Geography
Location	Dorset, England
Parent range	Marshwood and Powerstock Vales
OS grid	ST405942
Topo map	OS Landranger 193 Explorer 116

Hardown Hill is a cool hill in Dorset, England. It stands 207 meters (679 feet) tall. You can find it between the villages of Ryall and Morcombelake. This hill is special because it's one of only four "Marilyns" in Dorset. A Marilyn is a hill that rises at least 150 meters (about 492 feet) above the land around it. Hardown Hill offers some of the most amazing views in Dorset!

Hardown Hill: A Great Place to Explore

Hardown Hill is about 6 kilometers (4 miles) west of Bridport. It is also very close to the A35 main road. Many people know its southern part, Golden Cap. Golden Cap is a famous cliff right on the coast. It is about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) south of Hardown Hill.

The National Trust owns the top of Hardown Hill. This means they help protect it for everyone to enjoy. Dorset's official tourist website even calls it one of the "top 12 Dorset views to take your breath away."

Amazing Views from the Top

When you reach the top of Hardown Hill, you can see far and wide. The views are truly impressive. You can spot other hills like Thorncombe Beacon and Chardown Hill. You can also see Quarry Hill and Langdon Hill. Looking north, you'll see the beautiful Marshwood Vale.

Ancient Secrets: The Barrows

Near the top of Hardown Hill, there are ten ancient mounds. These mounds are called barrows. Most of them are covered in gorse and bracken plants. They are located about 300 meters (about 984 feet) north of the summit. These barrows are thought to be very old, likely from the Bronze Age. The Bronze Age was a time long ago when people used bronze tools.

Archaeologists have explored these barrows. In 1916, some interesting objects were found here. These objects included fifteen artifacts. They were thought to be from the Early Middle Ages. At first, people thought they were part of an ancient burial. However, no human bones were found. Later, experts thought the objects might be a "hoard." A hoard is a collection of valuable items that were hidden away a long time ago.

Images for kids

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  Hardown Hill from the road to Ryall

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  Hardown Hill and the village of Morcombelake from Golden Cap

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  View from Hardown Hill looking east with the A35 on the right

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  View from Hardown Hill looking northwest over Whitechurch Canonicorum

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  View from Hardown Hill looking west towards the Dorset coast

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  Summit area of Hardown Hill