Cranborne Chase AR

Become a time traveller on Cranborne Chase with augmented reality (AR).

Meet virtual characters from the past and see how ancient landscapes once looked while exploring this area of outstanding natural beauty.

Take a circular walk from Win Green up onto Winklebury Hill and see how the Iron-Age hill fort would have looked as you admire the view towards Berwick St John; Or Visit Martin Down Nature Reserve and view a recreation of the hasty building of Bokerly Dyke by the Romans. Visit Rushmore Golf Course to see how the Woodcutts Roman farmstead once looked; Meet the ghostly warrior of Bottlebrush Down and see how the Neolithic Dorset Cursus once dominated the landscape.

Let Thomas Hardy tell you how the Chase inspired many of the characters and places of his novels: find out about general Pitt-Rivers’ many archaeological discoveries and Larmer Tree Gardens, the popular amusement park of its day. Roman administrator of the roads, Claudia Lucilla will tell you of fine Roman Villas, while John Bastard describes how he and his brother rebuilt Blandford Forum after a terrible fire. Finally, Isaac Gulliver, the ‘King of the Dorset Smugglers’ will fill you in on his dubious practices at Sixpenny Handley.

How to use the App

Make sure you have a fully charged battery and ideally some headphones – some of the sites can be windy!
Use the map to decide who you would like to meet and where you would like to visit. Tap the icon for a closer GPS map of that area. Once you are in the area, Archie and Olivia the archaeology moles will guide you to where you need to be to trigger the AR experience.

To meet the characters from the past you will need to download additional content. You can download all of them, or just those you plan to visit. To save mobile data we advise doing this where WiFi is available.

Marker posts at each site, together with information in the app will tell you how to trigger and view the AR scenes and characters.

Safety Information

Please use the AR experience safely and be aware of your environment around you.

Do not use the AR experience in a way that distracts you from real world situations and prevents you from responding to risks in your surroundings or obeying traffic or safety laws. Do not use the AR experience if you have consumed any substance that may influence your sense of motion and balance. Do not drive, operate machinery or engage in other activities that require you to be fully focused immediately after using the AR experience or if you otherwise feel disoriented.

The AR experience should not be used by children without adult supervision. Children may start playing without taking time to think about relevant safety requirements and when they get excited they often forget to be aware of obstacles and hazards in their surroundings. Therefore an adult needs to be present to ensure that children are safe when using the AR experience.

Take frequent breaks while using the AR experience. If you experience nausea, disorientation, or any other discomfort immediately discontinue using the AR experience.

If you have a medical condition that may affect you when using the AR experience, please consult a medical professional.