Hillfort on Banbury Hill
3 ha
Plan your visit
🦅Birds✦Heritage🦉Wildlife
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome3 ha
Getting here
50.90647, -2.30025
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
▾
- 🐦59+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Robin and Great Tit
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- 🐦59+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Robin and Great Tit
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days
- £Free to visit — no entry charge
- 🐕Dogs welcome
🦅Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Robin, Great Tit, Chaffinch +56 more · last seen 2025
Free
Historic site with public access
Free
Birds — Robin, Great Tit, Chaffinch +56 more · last seen 2025
Free
🦋Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Red Admiral +38 more · last seen 2026
Free
Dogs allowed with public access
Free
🏡Historic gardens
Good match
Historic site with public access
Varies
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km3 signed routes nearby · 9 public paths nearby
Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Wessex RidgewayWalking route▾
Named routeRef WRRegional walking route
Stour Valley WayWalking route100 km▾
Named routeRef SVWLength 100 kmRegional walking route
Jubilee Trail (Dorset)Walking route▾
Named routeRegional walking route
16 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Route 25Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 25National Cycle Network
North Dorset TrailwayCycling route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
National Cycle Network 250Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 250National Cycle Network
North Dorset Cycle WayCycling route▾
Named routeRegional cycle route
Main RouteCycling route47 m▾
Named routeRef 25Length 47 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route1.4 km▾
Named routeRef 25Length 1.4 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
1 signed route nearby
Signed route nearby
Wessex Ridgeway TrailMountain bike route▾
Named routeListed length 207km
4 public paths nearby
Public paths
Gypsy's Drovebridleway · 413 m▾
Public pathbridlewayLength 413 mPath type: track
Gypsy's Drovebridleway · 702 m▾
Public pathbridlewayLength 702 mPath type: track
Gypsy's Drovebridleway · 3 m▾
Public pathbridlewayLength 3 mPath type: track
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
Events & activities nearby
Switch provider to compare local events, tours and bookable activities.
Bookable toursWildlife to spot
33,513 records · National Biodiversity Network
▾
Wildlife to spot
33,513 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds29 species
autumnwinter
2025▾
Robin · Chaffinch · Great Tit · Blue Tit · Woodpigeon +24
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- Great TitParus major
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- BlackbirdTurdus merula
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- MagpiePica pica
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- Marsh TitPoecile palustris
- Herring GullLarus argentatus
- CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- RedwingTurdus iliacus
- GreenfinchChloris chloris
- NuthatchSitta europaea
- RookCorvus frugilegus
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- JayGarrulus glandarius
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
Hedgehog
- HedgehogErinaceus europaeus
🐸Amphibians2 species
summerautumn
2026▾
Great Crested Newt · Common Frog
- Great Crested NewtTriturus cristatus2025
- Common FrogRana temporaria
🐝Insects18 species
springsummer
2026▾
White-legged Damselfly · Southern Hawker · Banded Demoiselle · Hornet · Emperor Dragonfly +13
- White-legged DamselflyPlatycnemis pennipes2025
- Southern HawkerAeshna cyanea2025
- Banded DemoiselleCalopteryx splendens2025
- HornetVespa crabro2025
- Emperor DragonflyAnax imperator2025
Cuckooflower · Red Campion · Hairy Bitter-cress · Wild Teasel · Bulrush +64
- CuckooflowerCardamine pratensis
- Red CampionSilene dioica
- Hairy Bitter-cressCardamine hirsuta
- Wild TeaselDipsacus fullonum
- BulrushTypha latifolia
- TurnipBrassica rapa
- Meadow ButtercupRanunculus acris
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
33,513 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds29 species
autumnwinter
2025▾
Robin · Chaffinch · Great Tit · Blue Tit · Woodpigeon +24
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- Great TitParus major
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- BlackbirdTurdus merula
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- MagpiePica pica
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- Marsh TitPoecile palustris
- Herring GullLarus argentatus
- CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- RedwingTurdus iliacus
- GreenfinchChloris chloris
- NuthatchSitta europaea
- RookCorvus frugilegus
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- JayGarrulus glandarius
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
Hedgehog
- HedgehogErinaceus europaeus
🐸Amphibians2 species
summerautumn
2026▾
Great Crested Newt · Common Frog
- Great Crested NewtTriturus cristatus2025
- Common FrogRana temporaria
🐝Insects18 species
springsummer
2026▾
White-legged Damselfly · Southern Hawker · Banded Demoiselle · Hornet · Emperor Dragonfly +13
