Fantastic forts to visit

Barbury Castle, Wiltshire

Constructed in about 700BC, this is the most impressive of the Ridgeway forts, with double ramparts on the south side and triple on the north. Two original entrances survive on the east and west sides

Old Oswestry, Shropshire

One of the best preserved hill forts, it was occupied between the 8th century BC and the Roman conquest, possibly by the Cornovii or the Ordovices tribes. After it was abandoned, it was incorporated into Wat’s Dyke

Hambledon Hill and Hod Hill, Dorset

Hambledon Hill is a late Bronze Age/early Iron Age site and a good example of a ‘contour fort’, where the defences follow the line of the terrain. Neighbouring Hod Hill is half its age and contains the remains of a Roman fort

Cadbury Castle, Somerset

Occupied from the late Bronze Age, this is the fabled location of King Arthur’s Camelot, comprising some 17 acres of plateau surrounded by ramparts. The site was re-used by the Romans

British Camp, Worcestershire

Built in the 2nd century BC atop Herefordshire Beacon, the 2,000-year-old ramparts are clearly visible. British Camp was the inspiration for Elgar’s cantata Caractacus in 1898

Cissbury Ring, West Sussex

Dating from about 400BC, this is the largest hill fort in Sussex and the second largest in England, enclosing 65 acres with 10ftdeep ditches. Cissbury was also the site of one of the earliest flint mines

To find your nearest hill fort, visit https:// hillforts.arch.ox.ac.uk