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Sturminster Castle

2 ha

📷 John Firth · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

BirdsHeritageWildlife
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome2 ha

Getting here

50.92000, -2.30888

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About Sturminster Castle

Sturminster Newton Castle is a site consisting of the remains of a medieval manor house within an Iron Age hillfort, near Sturminster Newton in Dorset, England. The ruins are privately owned.

Read more on Wikipedia →
Promontory fortGrade II* listed building

Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • 🐦68+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Woodpigeon 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

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome
Parking· FreeToilets

Best for

9 activities

Bird watching

Birds — Woodpigeon, Great Tit, Carrion Crow +65 more · last seen 2025

Free

Heritage

Historic site with public access; Grade II* listed building: STURMINSTER NEWTON CASTLE

Free

Wildlife

Birds — Woodpigeon, Great Tit, Carrion Crow +65 more · last seen 2025

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Red Admiral +38 more · last seen 2025

Free

Family friendly

toilets

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed with public access

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

2 signed routes nearby · 18 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
Coach Roadpublic footpath · 348 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 348 mPath type: footway
🚴

Cycling

14 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 route566 m
Named routeRef 25Length 566 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
🚵

Mountain biking

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby
Wessex Ridgeway TrailMountain bike route
Named routeListed length 207km

Wildlife to spot

Photos

A357 beside the River Stour at Sturminster Newton

📷 John Firth · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

A357 beside the River Stour at Sturminster Newton

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱The Railway GardensUrban park900 m→🐄Holebrooks Fine FoodVisitor farm700 m→✦Sturminster CastleHistoric site100 m→⚽War Memorial Recreation GroundPlaying field600 m→⛪St Mary's ChurchReligious grounds700 m→✦Medieval cross 200m north west of St Mary's ChurchHistoric site700 m→