Cerne Giant
Ancient naked figure sculpted into the chalk hillside above Cerne Abbas
Cerne Giant
Overview
Ancient naked figure sculpted into the chalk hillside above Cerne Abbas
Standing at 180ft tall the Cerne Giant is Britain’s largest chalk hill figure and perhaps the best known.
Many theories surround the giant’s identity and origins. Is it an ancient symbol of spirituality? Or a likeness of the Greco-Roman hero Hercules? Or a mockery of Oliver Cromwell? Local folklore has long held it be an aid to fertility.
Above the Giant is a rectangular earthwork enclosure, known as the Trendle. Like the Giant, the Trendle is of unknown origin, but is belived to date back to the Iron Age. It is still used today by local Morris Dancers as a site for May Day celebrations.
The Giant was given to the National Trust nearly 100 years ago, in 1920. Part of conserving the Giant means leaving it alone as much as possible – the chalk is replaced every decade or so, a process that takes days of work by National Trust rangers and volunteers. The more the ground is disturbed, the quicker the Giant erodes away.
From different viewpoints, in different lights, the Giant can look starkly white or at times be just a faint outline. The best viewing spot for the Giant is from the Giant’s View car park, but there is also a short walk up to the Giant’s feet.
- Telephone
- 01297489481
- westdorset@nationaltrust.org.uk
Cerne Giant
How to get here
- Address
- Cerne Abbas, Dorset, DT2 7AL
- By cycle
- National Cycle Network route 26 between Castle Cary and Dorchester, mainly on quiet roads with some traffic-free sections heading into Dorchester. From Dorchester it's 8 miles along a quiet, but rough and uneven road to Cerne Abbas.
- Cycle route information
- On foot
- From the centre of Cerne Abbas village it is a gentle ¼ mile walk along a sign-posted footpath to the Cerne Giant viewing area.The Wessex Ridgeway passes 1 mile from the Cerne Giant and is linked by quiet roads and other footpaths. It is a long-distance trail running along ancient trackways from Marlborough in Wiltshire to Lyme Regis on the Dorset coast.
- By train
- Maiden Newton train station 6 miles, Dorchester West train station and Dorchester South train station, both 8 miles away.
- By road
- Sign-posted just off the A352, 8 miles north of Dorchester and 10 miles south of Sherbourne.
- By bus
- Bus service Damory Coaches 216 between Dorchester and Sherborne stops at the Cerne Giant viewing area and car park, and Cerne Abbas village. It runs on weekdays only.
Cerne Giant
Prices
Admission free
What is Gift Aid?
Most of our places run the Gift Aid on Entry scheme at their admission points.
Under this scheme, if you're not a member you have the choice of two entry tickets:
- Gift Aid Admission
- Standard Admission
If the place runs Gift Aid on Entry, we'll offer you a clear choice between the Gift Aid Admission prices and the Standard Admission prices at the admission point. It's entirely up to you which ticket you choose.
Gift Aid Admission includes a 10 per cent or more voluntary donation. Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
An extra £1 paid under the scheme can be worth over £3 to the National Trust as shown below:
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount paid by visitor | £11.00 | £10.00 |
| Tax refund from Government* | £2.75 | £0.00 |
| Total received by the National Trust | £13.75 | £10.00 |
*Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
Cerne Giant
Opening times
Sunday 24 March
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Monday 25 March
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Tuesday 26 March
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Wednesday 27 March
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Thursday 28 March
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Friday 29 March
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Saturday 30 March
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Cerne Giant
Contact us
- Telephone
- 01297489481
- westdorset@nationaltrust.org.uk
- Address
- Cerne Abbas, Dorset, DT2 7AL