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Hardy Monument
DorsetMonument to Vice-Admiral Hardy
Black Down, Portesham, Dorset, DT2 9HY
M T W T F S S Open
Closed
Opening times for 6 September 2026
Asset Opening time Hardy Monument Closed Car park Dawn - Dusk When open the last entry to Hardy Monument will be 15:30. Please note in poor weather conditions, Hardy Monument may close at short notice.
Monument Entry 2026
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Adult (18+) £5.50 £5.00 Child (5-17) under 5s free £2.80 £2.50 Family (2 Adults and up to 3 children) £13.80 £12.50 1 adult, 3 children £8.30 £7.50 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
- Car park
Open and free to park all year round. Not accessible for wider vehicles.
- Dogs allowed
Dog walkers are welcome but please keep an eye out for signs throughout your visit. Using a short lead helps to keep your dog from disturbing ground-nesting birds and farm animals. It's essential to use a short lead around sheep. Please always clear up after your dog. and take the poo bags home with you.
The car park surface is a mainly loose stone, with exposed earth and grass in some areas. It is approximately 10 metres from the monument across loose gravel. There are no toilet facilities at the monument or in the car park. The monument closes 4pm with last entry at 3.30pm. Due to the remote nature of this site and unpredictable weather patterns opening and closing times could vary.
- Steps/uneven terrain
- By road
- Hardy Monument lies next to the lane between Martinstown and Abbotsbury. It is also easily accessible from the B3157 at Portesham and the A35 at Winterbourne Abbas.Sat Nav: Grid ref: SY612876.
- On foot
- From Portesham follow the lane north-east uphill. Descend to Black Down Farm. Fork left and follow the South Dorset Ridgeway uphill through the wood.
- By train
- Dorchester train station is 6.5 miles. Weymouth train station is 9 miles.
- By bus
- First X53 stops at Portesham. Alight at the Kings Arms and it's a 40 minute walk to the monument. First X51 stops in Martinstown and it's a 30 minute walk to the monument.
- Cycling
- National Cycle Network Route 2 passes alongside Hardy Monument.
Plans for the future
Article
Walk with us: guided walks in Dorset
We are now coming to the end of our 2026 walk programme but there are still some walks you can join before the season is out, including our walk from Max Gate which follows a route which Thomas Hardy loved. We are also offering a guided walk from Hive Beach to Cogden led by our expert volunteer who discusses the changes to our coastal landscape - see below for more details. Once we have got our timetable ready for 2027 we will start posting all the new dates again here. Thank you for all your support, we can;t wait to see you all again very soon.
Highlights
The 72ft Monument
Monument to Vice-Admiral Hardy, built in 1844 and standing on an exposed location, above the village of Portesham. Climb to the 120 steps to the top of the monument on certain days through the year and enjoy breathtaking views across Dorset and beyond.
Enjoy the views
On a clear day you can see Start Point, Devon and St. Catherine’s Point on the Isle of Wight, both of which are around 65 kilometres (40 miles) away, and to the north Pen Hill in the Mendip Hills, which is also around 65 kilometres (40 miles) away.
Go for a walk
The Hardy Monument is well positioned to walk well trodden footpaths out to the Jurassic Coast, or take in shorter routes which allow you to explore the local geology or archaeology that makes this site so special.
Family trail and brass rubbing
Pretend you're a young Vice-Admiral Thomas Hardy and head out on a Mini Explorer Adventure. This waymarked route is around 1 - 1.5 hours long and has 9 checkpoints to find with a brass rubbing and a fun task at each point. Ideal for families.
Things to see and do
Trail
Mini Explorer Trail and Brass Rubbing
The Mini Explorer Trail takes you on an adventure around the land surrounding Hardy Monument, there are fun tasks to complete on your way round and children are encouraged to enjoy the views and the nature which surrounds them.
PDF
Click here to download your free copy of the Mini Explorer Trail
Pretend you are a young Vice-Admiral Thomas Hardy and head out on a Mini Explorer adventure. This waymarked route is around 1 - 1.5 hours long and has 9 checkpoints to find with a brass rubbing and a fun task at each point. Ideal for families. This document is the downloadable trail booklet which contains everything you need. It is packed with fun facts, different activities to do at each brass rubbing post and a map. It is recommended you download the booklet before setting out on your adventure.
PDF
Article
Climb, play, watch, learn
Hardy Monument has something for everyone, from breathtaking walks, to fun trails, interesting historical facts and picnic spots with wheelchair accessible benches. We hope everyone will takeaway something memorable from a visit to Hardy Monument.
Upcoming events
Sorry, there are no upcoming events at this place
About Hardy Monument
The Hardy Monument was built in 1844 in memory of Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy, Flag Captain of HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar. Amongst other things, Hardy became famous because it was in his arms that Nelson died, saying the immortal words ‘Kiss me, Hardy’. The National Trust became owners of the site in 1938 and have maintained it ever since. To find out more about the Monument and the views you could expect to enjoy whilst at this site take a moment to watch these two videos, both funded by the National Grid: Hardy Monument Discovery Video - This film is filled with interesting facts as well as stunning imagery. Hardy Monument- View from Hardy Locations - YouTube - This is a pin drop video which gives a 360°Panorama from the top of Hardy Monument and shows the location of key landmarks.
Support us
Volunteer with us
Search for live volunteering opportunities, or register your interest with the Hardy Monument.
