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← Back✦ Historic site

Toot Hill motte and bailey castle and shrunken medieval village at Pirton

6 ha

📷 Humphrey Bolton · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

BirdsHeritageWildlife
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome6 ha

Getting here

51.97069, -0.33104

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • 🐦79+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Blackbird and Robin
  • ✦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

Best for

10 activities

Bird watching

Birds — Blackbird, Robin, Woodpigeon +76 more · last seen 2026

Free

Heritage

Historic site with public access; Grade I listed building nearby: CHURCH OF ST MARY (C OF E)

Free

Wildlife

Birds — Blackbird, Robin, Woodpigeon +76 more · last seen 2026

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Common Red Soldier Beetle, Marmalade Hoverfly, Red-legged Shieldbug +30 more · last seen 2026

Free

Seasonal nature

Plants — Mouse-ear-hawkweed, Sainfoin, Germander Speedwell +48 more · last seen 2026

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed with public access

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

9 signed routes nearby · 27 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
The Chiltern WayWalking route275 km

A waymarked long-distance footpath in southern England

Named routeRef CWLength 275 kmRegional walking route
Icknield Way PathWalking route169 km

long distance footpath 169 km

Named routeLength 169 kmRegional walking route
The Chiltern Way Northern ExtensionWalking route

Long distance path

Named routeRef CWNRegional walking route
STOOP - Stevenage Outer Orbital PathWalking route

A 27 mile circular walking route around Stevenage

Named routeLocal walking route
Etonbury Green WheelWalking route17 km
Named routeLength 17 kmRound tripLocal walking route
Three Closespublic footpath · 37 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 37 mSurface compactedPath type: track
Docklandspublic footpath · 79 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 79 mSurface asphaltPath type: residential
🚴

Cycling

4 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Ride on the wild sideCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Chilterns Cycleway (road alternative)Cycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Recreational Cycle Route 16Cycling route

Local circular? cycle route

Named routeLocal cycle route
Chilterns CyclewayCycling route
Named routeRound tripRegional cycle route
🚵

Mountain biking

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby
Icknield Way Cycle TrailMountain bike route226 km

This is the off-road or mountain cycling route of the Icknield Way Trail.

Named routeLength 226 kmRegional cycle route
🐴

Horse riding

3 public paths nearby

Public paths
Hambridge Waybridleway · 1.7 km
Public pathbridlewayLength 1.7 kmSurface groundPath type: bridleway
Wood Lanebridleway · 769 m
Public pathbridlewayLength 769 mSurface dirtPath type: bridleway

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Church of St. Mary, Pirton, north side

📷 Humphrey Bolton · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Church of St. Mary, Pirton, north side

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Weather for this location

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Ransom's Recreation GroundUrban park4.5 km→🌱Windmill HillUrban park4.8 km→🌱Triangle Community GardenUrban park4.5 km→🌱St Mary's ChurchUrban park4.5 km→✦Motte & BaileyHistoric site100 m→🌱Hitchin Priory GardensUrban park4.7 km→