National Trust

The National Trust has some beautiful properties in Dorset:

Badbury Rings

Hill fort with three rings and great views. It’s thought the inner ring dates from around 500 -600 BC. There’s evidence of Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman occupation at the site.

Brownsea Island, Poole

Famous for red squirrels, wildlife and Scouting

Burton Bradstock near Bridport

Spectacular coastline with cliffs and miles of unspoilt beaches

Cerne Giant, Cerne Abbas

Ancient naked male figure sculpted into the chalk hillside above Cerne Abbas

Clouds Hill near Wareham

The rural retreat of Lawrence of Arabia

Corfe Castle, Wareham

Thousand-year-old royal castle, now in ruins

Eggardon Hill, Bridport

Iron Age hill fort and downland with views across the Marshwood Vale to the coast

Fontmell and Melbury Downs near Shaftesbury

Flowery downland and far reaching views

Golden Cap, Bridport

Stunning coastline and England’s only natural World Heritage Site. At 191 metres, it is the highest point on the south coast of Great Britain.

Hambledon Hill

Iron Age hill fort with great views and spectacular wildflowers

Hardy Monument, Portesham

72ft stone monument to Vice-Admiral Hardy. Thomas Masterman Hardy served as flag captain to Admiral Lord Nelson and commanded HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar.

Hod Hill near Blandford Forum

Dorset’s largest hill fort, known for its downland wildlife

Kingston Lacy, Wimborne Minster

Family home built to resemble an Italian Palace. You can also take a walk in the large grounds. A great place to see spring blossom. In winter they have special light trails.

Lambert’s and Coney’s Castle, Bridport

Ancient hill forts

Lewesdon Hill, Beaminster

The highest point in Dorset with views between the trees over Devon, Somerset and out to sea

Max Gate, Dorchester

Victorian home designed by writer Thomas Hardy

Pilsdon Pen, Beaminster

One of Dorset’s prominent landmarks, dominated by an Iron Age hill fort

Spyway, near Swanage

Towering sea cliffs and grasslands rich in wild flowers. If you’re into fossils, you can find the preserved footprints of dinosaurs nearby at Keates Quarry.

Studland Bay near Swanage

Large area of sandy beaches and heathland with good views of Old Harry Rocks. If you’re lucky at Shell Bay you might get to a murmuration of starlings at dusk

Weston Farm

The National Trust plans to turn a newly acquired 4.4 mile stretch of the Jurassic Coast into a wildlife haven – the 350-acre Weston Farm on St Aldhelm’s Head, South Purbeck. It’s home to 15 different species of bat which roost in caves and abandoned quarries on the site.

White Mill near Wimborne Minster

Corn mill with original wooden machinery in a peaceful riverside setting