Castle Field Camp

Iron Age Hillfort

The hillfort, believed to have been built during the Iron Age period (c. 800 BC – AD 74), is located on a prominent knoll above the 100m contour, forming a spur of the Cefn Mably Ridge. Despite its relatively low elevation, the hillfort offers commanding views in all directions, with steep slopes on the north and south sides. The fort has a sub-rectangular shape, longer from east to west than from north to south. The hillfort is in the territory of the Silures.

The largest bank is on the west side, with an external height of 1.7m-2m and an internal height of 0.7m-1m. It is accompanied by a slight ditch, approximately 5m wide and 0.6m deep, except for the northern end where old lime workings have intruded. A farm track towards the north end and another at the south end have caused slight damage to the bank. On the north side, there is no bank, but a steep drop of 2.5m-3m, followed by a level berm and another drop. The east end also lacks a bank, but has a drop of 1.5m-1.7m. At the north end, the berm becomes a shallow ditch, 4m wide and 0.7m deep, which flattens out towards the south into a wide berm, 16-20m wide. Below this is another drop of 1-1.5m, which fades out at the south end. The south side, where the road cuts into the fort, has no bank or ditch.

Sites near Castle Field Camp