Poundbury Hill Fort is a Middle Bronze Age hill fort. Roughly rectangular, it is likely that the hill fort was situated at the top of Poundbury Hill for strategic reasons, as it commands views over the River Frome and the Frome Valley.

Very close by there is a large Romano-British cemetery dating from the late Roman era, and the aqueduct, which supplied water to Durnovaria (Dorchester) during the first century AD. All are fascinating places to visit.

The very existence of the hill fort today is thanks to local residents who protested at Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s plan to run the main Dorchester to Yeovil railway line straight through the area, destroying the hill-fort and other local remains. Brunel was finally forced to use the more expensive option of running the line underneath the fort, a much more expensive proposition, but one that thankfully saved the beautiful local countryside and historical sites.

The Hill Fort is a great place for a dog walk or family walk with stunning views across the water meadows.