Badbury Rings is a fine example of an Iron Age hill fort, dating from about 700 B.C., with extensive Roman remains which cover the period of the whole of the Roman occupation of Britain.  There are many examples of Bronze Age barrows, or burial mounds, which date from about 1700 B.C..  It is just possible that it was here, between 500 and 560, that the legendary King Arthur halted the Saxon invasion for two generations.The surrounding landscape, originally downland, began to be regularly ploughed from the late 19th century until the Second World War and still is.  This practice has seriously diminished this form of habitat until Badbury and its downland have become an island in a sea of arable land.Badbury has a well deserved reputation for its fine views, flora, fauna and butterflies.  It was bequeathed to the National Trust in 1981 along with the rest of the 6,700 hectare (16,500 acre) Kingston Lacy and Corfe Castle Estates.  Since that time it has seen the restoration of sheep and cattle grazing, while a planned programme of conservation work involving the removal of scrub from the ramparts, has been followed.  The quality of the chalk downland has greatly improved with over two hundred and twenty varieties of wild flowers recorded, including thirteen different orchids, and growing numbers of butterflies observed.These varied aspects have created a wonderful place for visitors, whether they are interested in Wildlife, Archaeology or just kite flying.  The site now attracts about a quarter of a million visitors each year, and the National Trust's policy of preservation and conservation is well established.Apart from Badbury itself, there are many lovely walks which radiate from the car parks.  One, which heads in a north-easterly direction, passes the ancient Oak woodland which was planted in the early 14th century by Henry de Lacy, third Earl of Lincoln.  It has many trees which date from this period and is said, by legend, to be haunted.  Many of the surrounding woodlands are carpeted in the spring with Bluebells, Snowdrops, Wood Anemones and multitudes of other flowers.  These walks also provide superb views over the surrounding landscape including, on a fine day, the Needles on the Isle of Wight.

SECTION 1: ROMAN ROAD  (Length 95m).

Pass through the entrance gates near the stone information point at the top of the car park.  Turn right and walk in a south-westerly direction.  You are on the Roman road and following in the footsteps of countless Roman civilians and soldiers.  Ahead of you the road went on to Roman Dorchester where you would enjoy the comforts of the baths and the dubious pleasures of the spectacles at the Maumbury Rings amphitheatre!  Behind you lay Old Sarum.  As you approach the Bronze Age barrows, turn to the right by a group of Blackthorn bushes to arrive at the stile in the barrow enclosure fence.  Section 1 ends at the stile.

SECTION 2:BARROW ENCLOSURE  (Length 128m).

Cross the stile and enter the enclosure, turning left and skirt alongside the barrows with them on your right-hand side.  Continue past the third barrow to the south-west corner.  This is a good section for Marbled Whites and Common Blues.  But look, especially from late July into August, for the silvery-blue Chalkhill Blues.  They do appear elsewhere on the walk but so far this has been their favourite locality.  Leave the enclosure by the gate.  Section 2 ends at the gate.

SECTION 3: OPEN SCRUB AND DOWNLAND  (Length 440m).

Walk straight across the Roman road, over the track and enter the scrubby area, following the posted signs.  This path meanders through scrub and Blackberry, with a great deal of Purging Buckthorn (the larval foodplant of the Brimstone).  Follow the path in a generally south-easterly direction via marked posts towards a semi-wooded area, with Bramble edge and a group of Whole-leaved Ash trees (one of Badbury's rarities).Follow the Bramble and scrub edge, on your right, round to the north-east until you reach the point where the semi-woodland turns at a right angle.  The scrub attracts shade loving butterflies like the Speckled Wood which can usually be seen here in good numbers.  Section 3 ends at the right-angle corner of the woodland.

SECTION 4: OPEN DOWNLAND  (Length 227 m).

With the hill fort immediately ahead, walk northwards at about 40 degrees to the left towards the gap (Iron Age gateway), in the outer rampart. Notice the hollow, down to your left, which may have been a Roman settlement which grew up next to the road network.  This area of downland is becoming much richer with flowers and herbs due to improved grazing.  Section 4 ends at the gap in the outer rampart.

SECTION 5: SHELTERED DOWNLAND  (Length 208m).

Walk through the gap and continue along the Audio Tour path, aiming for a gravel stand (an Audio Tour marker), and then turn a little to the left to pass through another Iron Age gateway into an area known as "The Barbican", a defended area within the hill fort.  Continue across this area about 3 metres from the middle rampart on your left, to where it turns at a right angle to the right.  Section 5 ends at this point.

SECTION 6: EXPOSED TOP OF MIDDLE RAMPART (Length 236m).