- White-legged DamselflyPlatycnemis pennipes2025
- Southern HawkerAeshna cyanea2025
- Banded DemoiselleCalopteryx splendens2025
- HornetVespa crabro2025
- Emperor DragonflyAnax imperator2025
Cuckooflower · Red Campion · Hairy Bitter-cress · Wild Teasel · Bulrush +64
- CuckooflowerCardamine pratensis
- Red CampionSilene dioica
- Hairy Bitter-cressCardamine hirsuta
- Wild TeaselDipsacus fullonum
- BulrushTypha latifolia
- TurnipBrassica rapa
- Meadow ButtercupRanunculus acris
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Beautiful Demoiselle
Beautiful Demoiselle
Calopteryx virgo2025
Calopteryx virgo2025
Rose ChaferCetonia aurata2025Rose ChaferCetonia aurata2025Black-headed Cardinal BeetlePyrochroa coccinea2025Black-headed Cardinal BeetlePyrochroa coccinea2025Scarce ChaserLibellula fulva2025Scarce ChaserLibellula fulva2025Cramp-Ball Fungus WeevilPlatyrhinus resinosusCramp-Ball Fungus WeevilPlatyrhinus resinosusBox BugGonocerus acuteangulatus2025Box BugGonocerus acuteangulatus20252-spot LadybirdAdalia bipunctata20252-spot LadybirdAdalia bipunctata2025Meadow GrasshopperPseudochorthippus parallelus2025Meadow GrasshopperPseudochorthippus parallelus20257-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata20257-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata2025Brown HawkerAeshna grandis2025Brown HawkerAeshna grandis2025Glow-wormLampyris noctiluca2025Glow-wormLampyris noctiluca2025Broad-bodied ChaserLibellula depressa2025Broad-bodied ChaserLibellula depressa2025Bloody-nosed BeetleTimarcha tenebricosa2025Bloody-nosed BeetleTimarcha tenebricosa2025Bulbous ButtercupRanunculus bulbosusBulbous ButtercupRanunculus bulbosusCommon SorrelRumex acetosaCommon SorrelRumex acetosaMeadow FoxtailAlopecurus pratensisMeadow FoxtailAlopecurus pratensisBrambleRubus fruticosusBrambleRubus fruticosusSoft-rushJuncus effususSoft-rushJuncus effususSpindleEuonymus europaeusSpindleEuonymus europaeusCock's-footDactylis glomerataCock's-footDactylis glomerataCreeping ThistleCirsium arvenseCreeping ThistleCirsium arvenseDandelionTaraxacumDandelionTaraxacumEnglish ElmUlmus proceraEnglish ElmUlmus proceraLesser CelandineFicaria vernaLesser CelandineFicaria vernaWild CherryPrunus aviumWild CherryPrunus aviumGoat WillowSalix capreaGoat WillowSalix capreaCreeping ButtercupRanunculus repensCreeping ButtercupRanunculus repensDog-roseRosa caninaDog-roseRosa caninaLords-and-LadiesArum maculatumLords-and-LadiesArum maculatumHorse-chestnutAesculus hippocastanumHorse-chestnutAesculus hippocastanumRed Dead-nettleLamium purpureumRed Dead-nettleLamium purpureumMeadowsweetFilipendula ulmariaMeadowsweetFilipendula ulmariaAlderAlnus glutinosaAlderAlnus glutinosaDaisyBellis perennisDaisyBellis perennisDogwoodCornus sanguineaDogwoodCornus sanguineaWilson's HoneysuckleLonicera nitidaWilson's HoneysuckleLonicera nitidaWoodruffGalium odoratumWoodruffGalium odoratumPedunculate OakQuercus roburPedunculate OakQuercus roburAshFraxinus excelsiorAshFraxinus excelsiorCommon ComfreySymphytum officinaleCommon ComfreySymphytum officinaleSycamoreAcer pseudoplatanusSycamoreAcer pseudoplatanusLesser BurdockArctium minusLesser BurdockArctium minusCrack-willowSalix alba x euxina = S. x fragilisCrack-willowSalix alba x euxina = S. x fragilisWayfaring-treeViburnum lantanaWayfaring-treeViburnum lantanaPlantago major subsp. majorPlantago major subsp. majorPlantago major subsp. majorPlantago major subsp. majorRamsonsAllium ursinumRamsonsAllium ursinumBlack-poplarPopulus nigraBlack-poplarPopulus nigraWood AvensGeum urbanumWood AvensGeum urbanumHemlockConium maculatumHemlockConium maculatumWinter-cressBarbarea vulgarisWinter-cressBarbarea vulgarisCleaversGalium aparineCleaversGalium aparineCow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestrisCow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestrisCommon ReedPhragmites australisCommon ReedPhragmites australisMarsh-marigoldCaltha palustrisMarsh-marigoldCaltha palustrisStinking IrisIris foetidissimaStinking IrisIris foetidissimaRosebay WillowherbChamaenerion angustifoliumRosebay WillowherbChamaenerion angustifoliumRed FescueFestuca rubraRed FescueFestuca rubraHedera helixHedera helixHedera helixHedera helixAnnual Meadow-grassPoa annuaAnnual Meadow-grassPoa annuaHemlock Water-dropwortOenanthe crocataHemlock Water-dropwortOenanthe crocataHazelCorylus avellanaHazelCorylus avellanaWild PrivetLigustrum vulgareWild PrivetLigustrum vulgareMeadow FescueSchedonorus pratensisMeadow FescueSchedonorus pratensisField MapleAcer campestreField MapleAcer campestreGround-elderAegopodium podagrariaGround-elderAegopodium podagrariaYorkshire-fogHolcus lanatusYorkshire-fogHolcus lanatusGarlic MustardAlliaria petiolataGarlic MustardAlliaria petiolataCurled DockRumex crispusCurled DockRumex crispusBroad-leaved DockRumex obtusifoliusBroad-leaved DockRumex obtusifoliusTansyTanacetum vulgareTansyTanacetum vulgareUrtica dioica subsp. dioicaUrtica dioica subsp. dioicaUrtica dioica subsp. dioicaUrtica dioica subsp. dioicaHard RushJuncus inflexusHard RushJuncus inflexusBluebellHyacinthoides non-scripta x hispanica = H. x massartianaBluebellHyacinthoides non-scripta x hispanica = H. x massartianaHawthornCrataegus monogynaHawthornCrataegus monogynaGreater Pond-sedgeCarex ripariaGreater Pond-sedgeCarex riparia