Maiden Castle

Covering an area of some 47 acres, Maiden Castle is the largest hill fort in Britain and lies 2 miles south of Dorchester in the county of Dorset. 'Maiden' derives from the Celtic ‘Mai Dun’, which means ‘great hill’.

The dimensions of the fort are truly immense, and must have presented a formidable obstacle to any attacking force. Even today, after 2000 years of erosion, the ramparts in some areas rise to a height of 20ft (6m).

Many hill forts can be found in the ‘Wessex’ (an old Anglo-Saxon county) area but Maiden is by far the most impressive, and commands some breathtaking views across the county.

Maiden Castle