Images (8)
Fieldnotes (1)
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Images

Image of Lewesdon Hill (Hillfort) by texlahoma

Image credit: texlahoma

texlahoma Mar 10, 2012

Image credit: texlahoma

texlahoma Mar 10, 2012

Image credit: texlahoma

texlahoma Mar 10, 2012

9/3/12

Image credit: texlahoma

texlahoma Mar 10, 2012

9/3/12

Image credit: texlahoma

texlahoma Mar 10, 2012

9/3/12

Image credit: texlahoma

texlahoma Mar 10, 2012

Image credit: texlahoma

texlahoma Mar 10, 2012

Image of Lewesdon Hill (Hillfort) by formicaant

Lewesdon hill from the car park below Pilsdon Pen.

Image credit: Mike Rowland 01/05/09

formicaant May 1, 2009

Articles

Lewesdon Hill

Hillfort

texlahoma Mar 10, 2012

This is a truly magical place and (disputably) the highest place in Dorset, I believe it is as everything else in sight from here is below.

The approach I took was from Broadwinsor on the B3164 and then onto the B6132 and then take the bridle way at the old farmhouse across the filed and up towards Lewesdon Hill.

Before the steep climb begun I crossed what I’m told is an old drovers road or route, this place feels incredibly atmospheric from here right until you reach the top, with trees ranging from relatively young beech trees to ancient looking Oaks.

Oncve at the top there is a clear and quite flat plateau, surrounded almost completely with trees but still offering amazing views to Pilsdon Pen, Golden Cap and Lambert’s Castle. Maybe with a pair of binoculars and on a clear day you could even see across to Glastonbury Tor, as my guide and fellow walker on this day has.

Lewesdon Hill

Hillfort

Rhiannon Feb 27, 2006

According to ‘Dorsetshire Folklore’ by John Symonds Udal (1922), this hill features in a couple of connected local sayings:

“As much akin as Leuson Hill to Pilsen-Pen” implies people who are near neighbours ‘but neither relations nor aquaintance’.

“As far off as Lewedon Hill from Pillesdon Pen” denotes ‘a distinct severance of friendly relations between near neighbours.”

Lewesdon and Pilsdon Pen are indeed very close; and according to the info on Magic there are four hillforts overlooking this end of the Marshwood Vale “representing an unusual concentration.”

Lewesdon Hill

Hillfort

formicaant Apr 4, 2007

There may have been some occupation, but would a hillfort be necessary here anyway with Pilsdon so close by? I wouldn’t be surprised if the hill had been used in ancient times as the Golden cap is directly south on the coast. It is the disputed highest point Dorset, Pilsdon is often reckoned to be but Lewesdon is marked higher on o.s. maps, for what that’s worth.
Glad to be proven wrong by the above, newer entries.

Lewesdon Hill

Hillfort

Rhiannon Mar 18, 2007

Google Books

In 1788, a former vicar of the area, William Crowe, published a long poem about walking up the hill on a May morning. Naturally, it was entitled “Lewesdon Hill”. It was widely praised at the time – even Wordsworth, who lived near the hill at one time, approved.