Name: Uffington Castle - White Horse and Dragon Hill
Rating: 5.0

Uffington Castle - White Horse and Dragon Hill

Faringdon, Oxfordshire SN7, UK

1-99 Years

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Uffington Castle - White Horse and Dragon Hill These three prehistoric sites lie beside the Ridgeway, the ancient route that ran from Dorset to the Wash and still crosses the chalk ridges of the Berkshire Downs.

Uffington ‘Castle’, which occupies the summit of Whitehorse Hill, is a rare and outstanding example of a large Iron Age hillfort. The famous White Horse is the oldest chalk-cut hill figure in Britain, perhaps over 3,000 years old. Nearby Dragon Hill, a natural mound about 10 metres high, is named for its association with the legend of St George.

Free Entry. If you are looking for Best place for day out with kids and families then this is the perfect destination offering fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories for everyone.

Features

Free
Host birthday parties: No

Features

History of Uffington Castle, White Horse and Dragon Hill: These three prehistoric sites are located beside the Ridgeway, the ancient route that stretched from Dorset to the Wash and that still traverses the chalk ridges of the Berkshire Downs.
Uffington Castle: The Iron Age hillfort known as Uffington Castle occupies the summit of Whitehorse Hill. It consists of a large enclosure, measuring about 220 metres by 160 metres, surrounded by a wide chalk-stone bank or inner rampart about 12 metres wide and 2.5 metres high, and formerly lined with sarsen (sandstone) stones.
Around this is a grass-covered ditch about 3 metres deep and a further, smaller bank forming an outer rampart. A causeway, flanked by the out-turned ends of the inner rampart, provides an entrance to the site from the west. This would have been closed by a gate.
The White Horse: Situated 170 metres to the north-east of the hillfort – and visible from a distance of several miles – is the striking chalk-cut figure of a horse.
The White Horse, which measures 111 metres from the tip of its tail to its ear, has been dated to the later Bronze Age or Iron Age, between 1740 and 210 BC. It may have been a territorial marker or a fertility symbol – its function is not certain.
Dragon Hill: Local legend associates the horse with St George and the Dragon, hence the name of nearby Dragon Hill. This is a round mound, about 10 metres high with a flattened top, likely to have been formed by glacial erosion.

Facilities

Parking: There is a National Trust car park on site, free to English Heritage members.
Dogs: Dogs on leads are welcome.

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Price

Price: Free

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Open any reasonable time during daylight hours.

Address: Faringdon, Oxfordshire SN7, UK

Post Code: SN7 7UK

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Road Access: South of B4507, 7 miles West of Wantage. Ridgeway National Trail runs directly past the site.
Bus Access: A new service 68 operated by Pulhams Coaches is due to start on 27th November 2023.
Bicycle Access: Find this site on The National Cycle Network.
Parking: There is a National Trust car park on site, free to English Heritage members.