Cerne Abbas Giant

Cerne Abbas Giant

Cerne Abbas Giant
3.5
Historic SitesPoints of Interest & Landmarks
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
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  • Shirley E
    Dronfield, United Kingdom431 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Good views from the NT viewpoint
    I parked in the car park further down the road from the viewpoint car park as I was in my camper van. Managed to park in there easily. Well signed. Easy to find. I walked up to the viewpoint to take pics. The weather was awful so the giant didn’t look as good as on a sunny day. The weather affects his colouring. On sunny days he looks whiter apparently. I did a stroll round the village, which is a lovely place. Very quaint.
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written May 1, 2024
  • Mary Carolan
    69 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Cerne Giant Hill a must
    Viewpoint car park is the best place to see the giant because when you’re climbing the hill, you cannot see him at all. It is now fenced off for preservation, therefore you can’t get close. The hill is steep but not that long. You can climb it in 15 minutes and the walk from the car park to the hill, is about 10 mins. Looks a lot more and further, when looking from the car park though. Lovely views at the top Well worth the climb
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written May 1, 2024
  • WimHobbelink
    Oranjewoud, The Netherlands3,995 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    More mystical male figure
    This 55 meter high male figure is clearly visible from the parking lot indicated on Google maps. Maker and origin are not really clear. The lime is replaced every few years. I think it's time now because it's not really very visible anymore. Very special to see.
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 2, 2024
  • laura h
    Dorset, United Kingdom77 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Historic view - if you squint!
    The Cerne Abbas Giant is an ancient Anglo-Saxon naked figure sculpted into the hillside about the village of Cerne Abbas and has been 'maintained' by The National Trust for over 100 years. Over the years the visibility of the Giant has deteriorated due to lack of consistent maintenance by the NT, resulting in the grass growing too long and the chalk suffering discolouration and erosion due to prolonged periods of wet weather. The best available site to view the Giant is from the Viewpoint car park, however there is further parking (suitable for vans, campers, small caravans) further along the road. There is no longer access to the field itself, to preserve this historic site. The village of Cerne Abbas is pretty, with a number of pubs and tea rooms to enjoy some refreshments after taking one of the many hilly walking routes around the area. Definitely something to do if you are in the area /to say that you have seen it but could do with a bit of TLC to return it to what it is hyped up to be.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written June 4, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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David D
Devon, UK28,465 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2021 • Couples
Tuesday afternoon 6th March and we visited the picturesque Dorset village of Cerne Abbas where this chalk hill giant is located nearby.

This is one of Britain's largest chalk hill figures, it measures 60 metres(196 feet) high and 31 metres (101 feet) wide (180 ft). It depicts a naked man standing with proportioned private parts on display and brandishing a large cudgel in his right hand.

This is a National Trust Site  and it is listed as a scheduled monument of England.

There is no clear evidence as to when the figure was originally carved. According to information provided it could be as young as 400 years or as old as 3,000 years.

There is a small viewing area in front of the figure. There a some car park spaces for Visitors to use while enjoying the view of the figure.

A little bit further along the road, opposite the village hall, there is a larger long term car park, with a small charge of £1. From here it is possible to head off on one of the many walking routes around the countryside. Or take the short riverside walk into the village and it's attractions.

Don't think that we could have chosen a much worse day to visit. It was windy, bitterly cold along with wind driven flurries of snow. The weather did curtail adventure.

We did go to the viewing area to see the figure, this was a quick visit. In a field in front of the figure were a number of ewes with their spring lambs, a wonderful sight.

We did make an equally as quick visit to the other parking area where we made a brief foray into the countryside, rapidly returning to the car.

We then took a cursory drive through the delightful village, unfortunately mostly closed due to COVID restrictions and safety measures.

There is no entrance fee to visit the figure
Written April 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

CoraGray74
Cambridge, UK43 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021 • Family
What really makes the Cerne giant great is all the local pubs, memorabilia and businesses that surround him. We saw a van with him on the side, there’s a tearoom in Cerne Abbas that has meals named after him, restaurants displaying him and it’s really heartening to see how the community has embraced him as their piece of history. The actual giant is quite hard to see from anywhere but the viewpoint which provides good information about him. The walks that are in the surrounding area are great, and Cerne Abbas itself is a wonderful little village. Worth a visit if you throw in some walks in the countryside and the village too.
Written August 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Patric D
Sandbach, UK1,089 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022
The Giant is somewhat unique. the best views are probably from the viewing point on the A352 just north of Verne village. but note that he faces to the west, so he i better displayed in the mid to late afternoon
Written June 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AnneHaslam
Sheffield, UK100 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2024 • Couples
Absolutely tragic that Dorset don't do more to ensure that this famous historical landmark is maintained. We drove over an hour specifically to view the Giant, having seen so many amazing images online. When we finally got to the viewpoint car park, we could barely even make out the giant in front of us on the hillside. Major let down. You would think that whatever trust or group is in control of its upkeep would get up there and toss down some more chalk so that visitors could actually see him!
Written September 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Theologator
Lake Wales, FL509 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022 • Couples
The Giant is well worth a look is you are in the area - say witching an hour. The giant is an iconic mystery. It doesn’t take long to see and to wonder at its presence, but don’t miss the charming village of Cerne Abbas while you’re here. It is well worth a stop for a walk, plus lunch or tea.
Written October 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rick W
Sevenoaks, UK2,359 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020
We had high hopes of viewing the Cerne Abbas Giant, but were actually disappointed. The best view is from the free designated car park on the opposite hill, but even then the giant is need of restoration. His head was almost invisible and the rest of his body quite indistinct. In contrast to the the fabulous images you see on line and in guide books what we actually viewed was unclear and quite indistinct. I walked around the giant (protected by a barbed wire fence) but could make out nothing at all. The steep 'close up' walk has some pleasant views - but you are too close to the giant to see anything! Overall - and underwhelming and disappointing experience!
Written August 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SharonE72
Chippenham, UK178 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022 • Couples
Decided to visit on our way home after a weekend break in the area.

Free parking at the Viewpoint area which was quite busy as it was a nice day (weatherwise). There were information boards about the Giant and also the village of Cerne Abbas.

A nice place to stop for 1/2 an hour or so but I felt the Giant possibly needed re-chalking as some of the outline wasn't very visible. But still worth visiting if like us you've never been before.
Written May 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bonkers!
52 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Family
My son was not impressed. All the photos you see of this splendid white giant look very impressive, in reality he was very hard to make out. Sad to see such a landmark neglected almost by the NT. Looks like he needs rechalking. The town itself has some lovely old buildings to see but being a Monday visit we only found the main village store open everything else was closed.
Written August 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Andrew D
Swindon, UK61 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2020 • Couples
Have known of the Cerne Abbas Giant for many years and, as we were holidaying in the area, we swung by. I’ve been looking forward to a visit for a long time.

Viewing from the signposted car park opposite the Giant we were very underwhelmed. Instead of a crisp white image that you see in the media, it was barely visible, greyed out and not in keeping with its, and England’s, heritage.

Luckily, we swung by on the way home as if this had been a special trip, I’d have been even more disappointed.
Written October 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Chris P
Worcester, UK284 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Family
Great to see this but clearly the best way to see the giant is by air. We parked in the car park opposite so view not as good as above but still glad I’ve seen it.
We didn’t have the time but I can imagine the walk to the giant is scenic and gives you a closer view.
Written July 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Cerne Abbas Giant - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

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