Photo of Corfe Castle, a ruined castle near Kingston, Dorset, south west England.

Corfe CastlePhoto Bob Jenkin / Pexels

Castles & strongholds in DorsetDorset, England

19 castles in the Albion Guide across Dorset — see the full castles directory, or everything to explore in Dorset.

Iconic

Corfe Castle

Castle near Kingston

A Civil-War-slighted skyline ruin above its Purbeck village.

Highlight

Lulworth Castle

Castle near Wareham

A 17th-century mock castle built as a grand hunting lodge, gutted by fire and now an open shell in the Dorset parkland

Christchurch Castle and Norman House

Castle near Bournemouth

Ruined keep on its mound and a 12th-century stone hall beside the mill stream in Christchurch, with one of England's few surviving Norman chimneys.

Portland Castle

Castle near Osmington

A medieval castle in Dorset.

Sandsfoot Castle

Castle near Upwey

A medieval castle in Dorset.

Sherborne Old Castle

Castle near Sherborne

A medieval castle in Dorset.

Stephen's Castle

Castle near Cranborne

Stephen's Castle, a bowl barrow 720m east of Eastworth Farm

Abbotsbury Castle

Castle near Abbotsbury

A medieval castle in Dorset.

Chideock Castle

Castle near Bridport

Chideock Castle: a moated site and associated features 520m south west of Chideock Manor

Earthwork on Castle

Castle near Evershot

Earthwork on Castle Hill

Fortified house at Castle Hill

Castle near Shaftesbury

Medieval fortified house at Castle Hill

Marshwood Castle

Castle near Charmouth

A medieval castle in Dorset.

Rufus Castle

Castle near Osmington

A medieval castle in Dorset.

Sturminster Castle

Castle near Sturminster Newton

A medieval castle in Dorset.

Weatherby Castle

Castle near Briantspuddle

Weatherby Castle, an Iron Age hillfort 1020m north west of Ashley Barn Farm

Rings

Ringwork · Castle near Corfe Castle

The Rings: a ringwork and bailey and a Civil War battery 400m south west of Corfe Castle

Mohun Castle

Castle near Beaminster

The buried site of a medieval castle in Dorset.

Powerstock Castle

Motte & bailey · Castle near Bridport

Motte and bailey castle 160m north of Castle Mill Farm

Wareham Saxon town walls

Motte & bailey · Castle near Wareham

Part of the defences of the Anglo-Saxon fortified centre of Wareham and part of the motte and bailey castle with shell keep