Free Heritage Events Across the Blackdown Hills This September

Join us for the Blackdown Hills Festival of Heritage 2026, a programme of free events celebrating the history, landscapes, creativity and culture of the Blackdown Hills National Landscape. The festival forms part of Heritage Open Days, England’s largest festival of history and culture, giving people the chance to explore and connect with the area’s rich heritage.

Discover the past

Explore local archaeology in the Pots and Clay Pipes workshop, discover the wartime history of RAF Culmhead, walk through the remarkable landscape of Hembury Hillfort, or learn about the River Culm’s past, present and future on a guided walk.

If you’re feeling creative, join artist-led workshops including Colours from the Blackdown Hills, using natural pigments inspired by the landscape, and Luppitt Landscapes in Print, a community printmaking event celebrating local people and places. You can also take inspiration from Blackdown Hills history at Traces of the Past, a creative writing workshop led by novelist Vanessa de Haan.

The festival concludes with guided tours of Dunkeswell Abbey, offering the chance to discover over 800 years of history at one of the Blackdown Hills’ most significant historic sites.

Find out more

Most events require booking, so visit the Festival of Heritage events page to find out more and reserve your place. All events are free to attend.

Click to view the full programme here