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Castle An Dinas, Cornwall
A hillfort with superb views of the countryside, it being on the edge of Bodmin Moor. I
climbed up to the hillfort past a small bungalow and was immediately challenged by a huge
alsation and a goose - not sure which was the worst, really... Bad enough getting scared
stiff by the alsation, but being goosed as well...
There are (or were) some well defined tracks across the centre of the fort and the ramparts
and ditches are still well defined. You get chased by animals on the way down also... |
Maiden Castle, Dorset
Maiden Castle near Dorchester, one of the largest and certainly one of the most impressive
iron age hill forts in England. Despite a complex system of zig-zag paths that attackers had
to negotiate to reach the gates whilst the defenders threw all sorts of nasties at them, the
Romans succeeded in storming the place after bombarding it with rocks with their seige engines
from a distance. We found the ramparts guarded now as they would have been then - by companies
of highly trained 'battle sheep', more commonly known as 'battering rams'. |
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Trevelgue Promontary Fort, Cornwall
More frequently called 'Porth Island', this fort is just north of the popular tourist resort
of Newquay and flanks Porth beach. The island is an island in the true sense only when the
tide comes in, but is reached by a narrow bridge under which the sea roars from one side to
the other.
A series of impressive earthwork walls guard the bridge both on the island and
the mainland sides. A further earthwork wall defends the stronghold once on the island.
Barrows are easily visible on the island and on the mainland cliffs to the north east.
The entrance to the island leads through a cross-section of earthwork walls and the chalk-chip
construction can be easily seen.
Note that the cliff edges of the island are dangerous (as are any cliff edges) and care
should be taken. The sea has made a deep cleft in the far side of the island and there
is a blow hole where the sea enters a fissure and is forced upwards in a fountain of spray.
Rabbits can often be seen on the island. |
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Chun Castle, Cornwall
The gorse was in abundance - the farmer on whose land we parked told me the weather "...has
been very good for the shrubs this year!" The gorse looks lovely from a distance. Close up
it has small two inch branches covered in spine like leaves which just then were pricking
through trousers and even shirts and tops as the bushes were up to 3 feet tall! |
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