Climb on to the top of the middle rampart and follow it around until you reach a set of steps across your path.  This is the richest area on the Rings for orchids, with up to thirteen varieties present from late May to August.    Those most frequently seen in good numbers are the Early Purple, Common Spotted, Pyramidal and Common Twayblade.When you reach the steps, turn left, walk north straight across to the outer rampart and more steps.  Section 6 ends at the outer rampart.

SECTION 7: OPEN DOWNLAND (Length 137m).

Turn at approximately 45 degrees to the right in a north-easterly direction, and walk across the downland towards the hedge boundary with a white-painted marker post.  This area is also improving due to grazing, with many flowers and plants colonising it; hence an improvement in butterfly numbers has been noted.  Section 7 ends when you reach the marked fence post.

SECTION 8: SHELTERED HEDGE  (Length 370m).

Turn right and walk four metres out from the hedge, observing downland to your right and the hedge to your left.  The large number of species of trees, shrubs and woody plants show that the hedge has been here for many years.  Further along where Gorse is growing, cross closer to your left to observe nectaring butterflies.  The shelter provided by the hedge makes this section the most favoured location for many species of butterfly.  In spring it is a flight path for Brimstones.  In June it is popular with Small Heaths and Common Blues; later in the summer these are followed by Marbled Whites and Gatekeepers.  On some occasions Silver-washed Fritillaries have been observed.  When you reach the 90 degree corner to your left, walk ahead, aiming for the gate, and then follow the hedge and low Bramble line around to an Ash tree on the other corner by the gateway in the outer rampart.  Section 8 ends when you reach the gateway.

SECTION 9: SHELTERED SLOPE  (Length 232m).

Walk through the gateway and bearing slightly left, walk to the edge of the ditch of the middle rampart.  Descend into the bottom of the ditch, turn left and walk along.  These areas are noted for butterfly activity and scrub, Gorse, Wild Roses, Bramble, and other wild flowers provide good food sources.  Continue along until you reach a marker post in the ditch, where you should turn right to climb up the rampart.  Section 9 ends at the marker post.

SECTION 10: TOP OF THE RAMPART  (Length 147m).

Turn left on the top of the middle rampart and continue along until you reach a small Holly bush on your left and also a marker post, where you should turn right and descend to the bottom of the inner ditch.  Scrub plants provide very sheltered grassy sites along this stretch, and Peacocks use the nettles on which to lay their eggs. Section 10 ends at the marker post.  This is an excellent spot to rest and enjoy the view.

SECTION 11: INNER DITCH or "BUTTERFLY VALLEY"  (Length 326m).

Turn right and walk along the bottom of the ditch.  Continue until you reach the eastern Iron Age gateway.  A management policy of creating "scalloped" margins to provide shelter from the wind has been adopted in this section and the quality of scrub, including Viburnum, Blackthorn, Privet, Ash, Hawthorn, Clematis, Thistle, Bramble and many wild flowers, provides a marvellous habitat for all forms of wildlife, including a badger sett.  In June this is the most favoured location for Large Skippers; the males are very territorial and if you disturb them from their perching positions and wait patiently you will usually find that they will return to approximately the same place.  In July the large amount of scrub makes this ditch attractive to Ringlets; in flight they look superficially similar to the more numerous Meadow Browns.  However, they are much blacker and, of course, when they settle, their rings make them unmistakable.  Section 11 ends at the eastern gateway.

SECTION 12: OPEN AREA  (Length 137m).

Turn left and walk through the gateway to turn left again.  Walk along the path with the inner rampart on your left until you come to a marker post.  This section provides scrub, Gorse, Bramble, Nettle and light Oak and Ash tree cover whilst walking along a closely grazed path.  Section 12 ends at the marker post.  Take care in case the marker post is missing.

SECTION 13: "WOODLAND VISTA"  (Length 312m).

Turn right at the marker post and follow the path under the trees into the vista, past the new plantings of Scots Pine, to the stone plinth and toposcope at the centre.  The Bankes family, owners of nearby Kingston Lacy, and of Badbury Rings until they bequeathed them to the National Trust in 1982, planted the summit with five vistas through the trees in 1761.  The National Trust has been working to restore the original landscape plan.Continue straight ahead, down to the first dew pond.  Bear left and walk to the left-hand side of the second dew pond.  Now turn right to walk along the fence to observe the pond edges.  Look out for damselflies and dragonflies.  Section 13 ends at the head of the pond.

SECTION 14: WESTERN ENTRANCES AND DOWNLAND  (Length 256m).

Walk straight down through the gateway in front of you, across "The Barbican", straight through the next two gaps (attributed to the Romans), and out on to the downland.  Head towards the entrance gates leading to the car park and the stone information point where you started the walk.  This area is heavily trampled by the feet of visitors and is also attractive to the munching mouths of residential sheep.  It therefore has a completely different type of grass to any other part of the site.  Section 14 ends at the entrance gates.