Lambert's Castle, Iron Age hillfort in Marshwood, United Kingdom
Lambert's Castle is an Iron Age hillfort on a hilltop in Marshwood, Dorset, England. The site features several rings of earthen banks and ditches that follow the natural slopes of the hill, enclosing an open grassy area at the top.
The fort was built around 2500 years ago during the Iron Age to control and protect the local population. During the Napoleonic Wars, the hilltop was used again, this time as an observation or signalling post.
For several centuries, the hilltop served as a fairground where people from across the region came together for markets and gatherings. Today, the open grassland at the top still draws walkers who stop to take in the wide views over the Dorset countryside.
The site can be reached from the B3165 road, which has a car park at the entrance. The paths inside are gently sloped and easy to walk, so it is possible to go around the whole fort without much effort.
Natural springs emerge at several points on the hilltop, creating damp patches where rare plants and butterflies can be found. These water sources were probably just as important to the people who lived there thousands of years ago as they are to the wildlife today.
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