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.
Sited on a hill, 807 feet above the sea level, Warbstow Barrows is one of the largest and best preserved earthworks in the County.
It has two ramparts, each with two entrances, the inner area being 370 by 450 feet. The outer rampart averages 15 feet in height, with an external ditch 15 feet wide.
In the middle is a barrow, called the 'Giants' grave, and sometimes 'King Arthur's grave'.
"We saw that an effort had been made to open this barrow at one of the ends; but an old woman, whom we found at a cottage not far off, assured us 'that they that tried it were soon forced to give up thier digging and flee for the thunders came to em and the lightenings also' We endevoured to sound out the local mind of our imformant as to the history of the place and the origin of the grave, but all we could drag out of her, after questions again and again, was ' great warriors, supposing, in old times' Such was the dirge of the mighty dead, and their requiem, at Warbstow Barrow.
Rev Hawker, as quoted in 'Days in Cornwall' by C Lewis Hind 1907
This giant must have been killed twice! The info board at Warbstow Bury says that local tradition believes the internal mound is the burial site of the Warbstow Giant who was slain by the giant of Condolden Beacon, who lived near Tintagel. I suspect that this might the hill on which the Condolden Barrow stands.
Said to be the home of a giant who was killed when the giant of Launceston Castle threw a tool at him. In the centre of the fort there is a long mound, 22 m long, 10m high and 6m high, flanked by indistinct ditches in the manner of a Neolithic Long Barrow. This is variously known as ‘Arthur’s Grave’, ‘King Arthur’s Tomb, and ‘The Giant’s Grave’ but there is no evidence to link King Arthur with the site and there are lots of Arthur’s Graves in Britain. Experts say it is more likely to be a medieval rabbit warren.
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