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Hillfort
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Warbstow Bury - 30.3.2003
This is quite stunning. The views are fantastic, and the whole site is very impressive. It was also the first hill slope fort I had visited, and the size and relative complexity of the ditches and ramparts helped make this place special for me.
Access is great not only because there is a small car park and are several well maintained public footpaths in the area but also because the circular field of Warbstow Bury and the field to the north west (hay meadow) has been in the ownership of North Cornwall District Council since 1987, and a ‘Countryside Stewardship’ arrangement was made in 1997 - the latter usually means that a local farmer will look after the area whilst they also farm it.
There are nice info boards at the two entrances (i.e. from the car park at 203907, and from the hay meadow / North west entrance at 200908). The info board describes it as the second largest, and best preserved, Iron Age hill fort in Cornwall. It also gives a drawing / picture of a Bronze Age bowl that was found nearby and is said to be a fine example of metal working of the age. It also says that the internal mound (see ‘folklore’ posts below) is a puzzle and may be a pillow mound, a managed rabbit warren from the medieval period. Whatever it is, it’s not really impressive, especially when dwarfed by the forts massive ditches and ramparts.
The map shows one large field to the north west, but it’s now been subdivided into three; the footpath is still fine though. There was a young lone bull in Hay Meadow who was a bit inquisitive / randy / territorial / frightened, and some sheep in the next fields, complete with a new barn being used as a lambing shed. If, like me, you come in lambing season it might be a good idea to leave any dogs behind.This post appears as part of the weblog entry Another Kernow Week |
Posted by pure joy
6th April 2003ce
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