Because of its commanding views of the surrounding area, St Catherine's Hill has most likely been used as a look-out and beacon since prehistoric times.

Eleven tumuli, or barrows, surround the ridges as monuments to Bronze Age settlers, while Iron Age farmers may have built the enclosure just to the south-west of the radio mast.

The hill has been used as a military training ground. In the last century, the Royal Horse Artillery and Dragoons from Christchurch Barracks exercised here and it served again in both World Wars for practise in trench warfare and as a grenade throwing range.

Scot's pine and maritime pine were introduced to Dorset heathlands for forestry as early as 1783. More pines have been planted since throughout the region as they are the only successful heathland forestry crop. Between 1961 and 1997, tree cover increased on the site from 25 per cent to 75 per cent.