Join us for a walk exploring life and death through ancient burial practices and the connection between afterlife beliefs and the night sky.

Welcome to the Walk of the Dead!

Journey Through Time: Burial, Belief, and the Night Sky at Hengistbury Head

Step into the ancient landscape of Hengistbury Head for a guided walk that explores how prehistoric communities understood life, death, and the cosmos. As we trace the footsteps of Bronze Age ancestors, we’ll uncover the secrets of the round barrows where the people of Hengistbury Head laid their dead to rest 4,000 years ago —monuments that still shape the landscape today. Expect some surprises along the way!!!

The evening will begin by preparing for our Walk of the Dead. Various activities will be available to allow you to honour the dead in your own way, including ceremonial face markings, crafting votive offerings or writing a scroll of rememberance. All materials will be provided on the night.

After the Walk we will learn all about the barrows at Hengistbury, as well as burial practices thorugh time. We'll have a fire, and visit the site of a Stone Age hunter-gatherers’ camp, imagining what life was like 12,000 years ago. What did these early people believe about the stars above? Were they filled with wonder, fear, or reverence as they gazed into the night sky? Discover how myths, celestial cycles, and constellations have long been woven into beliefs about death and the afterlife.

The event will all take place in the immediate area surrounding the Visitor Centre and adjacent fields. Please note some of this area has uneven ground. We want everyone to be able to enjoy the event. If you have any accessibility requirements or concerns, please contact us before the event and we’ll be happy to discuss how we can best support you.

We will not be walking to the top of the Headland.

You are welcome to bring your own camping chairs or waterproof mats to sit on towards the end of the evening to ensure you are comfortable for the night sky presentation.

This is an outdoor event, please ensure you wear suitable clothing and footwear.

Photography and filming

Photography and filming will take place during this event. Images and footage may be used for promotional, educational and archival purposes. By attending, you acknowledge that you may appear in photographs or footage. If you would prefer not to be photographed or filmed, please speak to a member of the event team.

Description supplied by the event organiser.